Bassyak

I posted this in another thread, but it applies here too. "I bought an Eagle FishEasy 320C last year to install on my kayak and I love it. I got it on eBay for just under $200 and it's a compact, relatively inexpensive color unit that works great on my 10' long Hobie kayak. Perfect for what I use it for, which is basically locating structure and bottom features vice actually finding fish. Definitely recommended for the price. I'd love to get another one for my Bass Tracker when I can find the money. P.S. It's also very easy to read and identify the color changes in direct sunlight, even while wearing polarized sunglasses."

I bought an Eagle FishEasy 320C last year to install on my kayak and I love it. I got it on eBay for just under $200 and it's a compact, relatively inexpensive color unit that works great on my 10' long Hobie kayak. Perfect for what I use it for, which is basically locating structure and bottom features vice actually finding fish. Definitely recommended for the price. I'd love to get another one for my Bass Tracker when I can find the money. P.S. It's also very easy to read and identify the color changes in direct sunlight, even while wearing polarized sunglasses.

I have a Extreme I purchased about 5 years ago paired up with a 6'6" Medium BPS Tournament Stick (a discontinued green blank model) that I use for light crankbaits and topwaters. It has never given me any problems in all the years I've used it. I let my dad use it when he comes to visit since it's so easy to cast and he's not as experienced throwing a baitcaster, and he casts all day with hardly a backlash. I think they're great reels for the money (especially on sale), though I have others (Curado, Quantum Code, Energy, and Accurist) that I use more often.

I guess, by the lack of response, that no one has experience with these rods yet.

I just got a Crucial 7'2" Dropshot ML to pair with a Saros 2500 as a dropshot/shakyhead combo and I love it so far. Very light and sensitive tip. Very impressed so far. Haven't caught any fish with it yet, but hopefully that'll come soon.

I just got a new Saros on Ebay for just under $100 and it's a great real. I have a Symetre too, but I really like the new features on the Saros.

I run into weeds all the time, and the pedals too a pretty good job of plowing right through them. They're pretty solid and pretty much self-cleaning, as far as weeds and pads. The rudder picks up more stuff than the fins, and it has a lever in the cockpit for raising if necessary. Plus if it's really thick, you can just take your regular kayak paddle (included with the kayak) with you and paddle your way around. I usually carry a short wooden canoe paddle with me, just so I can back up if I need to. Like I said, earlier, it's pretty much the ideal small fishing platform.

Anyone fished one of the new Quantum Superlite rods? How do they compare to rods like Kistlers, Carrot Stix, or Cumaras (or any others with similar split grip/open reel seat configurations)? I see they're pretty heavily discounted from the MSRP on some Ebay stores. Just curious.........

As my screen name suggests, I do the majority of my fishing from a kayak, even though I also have a 17' Bass Trackeer taking up space in my garage. I tend to fish a lot of smaller lakes so I can avoid jet-skiers and such, so the kayak is perfect for me. I have a Hobie Mirage Sport and it's the ultimate fishing kayak. It's less than 10 ft long, almost 3 ft wide and weighs less than 50 lb, so it's easy to get in and out of the bed of my pickup (or on your roof if you have a smaller car), easy to get in and out of the water, and easy to get in and out of tight spots on the water. Hobies are a bit more expensive than most kayaks, but that extra cost is worth it for the pedal system that allows you to fish continuously without having to put your rod down to paddle. I've rigged mine with a Eagle FishEasy 320C fishfinder and addtional rod holders and am working on an anchor system as well. I don't stand in mine, but I don't really find a need to either. Check out the Hobie website for details on the Mirage pedal system and there are several other kayak fishing websites that you can find easily on Google that will give you detailed reviews of all the Hobie Mirage kayaks (I have the smallest one, but there are 12 and 16 ft models as well). A lot of other "fishing kayaks" have some neat little features, but none of them compare to the unique propulsion of the Hobie, in my opinion. I'll try to take some pics of mine and post them later. Good luck!

I have three Compre baitcasters (two 6'6" MH and one 6'10" MH) and they've been my go to rods until just recently when I've started upgrading to a few higher end models. Very light and sensitive tip for the money with an exposed blank reel seat (except the 6'10" as its an older model). Highly recommended for the price. I haven't tried a spinning model but I'm sure they're of the same caliber.

I've never used the Abu, but I have two Saharas, a 1500 and a 4000 and love them both. Good solid reels for the money and I've never had in problems with them, either in freshwater for bass or in skinny saltwater for reds. I would definitely recommend them.

I've had good luck with Power Pro, in the 10-20lb range, on reels of that size. I don't know of any braids that come in weights less than 10lb, though 10lb braid will have the diameter of 2lb mono. I've always preferred braid on my spinning reels when I could get way with it, due to the low memory, lower twist, and lower likelihood of looping off the spool during casts. I've also used Stren Braid, Fireline, and Spiderwire Stealth. The Stren was OK, but I didn't care for the other two as they seemed to cut into the line on the spool more often. None of them handled as well as the Power Pro, in my opinion.

Anyone have any experience with the Pflueger Summit baitcasters? They look nice and seem like a good deal for all the features. Thanks in advance.

Could depend on several things...adjustment of the spool tension knob, any cast control device settings (like centrifugal or magnetic brakes), line weight on your reel, action of your rod, weight of the bait you're trying to cast, to name a few. Might help to give more details on your equipment setup. First thing I would do is make sure the spool tension knob is set such that when the spool is disengaged your bait falls slowly to the ground without overspooling when it lands. Then adjust the cast control device to the minimum setting you can get away with without birdnesting your reel on every other cast. Those are just a couple suggestions to help lengthen your casts. Good luck and don't give up, it just takes some practice.