Darren.

Lots of Senko threads on the forums, BTW. But have you tried wacky rigging them? Hook them perpendicular to the hook, with the hook through the bottom part of the egg sack, or wherever it balances out 1/2 and 1/2 of the worm. Throw near laydowns, docks, shoreline structures, etc. Let it shimmy down the water column. A very effective Senko technique. Also, be patient. Let it sink, fish it slow...

Get the 2500 or 1500?

I agree. The carbonlites are very light. The Sigs are heavier simply because of the guides, but not by much.

Sweetness!

Thanks for the tip, Andrew! Don't see it happening this year, but I'll keep in mind for future trips.

I'll take your word for it!

I would be a tough convince for sure. This being our 20th year of marriage, I don't think I could convince her to go bass fishing in Mexico to celebrate. LOL One of these years I'd love to join y'all. Before you guys catch everyone of them to the point of extinction ........

Love the snake story. I've caught numerous mud turtles, but the biggest was a ~10 lb snapping turtle. Birds: I was casting under a bridge when a pigeon flew out into my worm, mid-cast, and tore off line as it flew away (I quickly lifted the bail)... Got my line and lure back as the pigeon flew into a tree and broke free.

Sweet catch! Lake Anna is on my list of VA lakes to hit in the future.

I never said trade snow, just BUY. You may have all of ours, but I want none of yours. Besides, how dare you even reply since you've fished at Baccarac. I mean come on, man. Well, okay, if you guys can pinch some funds together, I'll join ya. I really want to change my PB size from 7-8 to 9-25. LOL If it takes me buying some of your snow off you to trade for a Mexico bass trip, I'll have to talk to my wife.

Ok ok. I'll take it. Ours will be gone in a few days. What's that song from Monty Python's The Life of Brian: "Always look on the briiiight side of life!"

Getcher fresh Virginia snow right here, folks. We were a lovely 73 yesterday. I thought I left snow back in western NY when we moved here. Today we are below freezing, started out with sleet, then ice, now snow. Can somebody please turn off the atmospheric spigot? And no smart-alec remarks from y'all northern folk, either. I lived there for 1/2 of my life. I know what its like. Back to my

Well, the funny part is, the first time it happened, all I saw was the head swimming toward me, and at the very first glance I thought it looked like a huge python head...a chill went down my spine, but a snake with a head that big is probably only in Burma and the Amazon (or Florida now) so it had to be something else... All that was split-second thinking before I realized what it was. But yeah, it freaked me out good. I see them fairly often now. So no more freakouts. Until some behemoth comes up from the deeps of the reservoir. LOL One of those things where your mind knows what it sees, figures it out quickly, but in the space while it's figuring it out, it freaks you out.

Welcome aboard!

Bald eagles, golden eagles, but the most fun for me has been the otters! Love those guys, but sometimes they scare the living daylights outta me when everything's quiet and suddenly the slap the water nearby. Or I come up on one sunning on the bank... In all my years fishing here, it's only been the last year that I have seen them. Had to call the local fisheries department to ask if I saw what I thought I saw...

That's a big 'un. Never caught a walleye myself...

Awesome catch!

You bet. I'm sure other kayakers will chime in and give you more to chew on than what I've said.

You've got so many choices available. I also have the Lexa 2000SH, currently it's on a St. Croix Avid, which has been whittled down from 6'3" to 5'9". I plan to pick up a Carbonlite during the BPS rod trade-in. I've had one before, loved it. Don't think you can go wrong with one, but again, there are so many rods in your price range.

1) no, getting in and out is not harder. In fact, I sit on my gunnels - raised my seat in the Native. The Commander has the perch. Both solutions make it easier to get into a standing position, and in/out of the boat. 2) I also can get in my Ultimate from the bank w/o wading out. So yes. Hybrids are a combo of kayak/canoe, so pretty much can do everything but drain...

FWIW, I fish similar waters to what you describe, and I use a Native Ultimate 12 - hybrid w/o scuppers. Never a problem. It is a competitor to the Commander. Both fine boats. If you want to add to your search, look at the Ultimate and it's sibling, the Slayer. Darn fine yaks.

Both are standable, so decide whether you want a hybrid with no scuppers (Commander), or one with (Ride). Longer tends to be better for paddling longer distances. Personally, I like 12' for portability, but that's me. If you can get a chance to sit in each of them at the store, do so. Valuable. Moreso, if they have a demo day where you can paddle them on the water, even better.

I've abandoned some that I could never get a bite on... Just didn't want to waste time throwing over and over when it wouldn't produce. I'm all about catching...so I switched to soft plastics for most everything.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard, Kyle!