kikstand454

Yes. The xpress hardbaits are proven performers for me. I rarely buy anything else now.

Tie a hounddog on to a spare marker float. Double duty.

Got a rubber frabil at sports authority for my kayak- great decision. Its awesome.

Academy's house brand of lures is exceptional. In our area I go to academy, then dicks, then bass pro when fishing shopping.

Lol. Stretch is real. Its effect may be arguable....but its a real noticiable thing. If you have ever fished inshore with a popping cork, you would see the HUGE difference in mono and braid at casting distance. Its insane. FTR- I only use braid for flipping and frogs.... And popping corks!

This is true. We don't have spotted bass here in Florida, so we don't see many. OTOH, people north of here don't see too many Suwanee or shoal bass and confuse them for smallmouth all the time. So its kinda give and take.

Good idea about the glasses. Espicially in fresh water for sure! Lots of things to get hung up on....

Eh. I wouldn't say 30# isn't strong enough. Many prefer a heavier line. ...but I think its a mental game. Also heavier braid handles better. Anyway- my first thought was your knot is slipping. Always use a Palomar with braid. The improved cinch only works if you double the line through the hook eye first. Sometimes triple. At that point its easier to just tie a Palomar. Secondly, one of your examples sounds as though you had the braid digging down in your spool and it broke off upon casting. Do you have the braid as a topshot over some mono filler? You should. You're wasting money filling an entire spool full of braid- unless- ( and this lead me to my final thought here ...) braid lasts forever. I mean. ...years and years. I have had the same braid on my saltwater spinning rod for at LEAST 3 years and its JUST now getting to where I need to replace it. Because of length.....not it "rotting". With no doubt what so ever- you should be able to have a spool of braid last two years.( durability wise. ....if you cut and retie alot you may run out length wise) Use it one season. ....then. .... stretch it out across your yard and reel it up the other way and use the "new line" for another season. Unless of course you're storing your reel in direct sunlight outside.

Legally- as far as I know- you have to have a signaling light such as a flashlight. I try to have my niteeyze waterproof flashlight that has a blue beacon function. It floats and has a nice glow. I also have a red headlamp. I always stop at a dollar store and buy a few glow sticks and/or necklaces and place them around the yak for visibility. Cheap insurance. I also have taken three glowsticks tied together and marked the boat ramp so I could find it in the pitch dark.

I find those brightly patterned fish mostly in spring fed waters here in Fla. They seem to have all the traits of a spotted bass- except the jaw still extends past the eye. Even when I pointed out all the similarities to a spotted bass- both a FWC and a fisheries biologist said they were still just largemouth. I've seen these brightly spotted bass sitting on a bed with a "normal" largemouth and would swear they were two different species of fish! I've also regularly seen these "spotted" bass bedding with Suwanee bass---- but have never seen "regular" Lmb and Suwanee breed. Go figure.

I have never heard of it happening. And I know that thousands of dogs go out everyday with their owners and make back just fine. Statistically I'm sure its an anomoly. But I guess it IS always possible. ......

Oh OK cool. I have never fished up there. The topwater bite is hit and miss lately, mostly super early and super late. I find I cover alot more water with a fast moving bait like a buzzbait or horny toad style bait. Then when I get a bite or a follow, I will spend more time in that area with lures that fish a little more thoroughly - like a frog.

X2

Hi. I'm also in tally. Where are you fishing?

Yeah. You need backing line. And further more..... if you got a 200yd spool of braid- you should do two reels with it. Why waste it on one reel? It lasts forever. Just put 100yds each over some filler mono. Idk. ...I guess I only use braid on a few things that I don't tie/retie a whole lot. Ymmv.

Its hard to beat a white buzzbait. If your water is a bit clear, go get you a small white nonclacker. Buzzbaits catch fish. BELIEVE.

Op I use almost the exact setup you're thinking of. Shimano crucial 7'6"MHf Daiwa procaster 6.3:1 Yo zuri hybrid 15# 3/4-1oz mojo sinker. Its a perfect c-rig set up (IMO) and I have used it for years now.

Be patient OP. Fall is coming. Your buzzbait will make you happy soon.

^^^^ this. Also. ....keep going back and checking. The graduated markdown is how my store went and I just kept going back and snatching what I could when it went on 50%. Got lots of baits, some terminal tackle. ....and the Abu rods I mentioned above. The Abu rods ended up being about 66% off in the end.

I'm really enjoying the big bites yo daddy lately. Slips right through cover and the claws go crazy at the lightest movement. Good stuff.

Works great all over the country in most kayak tournements and even some bass (boat) tournements now. Op- I know the phone hurt and replacing it sucks. But you know now what you must do. Either get an otter box and lifejacket for your iPhone- or get a waterproof camera. Wtg on the big fish!

I had/have a pinnacle solene that I got years ago at Walmart. It was great. Ran smooth. Cast far. I used it as a shaky head rig. I broke the casting button on it after a few years into owning it and semi retired it. I may need to bring it back into service soon and have no doubts that if I can find a replacement button- it will perform great.

Bitsy flip and paca chunk= match made in heaven!

Either of those are fine. You'll be able to modify either to fit your needs nicely. You would still do better on the used market. But I digress. ....

Go rent a proper fishing kayak from a local vendor. Take it out for a days fishing. All your concerns will be addressed and you will realize that this is the answer. Rent as many as you can. Then decide what features you like the most. Then.... ask that vendor, and all the other rental companies in tour area when they are selling last years fleet. There you will find perfectly fine, pro fishing kayaks 50-75% off or sometimes. ....they auction them. Problem solved. Good luck!