SnowBass23

I've kayak fished for a long time now. Yes, they do occasionally give you some pull. The biggest concern usually comes in the form of other obstacles. For example, if you are anywhere with any kind of current, wind, and/or natural obstacles (say for example, a dock) and you hook a fish then you may need to maintain kayak control while also keeping enough tension on the fish. There are several great kayak fishing websites that have a wealth of information. The other thing I'd recomend you pay attention to, is what are your limits? How far can you lean back on a hookset without losing your balance? How far can you lean over reaching for something? In my experience, the vast majority of people that dump their yaks get it in the beggining by forgetting counterbalance and lurching forward to grab a droped object or fight a fish. Just put in some practice and you'll do fine.

I almost clicked on the link! "Fool me once, shame on you..." But this is even better I don't believe in hell myself, but if it exists, those parents will be first in line.

Definately bad form for a tourney. Still I think it is bad even for friends. Personally, I've always been a big believer in the owner of the boat can do whatever he wants within reason. A couple years ago I fished with a buddy that had just bought a bass boat. This was the first time I'd ever been on, let alone fished from, a bass boat. This guy would move the boat so fast that I never had a chance to work an area. If I didn't cast paralell and towards the front of the boat, he would be past a spot before my plastic could finish the fall. It sucked, and I rarely caught fish. But, it was his boat and his money, so I was happy to be along. Now that I have a boat of my own, I realize it is a lot more difficult to control the boat for the back fisherman than I had imagined before. Still though, you should be able t obring it up in a polite manner so it doesn't keep screwing you.

I tend to disagree about Cottonmouths being docile. Of course I am also terrified of snakes and will go WAY out of my way to avoid them (which is funny because I spend most of my time, wet-wading in southern Alabama creeks and streams). Just like any snake, keep your distance and be careful. On two seperate occasions I've had Cottonmouths come AT me and almost chase me. Once was night fishing for catfish in the middle of July two years ago. At about 1am we were hiking back from below a spillway and were walking across the emergency overflow area (basically just giant concrete steps without water). My light shined over a coiled up Cottonmouth about 10 feet away. We stoped where we were, and as my friend said that he thought it was a Cottonmouth, it suddenly hissed, and jumped at us. This is something I thought only happened in movies. I didn't know snakes would hiss in real life, or that the ywould jump and bite at you. I kind of figured tv shows it just to look cool. But this thing over 10 feet away came charging at us hissing as it did so. When it got closer it snapped at my friend two or three times. I have no idea why it would go out of it's way to come at us. Oh well, always better to err on the side of extreme caution.

HawgHunter, I am several weeks into my first bass boat, which is the Pro Team 175 TXW you mentioned. Although I don't really have any specific pros/cons I have discovered a couple of things along the way. First off, I searched around on a lot of different models. Triton, G3, Xpress, Lowe, and even the similar priced Stratos. I had gotten myself hooked on the layout of the PT 175 and when I looked into the other boats I just couldn't find one that was similarly equipped for the same price range. The layout on most of the other boats just wasn't what I wanted. With that in mind, get what has as much storage space as possible. However much storage you think is enough right now, trust me it won't be. When you first bring that beautiful baby home and you start putting your junk--uhm, GEAR into it, it will fill up fast! Also, anything you can do wrong, you probably will in the beginning. This was the factor that made me steer clear of the fiberglass boats altogether. I've been around boats for a while now, so I wouldn't consider myself completely inexperienced. However, there's always times when I'm just not thinking and end up bumping into a stump, or scraping it on the trailer at a weird angle when trailering in the wind, etc etc etc. If it CAN go wrong, it WILL, and probably in the beggining. So, get used to the idea that your gorgeous new rig is going to have signs of lovin'. Aside from that, if you have any specific questions feel free to ask, and good luck!

