Darren.

100% agree. I think he's right that being able to swim can help. If Michael Phelps fell overboard and smacked his head on the gunnel, knocking him out, his phenomenal skills won't save him, but a PFD very well might.

Came across this article this AM. I'm sure @A-Jay can attest to it being in the Coast Guard... A reminder to *please* wear your PFD when you kayak fish! “In the industry we call it the ‘Kmart kayaker,'” Emmons told GrindTV. “As kayak manufacturing processes were developed to make them less expensive, kayak brands found mass merchant places to sell them over the years.” “Now they’re found in Costco and BJ’s and Sam’s Club, and you can go into Costco, get groceries, and walk out with a 12-pack and a kayak,” Emmons continued. “But nobody is telling you about how you need a lifejacket, or that the water temperature might be 50 degrees.” http://www.grindtv.com/paddle-sports/why-are-deaths-in-paddle-sports-increasing

Welcome aboard, Teddy! You likely have some bass in those lakes. Probably ask locals to the lake if they know, or perhaps there is a lake guide you can talk with?

Sigh... So my 3rd son left soccer in favor of mountain biking. Sons 2 and 4 are still in the game. I was quite the MTBer back in the early 90s, with a rigid bike and all that (rigid=no suspension at all). So I set up my old rigid Trek for my boy to mess with (he rides a front suspension racing MTB normally). He's complaining to me that he can't do wheelies on it. Here's where Stupid came in to the picture. I told son it is quite simple as I used to do them all the time on that very same bike. So I go out there, and show him. And I'm pulling an awesome wheelie but I didn't go back down. I kept rotating past the vertical smashing onto my back with the stem smashing into my knee like a hammer driven spike. Right into where my quad meets the knee. That smarts bad. And I have just found blood and gouges on back of my right arm... I get up like I'm OK. I was embarrassed, hoped the neighbors didn't see my wreck. My knee can only bend so many degrees now. I've done plenty of R.I.C.E.. I'm probably 30-35 pounds heavier than when I used to do this... But I need to know from you Guys Of A Certain Age. Am I the only one here who has done something like this only to be smacked with Life's 2x4 of, "no, you can't do that anymore, you moron".... What's your story?

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard, Derek! Thanks for your service!

Welcome aboard, BJ! Nice hawgs!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

My St. Croix Legend Tournament Walleye is a phenomenal rod - 6'3" MLXF. Goes for $250, I believe. I use it for bass fishing, and anything that bites. I traded up from an Avid for that. Worth the money, IMO. Although about 6" broke right before my trip to Lake Gaston last month. Made it a very difficult trip down...So she sits ready to go back to SC for replacement when the $$ becomes available.

Welcome aboard, Bill!

Welcome aboard!

I think that's a pretty sweet setup myself. I've thrown smaller worms on Medium power rods and done fine. With worms, M is fantastic. You could add a MH to that and swap out the reel until you can afford a second one to go with the new rod. I am down to one Chronarch 50e and I use it on two separate rods, one a MH, the other a ML. I have settled more into spinning so I've whittled down my casting setups. This paring is working great. But I'm probably a rarity for doing it that way.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard, Justin!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard, Sean!

I've run the gamut of how to store my baits about, oh...heck, too many times to remember. Currently, I'm using an older Plano guide box with my most used plastics in the top (also use plastics most of the time). In the big main section I've got other plastics, in bags, that I use less, three spools of line, a small box of all my most-used hooks, weights, some spinnerbaits, crappie jigs, and so on. This has been my most efficient setup to date. I.e., the one I've used the longest. This goes from using a large box filled with gallon ziploc bags of technique specific baits, to Plano boxes of the same thing, to other methods.

Broad question, but here goes: I'd recommend a MH rod 6'6"-7' Fast action. Brand is up to you. Get your hands on several in a store local to you and see how they feel in your hands. If you have a bait caster to put on the rods, bring it with you to see how it balances out. EDIT: I should ad that you may want to get a separate rod for flipping if you want to do heavy weights. As well, look at each rods lure rating...will give you an idea of what you can use it for.

I'll just welcome you to the forums I fish out of a kayak so not much help for your question. Good luck and I'm sure you'll find the suggestions you need to steer you in the right direction.

Welcome aboard, Kayla! Go BILLS!! (assuming you are a fan )

Welcome aboard, Luke!

Yup! I mentioned it in a post a few years ago, especially effective during the spawn in my experience. However, I rarely do it except in the spawn these days because of reasons mentioned above. I feel senkos are so much more effective.