Darren.

Welcome aboard!

Not that I've seen. It's a lot to engineer, IMO. Maybe they're running in to production issues, or such. Site says "now available" ... pre-order at some places, but no "expected" dates?

Haven't tried yet, but plan to buy a bag this year and give 'em a shot. Do wish color selection was larger, but guess it needs to prove itself as good as the Stik-O first.

Demo days is best way. For stability, you can look at hybrids like the Native Ultimate, the Wilderness Systems Commander. These'll keep you "dry" as they do not have scupper holes. My Native is just around 55#. Buy a lightweight cart (or DIY like I did). The TrailTrekker is one of the best there is for all-terrain stuff. I modeled my DIY after it, but if I had the $, I'd just buy one of theirs. http://paddlelogic.com/trailtreker-kayak-carts.html Other option is to buy one like the Feel Free Lure which has a wheel-in-the-keel which allows for "some" easy transporting, though guys who own them could let us know how easy they are for longer distances over varied terrain. Lots of diversity here on the board as to likes/dislikes for yaks. So you'll have lots of opinions to sift through. Good luck on your quest.

I play guitar, folk rock style, mostly. Not a country music fan, to be quite honest. I also sing. Love guitar jazz. As for who I like musician-wise, I'd have to go with Tommy Emmanuel, Phil Keaggy, Paco de Lucia, Adrian Legg, Al Di Meola, Leo Kottke, Satch....just too many great guitarist out there to fairly list 'em all.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard! This is THE place to get your new hobby off to a great start!

No side is better than the other. Like John (@J Francho) said, it's all in what you are comfortable with. I grew up left spinning, and learned right-hand casting. It works, and I don't care to change it up for any reason other than a medical one in which I'm forced to change!

Was gonna comment on Jimmy G. I think it was a terrible mistake to send him. He certainly seems(ed) the Heir Apparent to TB12. 9'ers could be the new Pats soon enough. But I do hope the Bills can come back to the fold soon. While I like McDermott, I am leery of the draft. We've passed on far too many winners over the years, and whiffed over and over. But 'tis a new era under the McBeane team. Finger's crossed.

It'll all change when Brady retires... But he'll still be the Ring King, can't take that away.

A lovely 18º when I awoke today. Thinking of taking the fam to the beach... But I can't afford a trip to the Bahamas right now....

In a non-fishing-related resolution (which I usually don't make), I hope to actually finish several outstanding (some for YEARS) Honey-Do house projects.

Another "let it go" vote here. My wife works in the psych field and tells me the people she sees enter the emergency facility for mental treatment are "everyday folks" who simply forgot to take their meds, or whatever. But most are psychotic. The point here is they are what we would consider "everyday people", not at all obvious they have mental issues. You never know what kind of person you are angry at while driving, or on the web, etc. Best to keep distance for own safety. Just a bad idea in general, to engage these folks.

Here here! Or is it "Hear, hear!" Either way, I agree. Go for a nice spinning setup for the Ned rig and other finesse applications. You'll add numbers to your catch rate, and plenty of big-uns in between on the very same setup!

Really no idea as I've not used a Light powered Croix. I have a Light MicroLite - 5'6" travel rod that is much more like a Medium Light (probably because of the ferrules for putting rod together. I do understand the allure of a lifetime warranty, tho.

Out of control, eh? Sounds like the Bait Monkey was jumping up and down on your back, LOL

I like St. Croix Premier ML rods - fine for bass as their brand is a tad stiffer in ML than other brands. Will be closer to the $120 range, though, but still "in range" of $100 I'd have recommended BPS Carbonlite, as they were right at the $100 mark and often on sale. The new ones are $120 and I've not used or felt them yet.

I actually really like the Premier spinning lineup -- in the shorter and ML range. Probably one of, if not my fav spinning rod. It's a 6' model that I shortened to 5'9". Almost perfect And yes, I'd rank it above the MicroLite....

I did that to two of my Carbonlites. Basically took off three inches of the open split grip away. Both rods are now 6'3" with short butt ends that are perfect for kayak fishing. However...I need a better way of cleaning out the cut section inside the cap. Probably could have ordered new butt caps at mudhole, but wanted to keep the look.

Yes, that's the rod series I'm talking about. Sorry if below is too long-winded. Balance is subjective. What I meant above is how the rod balances when you have a reel attached, and in this instance, assume no lure is on the end. Just the rod, reel (and line spooled on). When you hold the setup with your hand (loosely) on it as you would when you cast, reel, work the bait, does it balance horizontally? Does the tip fall to the floor, or does it raise slightly, or too much? And so forth. Can also find the balance point by simply balancing the setup on one finger. Is balance point close to reel, above handle, etc.... So when I talk tips, for me, I'm not talking softness as in Extra Fast, Fast, Moderate, or noodly. I'm talking balance as described above. St. Croix, with my 1000 Stradics, usually tend to be tip-heavy. I.e., tip falls toward floor. The BPS stick tends to be a tad more tip-neutral (i.e., horizontal) to tip-light depending on the length. I personally prefer tip-light. Some like tip-heavy. That's why it is subjective. As for length, that's up to you. Shore-bound/wading you may want a longer rod 6'6" to 7' to reach areas you can't get to. I prefer shorter rods, and I am in my kayak 95% of the time, and just like them better than longer rods. Simply my preference. In terms of tip speed, I like Fast and Extra Fast for single-hook setups. Hook setting is nice and crisp. Sensitivity? In the hands of the rod holder. I was surprised at the MicroLite's sensitivity. On par with the Avid, LTs? Close, in my hands. Materials used are lesser quality, but again...subjective.

My personal feeling on the St. Croix rods I own is that they all tend toward tip-heaviness. I was surprised by that when I got my 6'3" MLXF Avid, replaced/upgraded to a 6'3" MLXF LT Walleye MLXF. The BPS Micro Lites are quite nice rods and balance a bit lighter in the tips than my St. Croix.

I have a 6' and a 5'6" and the Stradic 1000 balances well on them. I'd think a 2000 would be great.

Go graphite. More sensitive, less noodly. President? Probably a 20 for me. I do like smaller, lighter reels, but if you go with a longer rod and want a better balance, you may opt for a larger reel like a 25 or 30. All of them will have more than enough capability to handle a large bass.

I'd go light, personally. Though UL would be fun, too. What's your budget? BPS MicroLite rods are very nice and quite reasonable price-wise. I've got a couple and was pleasantly surprised at how nice for the price.