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The line slashed through the water, and the rod bowed toward the surface as the fish dove for cover. "Bass!" I called, and two of my companions paddled over to watch as I finally brought the largemouth to the boat. She was glimmering green, muscular, and shapely from a healthy diet. But in her eagerness to strike, she had taken the artificial worm so forcefully that the hook had lodged below her gills in the muscles leading to her gullet. Not even needle-nose pliers could reach the hook, so we cut the line, knowing the hook would rust into nothing within a few days. She had worn herself to exhaustion and listed limply to one side as I tried to release her. I took all the time necessary to revive her, gently pumping her back and forth to force water over her gills. At first she responded with a couple of weak kicks, and her gills started to move on their own. Finally, as I was adjusting the position of my kayak, she kicked free of my grip and vanished as forcefully as she had struck. As the Hobie tournaments continue growing in popularity and prestige, I fully expect that we'll see plenty more MirageDrive kayaks on our lakes and river systems across North America, sharing in that unique connection with the water and the fish that brings us all together as anglers. Note: The author thanks Hobie Cat Company for an excellent weekend of fishing and invites your comments and feedback at Carly@TheNaturalistsQuill.com. sport fishers tested the Mirage Pro Angler 14, and sailing newcomers and veterans alike successfully challenged the blustery skies in the Mirage Tandem Island. O f course, after the professionals had their fun, I felt it only proper to take advantage of this prime bass-fishing lake. So after announcing the winners and enjoying some well-earned dinner and camaraderie, the Hobie team members who helped run the tournament invited me to join them the following morning at a local breakfast haunt before fishing. The early-morning light greeted us with gloomy clouds and sporadic thunderstorms, and as we all sat down to breakfast, we wondered if the weather would interfere with our plans. But to our great fortune the storms blew out just as we started to unload and rig up our kayaks. I was particularly eager to take my own brand new, bright red Hobie Mirage Outback on her maiden voyage, and she had ample room and rod holders for all my fishing gear and photo equipment. The brightly colored Hobie fleet prowled various coves, rocky points, and inlets in search of largemouth bass. Almost immediately, I was impressed by how easily and quickly the MirageDrive foot pedals helped cover the distance to an unoccupied cove on the far side of the lake. With my legs doing the work of paddling, my hands were free to snap photos, shed my rain jacket as the sun came out, tend to my rods, and occasionally adjust the rudder. I worked the perimeter of the cove, probing the docks and swirls of rising fish with artificial worms on light spinning tackle. The cove opened out onto the main channel, culminating in a rocky outcrop where some of my fellow kayakers were having success. I thought I would try my luck with them, and five minutes later I realized it was a good decision. The strike was swift but sneaky. S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S 1 0 6 he author takes her Hobie Mirage Outback on its maiden voyage following the Second Annual Hobie Bass Open. T