From everything I've read and seen, and from growing up on a farm with several ponds, it seems you've lost some of the balance. yeah, it's great to have big bass, everyone wants that, but it looks like the number of large bass have grown due to all the larger bream they've been able to eat. In turn, the bass have gotten bigger, while the bream numbers have decreased and/or they can't live beyond the smaller sizes for being picked off. I would make sure you are following an annual fertilization schedule. I know most states have state fisheries bioligists that you can get to come test the pond and make reccomendations. I would go that route. Get an expert in to test the water and soil. Not only can they let you know specific fertilizers you may be lacking in (for those tiny bream to get bigger they need food, and that chain will start with healthy algae and plankton), but they can also reccomend what changes need to be made, in how much/what type of fish you are harvesting. It would also be important to make sure you are putting out brush piles and things so that the bream have a higher survivability rate and carefully harvest some of the bass to help acheive that balance. Good luck! Also, if you aren't doing it already, a daily feeder on a timer will help those bream get a steady diet, which in turn gives you a steady diet!

BassChump I feel your pain! I myself have gone through the same fishing scenario: loved it on the rare occasion I could go as a kid (maybe 2 times a year if I was lucky!) so as an adult I jumped in, spent enough money to fill a boat with lures, poles, and the like, only to spend a good couple of years catching pretty much NOTHING except an occasional bluegill. I also believed the fish gods were against me (still think that occasionally!). If you are reading through the info here, then you are off to a great start. My personal advice I'd give you is to texas rig a zoom finesse worm in either a dark green or plain brown color. Then, take your boat and work along shorelines with relatively shallow water. Maybe 5 feet at most. Just throw that worm out there, and work it PAINFULLY S L O W. Even when you think you are going too slow, go slower! Throw the lure out and let it sink to the bottom. Then, with your rod tip pointed in the direction of your bait, lift the rod tip slowly, up about 6 - 8 inches total, then set it back down. When you set it down, slowly reel in the slack. Lift and repeat. I started with this method and gradually began to catch fish. I am sure others here on the board have many tips and much better methods to get you going but this was my start. Once I started catching fish on a couple basic worm styles and colors, then I began to add to my arsenal. As you gain confidence with the worms and start expanding you'll KNOW that there are fish, and you CAN catch them. SnowBass

While it isn't my idea of fun, I fail to see the problem. It is just plain old fashion jack-assery and they deserve to be knocked in the back of the head. But, it isn't like bass (and the other fish) aren't exposed to swimmers, motor boats, IDIOTS on jet skis, and occasionally a fishing hook or two. Don't worry, you can tell the kids what you think the next time you go through MickeyD's drivethru.

When I was a kid, fishing (and not catching!! : ) with my dad, I was dangling my hook about 6 inches out of the water. He yelled at me, that a fish would never bite it if it wasn't in the water. Flash forward 20-some years. It was a hot July day, just as it was getting dark. I threw a hoola-popper with no luck. Finally, I snagged it in a clump of grass. The popper was about 10 inches out of the water, hooked in some grass. I started pulling it at me, hoping to break free from the grass, and making it rattle like crazy. It was about 10 feet from shore. Suddenly the lake erupted beneath the grass as a HAWG jumped up and grabbed it. It scarred me so much I dropped the rod. Luckily there was enough slack to pick the rod up before it disappeared completely! So you can catch them OUT of the water! And yes, I still use that rod. ;D

Hell yes. BEST...SHOW...EVER. I like the way they really made me hate that POS Shane last season. Yeah, I read that it was all delayed because of the writer's strike. That delayed the next greatest show..Rescue Me. I think Kavanaugh was a waste of time, to see how he turned in the towel. It could have ended so much better, especially with him starting to play dirty.

Got it for the 360 on launch day. I've been too busy playing with the new boat but I did get to kill a few hookers..uhm, I meant "Ladies of the Evening". The game is amazing! My only problem is how realistic they've made it now. It makes it a PAIN to do missions at night because once I've smashed my headlights I can't see ****!

I have a 565 that I used on my kayak for fishing and it worked great. Since I just recently bought a bass rig I am looking to install it at the trolling motor. Sadly, it is my only point of reference (except the ultra cheap Lowrance x37 that came on the boat!).

