Go ride a bike

Expand your opportunities with an e-bike

Electric bicycles, commonly called e-bikes, are becoming popular with all age groups of people and for many reasons. Sportsmen are adding other reasons for riding them, especially the offroad fat tire versions. Many sportsmen believe e-bikes are just the thing to give them access to remote fishing and hunting spots, without spooking game and fish.  

E-bikes can be fun cruisers and used for early morning and late afternoon rides, or to run errands. One fisherman brags he has even visited the drive-through at the bank on his e-bike. Many sizes and configurations are available, including three wheelers. E-bikes allow avoiding traffic and parking in bike racks, which is a big bonus at the many beaches that charge for parking vehicles. There is almost always a free bike rack near each beach access. Just be sure to use a high quality bike lock and lock it securely.  

Some sportsmen become interested in e-bikes for more conventional reasons, such as extending their biking range, or to allow biking with aging joints and muscles, then realize they can be helpful when fishing and hunting. Battery usage varies with speed and whether travel is by the electric motor or pedal-assisted. However, optional batteries with larger capacities are available, plus a second battery can be carried and switched out to extend range even more.

Powerful and practical  

E-bikes have surprising power and can be used to pull a wagon or cart with fishing or hunting equipment that can carry the day’s catch or game back after the outing. This definitely allows hunting farther from the parking area than sportsmen would care to drag their game.

E-bikes run quiet and allow easing along a bank or through the woods without spooking game and fish. Sportsmen running GoPro style cameras, or who keep their cameras handy, get lots of pictures of fish and game that haven’t been disturbed and are acting naturally.

While accessory companies make a variety of baskets, racks, and other e-bike utilitarian accessories, many e-bikers make their own. While often not as pretty as the manufactured units, they do the job well. It’s surprising how a fertile mind with an idea, a sense of purpose, basic mechanical skills and some free time can make or combine odd things to serve a special purpose. These creations definitely pay homage to the old saying of necessity being the mother of invention.

A fisherman in Oak Island, NC set up his e-bike, an M2S R750HT, to be his fishing vehicle for around the island. M2S (Mountains 2 Sea, ride.m2sbikes.com) is a North Carolina brand located in a suburb of Asheville. This angler said the M2S R750HT, which comes with super-wide knobby tires and a rear rack, was a perfect platform for him. He started out just trying to make the e-bike a vehicle to avoid tourist season crowds and paid parking. However, his decked out e-bike is very versatile and has become his preferred mode of transportation, even when not fishing.

His e-bike is a well thought out tool and is always subject to revision. The modifications began with adding a pair of “saddlebags” off the rear rack. Milk crates are just the right size for the saddlebags and will hold five gallon buckets, which are a fisherman’s best friend. The five gallon buckets in the milk crates can be used to carry fishing equipment to and from fishing, then add an aerator to hold live bait while fishing, and to bring the catch home. The crates also serve well to carry groceries and other purchases when running errands.

Rod holders were needed, and the simplest rod holders are sections of PVC tubing zip tied in the corners of the milk crate. He attached a three-rod holder to the rear of each crate and it’s even more versatile. The milk crate saddlebags are adaptable and will attach or remove in about 2 minutes.

The mounts for the milk crates are simple and effective. The weight is supported by a pair of heavy duty snap clips, bolted to the milk crate, that clip over the outer rail of the bike rack. A short section of slit garden hose slips over the rail to prevent scratching and keep it quiet. 

An 8-inch section of Velcro snugs the top of the milk crate to the rack, and a short bungee cord holds the bottom tight to the lower part of the rack. The crates have been loaded pretty heavy several times.  

An Ego Fishing Products Tackle Box Sling Bag (egofishing.com/collections/ego-tackle-box-bags) organizes and carries a lot of tackle and is ideal for this application. It will ride in a five gallon bucket or milk crate, and can be worn over the shoulder when the buckets and crates are being used otherwise.

Different areas have different regulations regarding riding e-bikes on the strand. However, they make great ways to carry surf fishing equipment on beaches where they’re allowed and vehicles aren’t. While they easily carry fishing equipment, one of their best attributes is allowing surf fishermen to ride the beach to locate holes and sloughs.  

Carry it all

Most surf fishermen carry more and different equipment than dock hoppers. The first difference is longer rods to cast farther. Next is adding a cooler for snacks and to hold the catch, then rod holders, chairs and a beach umbrella. This requires more room, and adding a fishing cart or wagon works well. All that’s needed is a “trailer hitch” on the bike. A pair of large carabiners at the rear of the rack does this job well.

An e-bike can be used as a vehicle to cover more ground for wildlife photography, hunting and fishing. They are quiet and can navigate paths too narrow for four wheelers. Using the same “trailer hitch” as for carrying a fishing cart, an e-bike can tow a deer cart or wagon loaded with a pop-up blind, climbing stand and other equipment, plus carry the game out. Minimalist hunters can ride the e-bike and carry their gear in a backpack, belly pack or turkey vest. Always versatile, the e-bike even serves as the frame for a quickie turkey blind.

On private lands, using an e-bike is an agreement between the sportsman and landowner. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission classifies e-bikes as vehicles, and only allows them on the same game lands roads as vehicles. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources allows Class 1 e-bikes on designated roads and trails on Game Management areas.  

There are multiple other uses too. One kayak fisherman added a set of removeable wheels to the stern of his kayak and attaches the bow to a short boom off the bike’s rack to tow his kayak to his launch spot. 

E-bikes are fun as a purely recreational ride, but are quickly gaining popularity with sportsmen. Several manufacturers offer camouflage finishes for hunters. With all this versatility, e-bikes have an application for everyone. Check them out. You may find an e-bike model just right for you. 

E-bikes come in different classes

Not all e-bikes are created equal. E-bikes have three official classes and one unofficial class. All are powered by electric motors in the rear hub or crank housing. The differences lie with the potential speed of the e-bike and how it reaches its top speed. These classifications are very important in some locations. The Carolinas don’t have an abundance of state regulations on e-bikes, but some municipalities and the wildlife management agencies have special regulations restricting the use of e-bikes. This is a quick general description of the e-bike classes.

Class 1 e-bikes are the slowest. They are limited to a motor generated top speed of 20 MPH and only receive electric motor boost when pedaling. 

Class 2 e-bikes are limited to the same 20 MPH top motor assisted speed as Class 1 e-bikes, but have a throttle that can be used independently of pedaling.  

Class 3 e-Bikes are allowed top speeds up to 28 MPH. Some Class 3 e-bikes are pedal assist only, while some also have a throttle.  

Unofficial Class 4 or unlimited e-bikes don’t fit the descriptions for Classes 1, 2 or 3.  They could have a top speed faster than 28 MPH or a motor stronger than 750 Watts.  

It is up to the purchaser to verify the class of any e-bike considered for purchase and to be sure it can be safely and legally used in the intended area. Many e-bikes can be easily altered to fit Class 1, 2 or 3 specifications.