A-Jay

Congrats on the new boat. If you've never done any maneuvering with a truck, boat & trailer, before you hit the boat ramp a little practice somewhere else will help. Find a large, open, and preferably lined space (empty parking lot) and practice every maneuver you can think of - especially backing in a straight line. And if you've not done it, you'll soon find out that backing with an empty trailer is different than doing it with the boat. A-Jay

Very Nice Bass ~ She's every bit of 5 1/2 lbs and maybe even more. Those feelings of excitement, imagination, anticipation, and accomplishment during your "Journey" to this bass, is precisely why I love this sport. Congratulations A-Jay

A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to BR ~ You'll be glad to know there's quite a robust Daiwa following here . . . A-Jay

Nice ~ You're Welcome. A-Jay

Hello Rob and Thank You for your Service. Welcome to BR ~ I went through a similar re-acquaintance with bass fish a few years back after a military retirement as well. My advice is make a modest initial investment until you can update yourself on the newer stuff and can then purchase with confidence. Handle as much different types / brands as you can. TW has a reel DEMO program that allows you to "try before you buy" which is pretty cool. Good Luck A-Jay USCG (Ret)

I think you're going to need a Bigger Boat A-Jay

Nice fish ~ PB's are Always a Blast. So which hook & rig did you end up going with ? A-Jay

Yesterday I was out on a lake I haven't fished in while and was dragging a blade bait deep. It was an overcast, wet & kind of nasty day with only a few bass to show for my efforts. I had gotten snagged a few times and my plug knocker was getting more use than the net, never a good sign. However, on this one particular retrieval attempt, besides getting my bait back, I also got a surprise. A-Jay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icYqGaEqmDY&feature=youtu.be

A-Jay

This is The Short List ~ A-Jay

That's a Big Time Centropomus undecimalis otherwise know as a wicked good Snook ~ ! Congrats Capt Shane . . . . . A-Jay

I certainly understand the sentiment but really hope this is not the case. It's just way too early . . . . . A-Jay

And how is it that this thread made it to 7 pages ? That's pretty zany all by it's self. A-Jay

For me old & slow means wary and careful which equates to much less duress in the long run. As a younger & dumber "angler" I do recall one incident where I ended up "pinned" to a 12 pound bluefish at midnight which promptly pulled me off a rock jetty and took me for a swim into the 10 knot inlet. None of this was fun. Some how a couple of very basic survival instincts kicked in and I managed to escape that rather grave ordeal with only a minor puncture wound and a bruised ego. But I did need a change of shorts. I will admit to immediately purchasing a rather long GAFF ! A-Jay

Some Wicked Good Waldos right there Sir . . . . A-Jay

Very nice fish ~ You really should be wearing a PFD while in the Kayak. It's just not enough to have one "in the boat" A-Jay http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/126933-my-pfd-testimonial/?p=1396450 http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/145432-my-lifejacket-saved-me-today/?p=1621056 http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/129795-let-my-stupidity-be-your-lesson/?p=1434226

Life is about Balance. Mind, Body & Spirit. Find it and your fishing will improve as well. A-Jay

Like this ~ or like this A-Jay

Ether way ~ Cool Pics. A-Jay

Nice Bass Congrats A-Jay

Beautifully done and without a single capitol letter. A-Jay

Good Stuff so far - I'll add this - when choosing where to start in the morning, knowing the prevailing wind direction / speed from the night before can come in handy. Even if the wind has let up that morning, there may be some residual effects that dictate where the bite could be right off. Certainly could change later but it's usually worth a look. A-Jay

The part where you ask a whole bunch of tackle junkies if it's OK to buy more gear . . . . A-Jay

You might consider omitting all the terminal tackle except for the hook. Simply cast out & free line the bait. Keeping in contact with the line with a finger will assist you in the initial bite detection department. If those fish are a little spooky, lightening up your leader a little might help too. A-Jay