I agree, shoddy employees with no knowledge of the product they are hocking can ruin any hobby or experience. I usually mention something simple like using a certain style of soft plastics. There answer quickly lets you know how fast to walk away. I do my store buying out of impulse. We have a BPS 2 hrs away, that my work sadly requires me to drive right past a few times a month. Although my experience in BPS has always been good, I still do my best not to talk about our lifestyle so as not to spoil my day!

I have been a long time Kayak fisher and I LOVE IT! Of course, like anything there are pros and cons! I have a Prowler 13 Angler edition (also by Ocean Kayak, just like the Big Game). Mine is rigged with several rod holders, a fish finder, an anchor system, and several other features that make fishing easier. One of the big concerns that you should think about, is the angle you will be sitting in relation to the water. I know some models allow you to stand, also you might be agile enough to stand and cast. I however am not that person! I have used several models and brands of kayaks, and I have never been able to easily stand and fish (or even stand up and look). I am a thick boy (not fat, but a big weight-lifting bubba!) and not the most agile person around. So standing has never been an option for me. Because of this, when you are fishing, you will be sitting in a constant position with your legs straight out in front of you, or bent up to a 90 degree angle. Sit on the floor in your house and take a rod, and imagine casting back and forth. Because you have such a low angle, your view in the water is limited, so it makes sight fishing a little more challenging. I would really take a good look at canoes. My wife and I recently bought a fully loaded bass boat. I like the bass boat because she can go with me, and it is nice to fish without always paddling. But I still want to be able to fish smaller waters, AND take her. Even if your wife doesn't like to fish, and claims no interest in the kayak, DON'T BELIEVE IT! My wife is the ultimate girly-girl and she had no interest in kayaking. After I started yak fishing we finally went and rented a tandem kayak just to paddle around in for the afternoon. Since that day all I have heard is how she wants to go with me. Also if you plan on fishing with a child (or even if you get a buddy into it) you can easily get into a canoe that can go to most of the same places, and it is always cheaper to buy what you want from the start, instead of upgrading later. On canoes vs. kayaks, kayaks are infinitely faster than canoes. When you have a couple of strong paddlers in a canoe, and you get into a decent shaped sit on top kayak (they are generally not known for speed, more for stability!) the kayaker will still be able to soar past most canoes. Personally, since my wife and I have the big boat now, I plan on trading the kayak for a canoe for those occasions when she wants to go too. For the person that mentioned getting a SIK for the room, I took a 4 day trip with a buddy last summer. We both took our own SOT kayaks, we each carried our own camping/food supplies as well as tackle and we still had room to spare. Good luck with your decision!

I agree, gas prices just plain suck. But they are far better here than pretty much any other country in the world. In Europe and asia, there are a lot of places where gas is sold by the liter (or is it litre?) for more than we pay per gallon. We have a long way to go compared to a lot of other countries. What shocks me though, is how people think gas prices can go back down. It's about very basic supply and demand. As the gas (or in this case, oil) quantities dwindle and the demand increases, the price will ONLY go up. When it is demanded more and more every day it will not go down. The only time gas will go down, is when the demand goes down. When big companies and everyone else responsible stops dragging their feet and gets around to creating different vehicles, or a different fuel source, then gas will go back down because the demand will have ceased. Certainly I mean no offense to the poster, but gas is only going up. We can certainly however do our own part by refusing to shop from particular sources.

