Darren.

Welcome to the forums! You could use a slow action rod for cranking, live bait presentations....

With practice, you can grab your line and slow it down with your left hand (or right, depending on which you crank with).

If red works for ya, use 'em. Me? I've used 'em and don't think they make any difference. Besides, I hate when the paint chips and they become a mix of gold and red (or whatever's underneath). Prefer un-painted hooks myself.

Absolutely! Just tie on a longer leader for your dropshot... Unless you only use the rod/reel combo for vertical dropshot, then I'm not so sure line management matters as much.

Welcome aboard!

Nothing to do with Apple or Microsoft, but if it is flagged as spam, that's due to filters (either from your ISP, Google, Yahoo, Hotmail, or whomever your email provider is). However, if you're using Apple Mail on a Mac, it will flag stuff as junk that bears similarity to mass mailings, etc (spammish) and flags it. You will want to mark it as "Not Junk" in that case. Most email clients (platform agnostic) have such features...

First off, welcome to the forums! Assume you've fished this pond often in warmer weather? I will sometimes go to a pond in a local community. I don't often change techniques since it is a relatively shallow pond, and I've caught on soft plastics year-round. But I do have one cold-weather technique there that always works (98% of the time) and that's a tiny Lunkercity Fin-S minnow-head jig at 1/16oz. I'll add panfish killer minnows on it and catch bass, sunfish, yellow perch, etc. Makes for a fun outing as it's a multi-species setup!

Assume you checked your spam/junk folder to make sure things aren't getting thrown in there by your email provider? I've been getting emails fine so far.

The longest distance I can cast a particular lure.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard, Merrick!

I was in a hurry loading my kayak and I left my iPad on the back of the truck. I drove off, arrived at my spot, unloaded and was completely ready to go when I couldn't find my iPad. So I launched "Find My iPhone" on my iPhone and hey, my iPad is moving, back near my house, but it's going down the street. I quickly locked it and sent a message to whomever had it. Loaded the yak back in the truck drove home and a guy who was on a walk was brining it back to my house with a note! So what happened when I drove off, the iPad slid off the back of my truck, hit the road and bounced up (didn't break the screen, but did mess the aluminum a bit. The man happened to be walking and saw me drive off, saw the iPad fall, said he was waving frantically hoping I saw him in my rear view mirror. Not exactly a fishing experience, but it happened while I was trying to GO fishing.

I want to note that of all the rods I handle in-store (i.e., BPS), one of the lightest I've handled is the Carbonlite. I am quite interested in trying the latest models, I believe 3rd generation. As one who values lightness in the tip, I will not discount the Carbonlite when looking for my next rod. FWIW.

A good one, but I don't remember it in Spanish! LOL

No doubt, it can be rough depending on where you're driving...which is almost anywhere.

<gasp><stretching arm southward>must.... get.... to....oooo.....oooo....oookechoooobbbbeeee soooooon.</gasp></stretching arm southward> That's code-speak for you non-techie folks.... Basically speaking, Lake O is on the bucket list.

Yorktown/Hampton Roads/Peninsula!

The only "length" I've added to rods was via a rod balancing system. At most (w/o measuring), it's probably an inch or so.

Great fishing yak, if you can afford one, I doubt you'll be disappointed! Hanover_Yakker is on the Hobie team, has a Pro Angler, will likely chime in here. I'd have a Pro Angler if it were within my budget.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

I had to come back to your picture after reading the comments to realize you stuffed the tubes! I scanned right over that aspect of the picture. LOL. Great idea, never done that myself, might have to give it a try one of these days.

I used to live in Caledonia. The Oatka is a great trout fishery, lures only - or at least it was when I lived there.

Well worded, Hootie. But that's just my opinion. Others may feel differently... LOL