J Francho

After doing a few demo days, watching someone exceed the weight capacity is hard to watch. Paddling becomes a struggle, turning is a struggle, you can't stand, etc. My preference is to have at least a 100# leeway. You can load these things up, but they do not paddle as well when burdened. This also where "seat time" comes in. You want to try before you by.

Gary, I've lusted for a PA w/ Mirage Drive for years.

@RichPenNY You should try one of the NYKBF online tournaments. They're fun, and inexpensive, all online, good guys, laid back. Best five fish for the month by length.

Zip Ties are what I use. Anything rigid fails or bends when backing into the water.

Why? There's no spec for a paddle, and there's definitely an advantage to using a full carbon paddle with a blade design that suits your stroke, over some some generic, low end paddle. Take it step further....there's no spec for the kayak design. SINK, SOT, Hybrid.... Currently, rules generally say "marketed and referred to by the manu as a kayak." I'd say, human powered and electric would be a good separation. Paddle paddlers peddle pedal powered paddle boats.

They do the same on Ontario and Erie.

That goes against anything I've heard from local biologists. If EVERY FISH is on a bed, then no wonder fishing is so tough - there aren't many fish in the lake! What I learned was that around 70% of the bass population doesn't participate in the spawn.

I think it's way too early to place any kind of spec on manufacturers. That stifles the kind creativity that produced these pedal drive boats. So, who's been in one these new Mirage Drive 180° boats? And do you compete?

That red craw pattern is about the only bait you need on Oneida Lake from ice out thru the spawn.

Trolling/electric motors should NOT be allowed, but they are on a national level. I think they should be in their own division. I know a few disabled people that would not be able to kayak fish without Mirage Drive.

Should pedal drive kayaks be allowed in tournaments? Some say it isn't fair. That it's an unfair advantage. Personally, I've competed against pedals with a paddle, and beat them. I don't think it's all about getting to the spot, though planning is a big part of getting set up for success on the water. I will say that it isn't like you "save all your energy" for fishing by pedaling. And I don't feel like you're actually getting there faster. It is nice to not pick up the paddle to make an adjustment. For those of you that don't know what I'm talking about, here's a video of the Hobie Mirage Drive 180°. I see reverse as a big advantage, especially when playing a fish to the boat. Hobie has been in this pedal drive game longer than anyone. Theirs is the most advanced, and the only full power reverse.

Good luck...kind of hard to find a reel that's been out of production for 12 years. Ichiban has used reel list that you can keep an eye on. No TD-Zs there now.

Brown trout eat ANYTHING. I've found bees, mice, worms, a god knows what cleaning them. I know a guy that throws mouse pattern flies for them.

Biologists up here said that 70% of the fish don't participate in spawning. If that's true, most fish you catch are "pre-spawn." Or are they post-spawn?

I think the complaints are funny. Would they rather we not have any of their products, and lie? The fact is, most fishing companies aren't out to make a crummy product. Some do a better job than others. Some are good enough. Some are excellent. A good deal of what is displayed to the right is all very good stuff. Some, I've already been using for years. Some have changed my mind about their stuff, once I got to use them. Nice review on the frog. I've been using the Pad Crashers for a couple years now. They are a solid bait, good fish catcher.

I fish for trout with bass pattern swimbaits.

Freeze, melt, refreeze, repeat. The lakes read like a shampoo bottle around here.

Interfering != Influence Meaning, you can interfere with the spawn, but it's doubtful you have any affect on the spawn.

We're answering as users, not spec sheets. If you are under 1/2 oz., then use a 3 power. If you're more 1/2 to 1 oz., then use a four. Personally, I'd go to a 5 for 1 oz.

You're using the wrong jigs. Siebert's are less than $4, and if you pick the right style, they rarely hang up. But seriously, I usually go and get any lures stuck in the wood when I'm done fishing the spot. It works better for me than dragging the whole brush pile back to the boat.

That's awesome. One the reasons I love this place!

That's one of the top reasons to use a leader with braid, bank or not. I want to be able to break off cleanly and not disturb the spot.

While the Steez replacced the TD-Z as the flagship reel, technically the TD-Z led to the Fuego.

It sounded like you wanted it to do all of it. A 4 power will work fine for what you want to do.

They are sold by diameter in Europe, I think.