Darren.

Welcome to the forums!

Welcome aboard, Jake!

Beautiful fish. But I bet that's a green screen behind you, and she came out of a tank! You just get too many of these lovely ladies. LOL Nice catch

Welcome aboard, Brian!

RW is right. I had similar questions when I joined; however, and RW's last paragraph hits the nail on the head, find what works for you. My experience with Floroclear differs from RW's, but he is not alone with breakage issues. I've just not had them. Perhaps it is my style of fishing, whatever, it works for me and that's great. I don't know of a single fishing product that gets perfect reviews from *everyone* that tries it. Now Yo-Zuri Hybrid works for me, too! I use it in 10 lb test as leader tied to braid. Which, I also use 99.9% of the time - braid mainline + leader, that is. Honestly, I've had more line-breakage issues with Hybrid than Floroclear, but that's me, and I continue to use both. I also continue to dabble in the pure fluorocarbon world, but am still learning how to fish the line. I find I can't fish it like a copoly, and if I snag it and pull too long to free the hook, I should probably change out the leader. Don't normally do that with the YZ or Floroclear. So your mileage may vary from others when it comes to lines you like and don't. Again to echo RW, "experiment".

Welcome aboard, Adam!

Well, I use 10 lb braid regularly with leaders from 8-15 lbs and rarely have failures. May I suggest doing a modified Albright where you wrap up 10 times and then back down 5-8 times before finishing the knot. Cinch it down slowly and see how it goes. If that fails, try a simple uni to uni knot. I use it when I'm in a hurry, or in the mood for a change up from the Albright. Used it with 10lb PP + 10lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid leader when I caught the 6.6 lber in my avatar last Saturday.

Hard to argue with that. Walmarts are almost everywhere...

Welcome aboard, Ryan!

Welcome aboard, David!

That's awesome!

Welcome aboard, Li!

Let me also point you to this web site which has less expensive versions of Tenkara rods: allfishingbuy.com (I've bought from them in the past). http://www.allfishingbuy.com/Tenkara-Rods.htm They are a distributor for Japanese manufacturers. Purchased a graphite long-pole from them as well as several floats. Nice folks to deal with in my experience.

Right here: http://www.tenkarausa.com/index.php Don't have one, but am fascinated by the concept. Personally I can't stand "normal" fly fishing. But this looks fun.

That's a good point about the weight. My U12 is 55lbs. Easy to hoist car top. Now that I have a Tundra, it's even easier to load up. And I even lift it with all my gear aboard, including MinnKota Endura 30 trolling motor. Usually take the 56lb battery out. Oi.

Actually, I have a Native Ultimate 12 - also a hybrid. You can look at my model (or the 14 depending on what size you're looking for), and the Wilderness Systems Commander models. This is a personal decision only you can make. In other words, I strongly urge you to find local shops where you can sit in the respective kayaks, and/or demo them on the water. I say this because what works for me may not work for you. Thus a personal decision. I preferred the Native Ultimate's interior and such over the Commander. But you may feel opposite. NuCanoe has a fine reputation and certainly worthy of consideration. The only "downfall" I see in hybrids is the lack of scupper holes for drainage. So I don't usually take my U12 out on large bodies of water, although I do plan on some York River (brackish) fishing in the future, but will remain close to shore to avoid the big water.

That's an awesome thing with kayaks - at some launches. Put in almost anywhere for little to no money. I pay $40/year for my 2 local reservoirs ($40 total for both) to secure a launch permit. Then there's the $25/year shoreline permit (so I can fish shorelines and docks with my boys if we aren't kayaking).

Sounds great to me. I think you'll love it. Demo models are fine, perhaps more gently used than otherwise. Welcome to the kayak club!

If I buy at BPS or a local store, I like to have the clerk open the box and I will test out the reel first. I've handed back one and asked him to open another as I wasn't satisfied at the feel/sound/etc. I'm dropping some hard earned $$ and I want to walk out with one that is primo. Hope everything is okay between you and your wife.

But I secretly wish I owned a Hobie PA 12. Don't tell anyone.

Totally understand that, but it does matter to me. I have to credit the right dude!! Native owners are nowhere's near the lunatics WS and Jackson owners are, LOL

Plenty of great brands. I grabbed one several years ago at Costco, been using it ever since. Costco's policy has been good to us for auto and marine batteries, so I tend to return there. I've also considered (since I power a light kayak) a smaller battery like a Werker wheelchair battery via batteriesplus.com. However, they tend to be quite a bit more expensive if you want higher AH rating, and then the weight savings start to dry up. But they are sealed and won't spill acid if it tips over.

DOH! I sure did. I'll edit the post.

Welcome aboard, Pavo!

I hear you. I'd suggest that after a number of times on the water you may feel differently. Why? Well, once you get out in a kayak, you begin to think (at least I do) that this would go better here, or I wish that wasn't there. Or you may feel you need a less-is-more approach whereby you won't value the extra storage of the Kilroy as much as you thought you would. My Ultimate 12 was not the Angler model (pre-rigged for fishing). I preferred to find out for myself how best to rig my kayak. I have never installed rod holders. For a while, I used a crate with rod holders, but found myself (too many times) catching a rod behind me on a cast. So when I saw how Drew Gregory helped design the Coosa with "rod stagers" in front of him, I thought something like that may work better. So I now lay my rods in front of me. That's an evolution of my fishing methodology. It will likely change again. I always like trying new things. I often stare at my kayak and just think about what I can do to make things better. That's where things like raised seating (on top of U12's gunnels) came into play. I put a sliding box under my seat with tackle. I've got a trolling motor setup, anchor trolley, anchor pin, etc., all arranged to be accessible, but out of the way at the same time. You just have to fish for a while out of whichever yak you buy. You'll have a lot of fun making it work for how YOU fish, not how an engineer thinks you fish. And Hanover has great suggestions on looking for one of your models. I can speak to Appomattox River Company's stellar reputation. I bought through their Hampton, VA location. Vick (mgr) and his staff are top-notch people. If you buy through ARC, they'll take great care of you.