J Francho

Oh yeah, absolutely... since I have a boat(s), my perspective may be a little different. I've also been in on the kayak thing for a decade now, so while my actual kayak may look wildly outfitted to an outsider, it's actually pretty simple. I still don't know why you'd add a Torqueedo to a PA that already has a very good propulsion system, but like you said, to each his own. I'd be looking at a more efficiant hull design... the upcoming Tarpon, for instance -- cough-cough...

Adding a trolling motor to a PA? How much does a deep cycle weigh? That's a heavy craft.... If you want a jonboat with an kicker and a troller, get that. If you want a Mirage Drive Hobie, get that. If you want a light kayak and a paddle, get that. Hybridizing every possible permutation of a personal fishing craft will leave you with a confusing mess. I say, get a big boy boat, like a C140, ATAK, PBG, Lure, etc. and a GOOD paddle, and have at it. Then when you want to add on, trade up, whatever, you have a good foundation of what the craft can do.

I totally agree, Scott. I have a 62MLXF and a 62MXF, and they are noticibly different in what each can do. The MXF might be the more versitle of the two, but the MLXF gets more play.

Use one with a football shaped head. When it hit rocks and rip rap, it kicks the tail of the bait up. Works well for fall and spring bites, when fish are shallow and weeds are few.

I pretty much never Rage rig a craw. It's on a traditional T-rig, with the weight pegged or not (cover decides this), or I use a jika rig.

Not really, it was a Dobyns Champion Extreme, lol.

I *can* idle around, but in practice, that's limited when I'm on lakes I *think* I know. The point is, I see things in the kayak without trying. It's inherent to the activity. With fishing, I generally live in the moment, so I'm probably not going to stop, turn off the big motor, get up front, drop the troller, grab a rod, and test a theory based on a blip on the radar every time. In a kayak, it's as simple as putting the paddle down and grabbing a rod to make a cast. I think it's a misnomer to assume that idling at 3-5 mph with a purpose is the same as wandering over an area with a kayak. Yes you can slow down, but it's not the same. Just like the opposite. I can generally cover 6-8 miles in a trip in my kayak. I probably cover the aboiut the same fishing in the bass boat, while there's the additional water covered not fishing, but going from spot to spot. I have both, to compare the two isn't false, but the if you've spent a legitimate amount of time in both, they contrast more than compare.

That's an advantage rarely mentioned in kayak fishing. You can get into slop easiliy and queitly that a bass boat cannot. We have a ton of it up here - it's bread and butter for my fishing.

I don't think the attraction is all about accessibility to remote places. Certainly, there's a closeness to the water, and what is happening around you that I don't get in a bass boat. I also fish slower. I don't mean I slow down, I mean I cover water slower, and more thoroughly. I can't tell you how many things I've found graphing when going from spot to spot - things I never knew were there. I wouldn't have seen them at all running 80 mph in the Bullet.

No issues there with Owner 5/0 Rig'n hooks. Did break a rod in half with Jim during a tx last year. Fish stayed buttoned, lol.

Look up Canadice and Hemlock lakes. Both are less than an hour south of Rochester. Perfect for canoeing, since there's a 9 hp limit. No boat wakes or jet skis. Fishing can be tough, though.

50 is too slow for a power boat, lol.

Add a trailer to the PA price... Great boat, I been in a couple, but really heavy.

So, like I do for my truck, car, two boats and trailers every couple years? Not a problem. It's easy. Put this on your radar, then. Lighter, less cash, hulls made here: http://www.wildernesssystems.com/us/experience/videos/video/power-wilderness

Wilderness Systems ATAK, Commander 140 (I own one), and Ride 135 should all be on your list of boats to get seat time in.

Yes, in the town of Biznis, lol. No, it's a water supply reservior. No cottages or docks, just wild shoreline.

I have two kayaks, a rowboat, an 18' Aluminum bass boat, and a 22' glass bass boat. I also fish from shore, or wade streams. They all have their purpose. I'd say for many situations, I do prefer the quiet solitude of kayak fishing, and not just for bass. In fact, it's a superior rig for dealing with northern pike, and bigger gamefish. Being close to the water is a huge advantage.

So, you're talking more about taper (action) and power, along with the ergonomics (long/short handle, etc)? Because it seems like this more about the actual balance point on a rod. Maybe I'm wrong...

You guys really fish with bait hanging off the end of your rod? My baits are usually in the water, and they usually are buoyant or resting on the bottm, so I don't need to offset that mass.

Here's what use. The weights are one to on-and-a-half ounce trolling weights. Takes half the weight of a pegged bullet weight to punch through.

Add to that, "balanced" is often subjective. Balalanced how? Where? Take your rod in and put a bunch of reels on it, and see how it feelds with each.

Create confidence by spending time on the water, and using your baits.If there's a bait you lack confidence, do the research, and find out the best time and situation to use it and use it then.

Whether you pitch, flip, roll cast, side arm, chuck and duck, or whatever cast you use… it matters little unless your bait is in the strike zone of a biting fish. What Catt and others are saying is "learn to read the water." There's always structure- it's the bottom of the lake. There's always bottom composition. Sometimes there's cover. Shoreline vegetation can give you clues to structure and composition. So can the "edges" of submersed vegetation. Pads like soft bottom. When they stop, figure out why. Too deep? Well, that's a drop off, or structure. Or, is the bottom hard? That's a change in bottom composition. Look for smaller structural features. Shoreline had a stand of trees, then dips a bit and has mucky shrubs? I'll bet there's a small channel under the water there, formed when rain water flows in. Think of it in this frame of mind, and you'll be better at finding bass.

Next time your up here, shoot me a PM. Nice mud shark!