I agree with the other posters that it definately seems your guys were aiming to cheat from the beggining. Especially, since their concern was how much would still be paid out if they just happened to turn in dead fish. The lake here does an annual fishing tournament for a 2 week stretch. The day before the tourney starts a whole boat load of fish, cats, bass, crappie, bream all of different sizes are tagged. The tags correspond to a listing the warden and event coordinators track. In order to compete, people have to buy a tourney pass before hand. If they catch a fish with a number on it (just numbers, not actual $ listed) they take the fish, ALIVE, to the tourney board to have the number looked up and collect the prize. Every year there are several fish in the $1000 and up category. This way, you could end up with a tiny 4 inch bream with a tag and a 8 lb bass tag. People tend to assume a monster fish has a high value, while a small fish will have $15 or $20 bucks. A lot of times those small guys have several hundred dollars on them. People are always scheming to fish and IF they catch a tagged fish, then run out and buy a pass. Cheaters suck. There was also a story, I believe in Bassmaster about a local favorite who had won several smaller local events. Then one day someone noticed him tying off a stringer next to a bush in a cove. When they inspected he had several nice fish tied off. A sting was set up, and during the tourney he came to collect them. It just sucks what people are willing to do for money, and ruining this lifestyle (not hobby, not just a sport!) in the process.

The first time I read this or had it forwarded to me was sometime in 2001. I laughed every bit as hard today as I did back then! My hats off to the poster for putting this up! Thank you! By the way,...I'm the guy that coughs so you know my stall is occupied. "Seat's taken"

Great topic from the original poster! Kudos! These are the stories that kinda explain why the hell we all enjoy fishing so much in the first place. It isn't necessarily always about the actual fish caught, but about the experience of the hunt. That being said, I certainly have made my fair share of both beginner's mistakes (like going out and spending a whole boat-load of money on things I have to have, like a giant catfish landing net when fishing a neighborhood pond) and dumb mistakes (like having the rods in my suv, rolling the windows down, then hearing the rod tips CRACK! when I rolled the window back up without looking) but 2 of the funniest stories happened to friends I fished with. First, I'm an old salty enlisted guy working with hotshot young Lieutenants. This one in particular was probably 22 and barely out of college. He heard me and another salty old timer talk about fishing with plastic worms. So I told him a good spot I go to and the color I have the most luck with there. A few days later I rolled up to see him there fishing. So as I walk over to my spot with a single rod in my hand (not the whole tackle-store anymore!) he comes walking over. He tells me that he just isn't having any luck at all on the plastic worms. When he shows me his rig he had an old, battered, well-loved, unnamed rod and spinning reel. He had a little red and white bobber. Less than 12 inches under that he had a piece of split shot, and a 7 inch plastic worm gobbed up on a tiny cricket hook (just like worm fishing for bream). His knot looked about like a shoestring bow. So I offered to show him how I rig mine. After a minute I had him on an EWG worm hook, texas rigged with a bullet sinker and plastic worm. I showed him how I throw them out, lift and drop, and slowly bring it back. Now I'm certainly not anywhere being a great fisherman, but while this kid is standing there, on probably my 3rd cast, I feel the perfect tap tap and set the hook. It was a small fish, but he was amazed. Less than 10 minutes later he yanked back to set the hook on his own rod. As he fought a healthy hog into the shore she wrapped around a clump of weeds and his line snapped. Then 20 or 30 feet out she began raising her head out of the water to throw the hook. That was one of those times that NOT catching had more of an impact. Everytime I've seen that young kid since then he talks about that day and thanks me for giving him a worm hook and bullet sinker. The small things! The other time, was definately a stupid one... My usual partner and I have a little game where I come up with some stupid @$$ task to see if he'll do it and he usually does his best attempt. So, after years of us taking turns giving our own plastic baits a lick to see if it really does have New and Improved!!!! flavor he decided he could finally top me once and for all. I had my back to him, when he asks if I want to see him eat a 6 in. ringworm. Just as I turn around I see about 3/4 inch of plastic worm sticking out of his mouth just as he sucks it down. I instantly suspected he had used a piece of candy so I called him on BS. He said that he wanted full credit for eating a dang worm so he would do it again. He pulled out a fresh-from-the-pack oily worm and placed it in his mouth. He made a heavy swallow and opened his now empty mouth. As I begain to fall on my butt in the creek laughing hysterically it occured to me that he only had 2 painful ways to get those worms out. Suddenly he doubled over, gagging and retching.... out dropped 2 perfect ringworms. I called him a jackass, continued laughing the rest of the day, and now have a story we'll tell the rest of our lives. The fact that between the 2 of us we caught 54 LMB in that one day was merely an interesting side note to our combined stupidity! :

