Dugout Loaded with Lynx

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Hobie, the leading manufacturer of premium kayaks and watersport products, aimed to minimize weight while maximizing transport and fishing efficiency with the Lynx’s unique design…and they nailed the bullseye. With a hull weight of just 45 pounds, the 11-foot long by 36-inch-wide Lynx boasts a 350-pound capacity and is light enough to easily take anywhere. A hard-shell evolution of Hobie’s proven and popular inflatable 11 design, it features Hobie’s ACE-TEC construction for rigidity and durability, a removeable rudder system for optimal steering control, and a premium MirageDrive 180 propulsion system with Kick-Up Fin technology that affords maximum control with forward and reverse pedaling, even in shallow water. A V-hull entry, wide bow, and innovative waterflow tunnel system combine to ensure a smooth ride, ultimate maneuverability, and stability that allows kayakers to push back into lilies, stick-ups, reeds, mangroves and shallow pockets inaccessible to others, all while keeping hands free to execute that perfect cast or frame the ideal photograph.

The new Mirage Lynx platform also includes molded-in tracks for mounting accessories, EVA standing traction pads, and ample bow and cargo room with bungee tie downs that can be utilized for a variety of applications. The Hobie H-Bar standing support can easily be added for maximum stability. For the ultimate package, effortlessly position more accessories by upgrading to a Hobie H-Rail mounting platform with integrated, patented RAM® Hand-Track™. Hobie’s optional Sail Kit and Bimini Sunshade can also be added using the accessory mount. Aside from its feathery weight, additional features like ergonomic handles and loading pads make transporting the Lynx hassle free. It even comes with a two-piece paddle for back-up propulsion or squeezing in a little upper body exercise.

Lynx owners enjoy the versatility and flexibility of this addition to the Hobie fleet,” says Morgan Promnitz, Hobie’s Director of Fishing Development. “Whether you want to portage it between remote fishing and touring waters or simply drop it in a lake or river close to home, you can just grab it and go. From a fishing perspective, it’s an exceptional choice for pursuing smallmouth bass or trout in river conditions where maneuverability is key to success, on backwaters where poking silently onto the flats reveals tailing fish, and bays, harbors or even the open ocean due to its impressive ability to stay on schools of feeding lunkers despite wind and current. I also love the transducer cavity included on the Lynx that allows for quick installation of a fish-finder despite the low-profile design. This really is a fun and practical watercraft.”

For a lightweight platform, the Lynx features some serious technology and is easily accessorized. It’s ACE-TEC construction, for example, sees a foam core coated in fiberglass and then finished in plastic, which makes it super tough, nearly unsinkable and easy to repair if necessary. Intelligently designed for both user comfort and battling the elements, its elevated and breathable mono-mesh fabric seat improves visibility while keeping kayakers cool, comfortable and above the spray in a moderate chop. A seatback storage pouch makes it easy to stash items such as sunscreen or a jacket so they’re always within reach.

“This kayak is like a stand-up paddle board with a MirageDrive and a seat that you can customize to fit your specific fishing needs,” says professional kayak angler Kristine Fischer. “It’s super stable, lightweight and at home anywhere from small creeks to big water. Just throw it in the back of your truck or secure it to your car roof and head off to fish a remote river, take it down to the coast, or hit your favorite reservoir. I love that for anglers it’s a blank canvas you can really make your own. Rig it however you want and head on out. Hobie couldn’t have done this any better.”