J Francho

Dick's Sporting Goods has them 20% off just about every spring.

You didn't list the length. I have a an Avid AVC62MXF that I use for sniper style spinnerbaiting, topwaters, and hard jerk baits. In most cases, fast or x-fast rod is NOT what you want to use with treble hooked baits, but the medium power of the rod I'm using suits them. I prefer the quick tip recovery of an x-fast rod for topwaters and other "twitch" retrieve baits. This rod also handles medium cover drop shot applications pretty well too.

Thanks Tin, that is DEFINITELY part of the plan. Many of the initial customers would be kayakers that may or may not fish. It is an opportunity to put quality gear and baits in their hands, and expose them to the advantages. While it might seem like I'd want to outfit them "beater gear," I think it would serve them and any potential business partner to use top flight stuff. After some time, I would bet that some might be experienced anglers that are looking for an alternative to the usual bass boat. Handing them "beater gear" would be an insult to their ability. They will immediately recognize the advantages that specialized gear offers, and put them in a "try before you buy" situation.

You'll be fine w/ the 1000 series reel. The deal with the bigger reels is with spool diameter, and less snarl with fluoro line. For light line, you'll be fine.

Seriously, if you are going to fish cranks, you need a FishGrip and a set of needle nose. You will inevitably encounter a situation where you simply cannot easily hold the fish, and remove the bait without getting hurt.

Pitching is just a casting technique, and can be done with just about any rod, spinning and casting. What would help more if you said what you were pitching too. Wood, grass pockets, under docks, overhanging branches, etc. all would benefit from different rod characteristics. In general though, a longer rod is beneficial.

The PMs are greatly appreciated. Thanks for all the input.

Look for a used get up, preferably a metal framed reel, and have a pro clean and lube it. Its worth the $20 or so. For a rod, anything in the 6-7' medium power, fast action will be fine - it doesn't need to be super high end. Get yourself some inexpensive 12-14# mono, like Trilene or Big Game. While you are learning, pull 50 yards or so off the spool, and tape it up. Then reel the line back in. Now any birds nests won't be terminal. Once you are confident, you can remove the tape training wheels. Reel Mechanic has a great article here: http://www.***/education/baitcaster-setup-101.html.

I've entered into a business arrangement with a local paddle sports shop to promote kayak fishing. I'll be doing on water demos, holding seminars and providing guided trips. This is an exciting new venture for me, but with it comes many hurdles, and I'm hoping you all can offer some input. I have developed a few outlines for an "Intro to Kayak Fishing" course series, but this is in very rough draft form. I know at least a few here are educators, some guide, and perhaps some have held similar classes, so I'd very interested to hear their thoughts and experiences as well, from both an angler standpoint, and as educators. Another topic would outfitting students with proper gear that matches both their ability and the fishing situations. I am thinking that some rod and reel manufacturer would jump at this opportunity. I'm not looking for handouts, but some promotional consideration would be nice. The same could be said for baits, lures, and other terminal tackle. I want to have the ability to introduce a complete neophyte to fishing through kayaking, but also show an experienced angler not familiar with kayak fishing some great gear, and great fishing opportunities as well. Anglers are gear heads, and this is a great opportunity to get your name out there. I suppose that would mean entering in a pro staff arrangement, though I'm not sure of the details, and my responsibilities to the companies supporting me. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. So, any help, whether posted here publicly, or privately through PM, email, phone calls would HUGELY appreciated. PM me for my digits, if necessary. Thanks! ~JF

For me its all about comfort. The way you fish with a BC reel keeps your hands up, in front. Casting is a low effort affair. There are a few things I can do with a BC that I can't do with a spinning reel, and vice versa. You definitely have more control, once yu become adept at using a BC. However, you can be just as deadly accurate with a spinning reel.. The last thing is, a BC can handle larger diameter lines, and lines that are notoriously troublesome on spinning gear. There was a time when I had 3 or 4 BC rigs, and many spinning rigs. Now I have one spinning, and many BC rigs.

There is another "black spot" disease that is common in bass, but its lots of smaller dots, peppering the body. Those are caused by trematodes, which are generally harmless, and whose life cycle involves fish, birds, and snails.

Not the best depiction, but here's one with some at the base of the tail, and along its back, near the soft dorsal fin rays. Not as dark as yours, and definitely not normal coloration. If its even, its usually just normal dark coloration from being in shallow weeds, like this guy:

Melanoma. I've read that it eventually does the fish in, but it must take years, because I've seen some huge fish with it.

Fish for northern pike.

I think you stand almost as good a chance as losing a bait from boat as you do from shore, especially if it gets hung deep in wood. Stronger line, lighter hooks, and a few of the other suggestions will reduce loss. To tell you the truth, it burns me more when I lose a worm weight, hook, and worm, LOL. I lose more of those than any crank, and I do a lot of cranking. I also think if you aren't losing a few cranks, you aren't being aggressive enough with them. If I had avoided throwing a creank from shore, I'd have never caught the fish below, and many, many others. And yes, that is a $20 Duo Slaver crankbait from Japan.

I turn it around in lockdown mode, or in really fast boats, take it off, and sit on it.

I know, I don't go out on the tribs now. I was talking about once the cold chases the snaggers away. That's another beaut!

Beautiful fish, Dwight. Do you ever hit any of the Erie tribs when its too icy to get out in the lake? We have a ball up here chasing cold steel in the tiny ditches around Lake O.

Stinger 36 or 41. VMC Inline Round. I guess they are actually 1x hooks, but you get the picture. No need for the 4x, 6x monsters with most bass situations. I mean think about it...I caught my season's best smallmouth, a 5-0, on a #6 Gamakatsu Drop shot/SS hook.

I find once the hooks are set into hood, the bowstring method usually fails. Use strong co polymer line, like 10 or 12# CXX opr Yo-Zuri hybrid and 2x treble hooks. You should be able to straighten the hooks on a straight pull without breaking the line. Don't use the rod to pull the bait free, though. Don't worry about losing fish with the light trebles, unless you fishing for double digit bass. Honestly though, a half dozen lost baits in a year isn't really that bad.

I've seen used boats for $300 to $600 recently, mostly people upgrading to bigger or more advanced boats. Check local forums and craigslist. I didn't take any instruction. Its not too hard to figure out how to paddle; trial and error on a calm pond. When its warm, you might want to practice reboarding from the water. State laws vary, but generally, a Type III PFD, whistle, and a signaling device, like a mirror or flare gun is standard. Safety is a complex issue, that's sort of out of scope here, but you can find plenty of info out there. www.kayakfishingstuff.com would be a good start.

Earlier release.

If you've never used a baitcaster, then anything less than 3/8 oz. is going to be difficult. Learn how to walk before you learn how to run.

The "mob" as you call them is merely reacting to his own posts which don't indicate he can't get the package out on time due to honest personal issues but instead, include promises of shipping and providing the info to prove he shipped. He further attempts to validate his honesty by claiming he has a very high, positive Ebay seller score. He sank his own ship. Too bad the guy who started this with the best of intentions got reamed in the process. It looks like that's the case here. I knew this wouldn't work out. If you have stuff to get rid of, just put it up in the Flea Market. : And I wasn't calling anyone a "mob." I was referring to their behavior. The drama is quite entertaining.

You can get into a rig for about a grand, new.