I have. I just bought a Pro Team 175TXW from the Bass Pro in Prattville, AL. Before I settled on buying out of BPS I had looked at several boat dealers. Everything from Mom&Pop Shops to much larger dealerships. I personally prefer the BPS route myself. Tracker sets the prices sop you don't have to worr yabout haggling prices. Just go to the tracker site, find the boat yo uwant, and it will give you the price, including dealer charges in your area. I prefer BPS because all of the other shops felt like car dealerships. No matter how much research I had done prior (which was ALOT! I have waited 4 years to buy) the dealers kept trying to push me off onto other brands and even used boats. Also, BPS does have the ability to add all the nice things, like the tackle boxes, coolers, Tracker hats, etc. The smaller dealers had trouble finding the items that tracker advertises as coming included with their boats. All in all BPS was the way for me. The price was the same, much greater inventory, and I didn't feel like I was buying from some used car salesman. Oh, I needed to add that the BPS actually has a Tracker center inside the store, so it is still like a dealership in that there are dedicated salesman and finance people. The payment options all depend on your credit and approval. I financed through my own bank and ended up only spending 13K with a 50 hp.

Nice to see some other SOUTH EAST Alabama boys on here. On Fort Rucker myself. Seems the northern half of the state is swarmed but not too many from this neck of the woods. Which is probably a good thing 8-) More for the rest of us! I've been fishing all over the southeast section of the state on foot and in a kayak for a couple of years now. I finally played the cards just right and my wife is letting me go pick a bass boat up this Thursday.

Kayak fishing is a blast. For anyone looking to get into it, just do a little research and you'll see there styles for every budget and fishing habit. I have a Prowler 13 that cost about $800. Because of its shape it is much faster than the peddle driven kayaks, but not as fast as some others. I then outfitted it with rod holders, a decent fish finder, anchors, etc. It has been a lot of fun and great for getting into tiny water that others can't touch. And yes, there is little to no upkeep, you can launch it from anywhere without a boat ramp, and do just about anything. Personally, I just got tired of ALWAYS paddling and then casting (this is why pedal drives rock! you can peddle to keep place and fish) so i just bought a fully equipped bass boat. But I still use the kayak for those quiet fishing trips in backwaters.

Hey Flippinout, I feel your frustration. I'm actually just north of you above the Alabama line. I have fished the Choctawhatchee north of the state line on several occasions and did a kayak trip down the blackwater last summer. For me and my buddies, we were certain that using our kayaks and wet wading to get to untouched areas would be our ticket. We went through the same skunking you've received time and again. On the blackwater my strategy turned to using soft plastics and literally dredging out those deep holes in bends. I prefer dark colored tube baits. I would throw one to the opposite bank in one of the deep pitch black holes and let it sink to the bottom, then I begin slooooooowly inching it back. I lift my rod tip about 6 inches (normally my tip is pointed at the spot I cast to) and reel painfully slow, maybe making a 1/4 turn of the reel handle. This was the only way for me to pull ANYTHING. They were still bass of small size. The biggest one was less than 2 lbs. On the Choct. my luck is similar. We attribute bad fishing on the Choct. on our side of the line to heavy fishing pressure. No matter where I go to access the Choct. it is covered with people. With a jon or kayak I can quickly cover some ground and get away from the easy to access spots, and that helps some. I have been very disappointed with the Choct. in that it has always been crowded and seems more of a party destination than anything else > Sounds like we need to set up a stream outing. Also, check out Americanriverfishing.com for the Florida forum. I am on the Alabama forum and it is a wealth of info (albeit for the guys way in upstate AL and not for us swampland bums : ) but the FL site should be a good prospect also. SnowBass