Darren.

Mike, thanks for the info. I might even be willing to part with my Lexa 100 for a short spell if you need to borrow one to "measure" and whatever. Need to get permission from the BOSS of the checkbook before I take the plunge, but I'm VERY much ready to upgrade to your swept handle on my Lexa first, then my Chronarch 50e.

Agree with Wayne. If you have a small craft, a 24 will be just fine. I use one on my kayak and it sometimes lasts me a couple trips. But I normally recharge fully following every outing. And I have experience with a BPS Pond Prowler (basically a Motorcraft) with a metal shaft - it moved me big time (55lb thrust) but was super heavy, compared to a MinnKota. I now have a MinnKota Endura C2 30lb thrust. Doesn't move me as fast, but is a much lighter unit on my kayak. I can pretty much troll around my reservoirs for an entire day of fishing.

Congrats! Always a great day when a lunker is landed, let alone a PB!

I do both sitting and standing. I can paddle either way, but when my trolling motor is hooked up I sit. If I'm sitting and hook a bass, I like to stand and fight it. I have my Native Ultimate seat modded to sit on the gunnels, so I'm up quite high. Never a fear of tipping. Enjoy it so much more than being down lower. Have you checked out the new Native Slayer? Beast.

Would be interested in a handle for the Lexa 100, too. I imagine there'd be quite a savings in weight?

Welcome aboard!

Kayaker as well. I am normally a huge Harwood's Mill fan, but this year it has been tough, and I've actually not bothered going over the past few months (but once or twice). I have caught fish each of those times, but just haven't put in my yak since then. The weed growth has been tremendous, clogging a lot of productive areas. If that doesn't bother you, then rock on. There are HUGE bass there, and I may try to hit some of those grassy areas before long, because they hold a lot of bass. My PB came out of HWM last year. Largest bass I know caught at HWM was an 11.2 pounder (small side of res) in about 2 feet of water. Plenty of 4+ pounders there. Caught a lot myself. It has always been a fantastic fishery. You may kill it! There are a number of areas to hit. On the big side, hit the power lines down toward the dam. There are coves aplenty with downed trees that provide a lot of fishing fun. On the smaller side (heavy grass), there are groves of cedar trees in the middle of the lake, past the power lines, that have been super-productive for a lot of guys I've spoken with. I'd also recommend Newport News Park (Lee Hall Reservoir). 6.6 lber in my avatar (22 1/4" citation) was caught by yours truly on Saturday at NNPK.

For me, balance is very important. I also don't use a lot of techniques like other guys, primarily worm fishing, TX, wacky, split shot. Some jigging. I want a tip light rod for everything I do. Lifting that extra weight when jigging a worm, etc., over and over and over = more pain. So one of the ways to manage that for me is lighter equipment, light tipped rods. I'm currently using a balancer from BPS on my St. Croix Premier. It adds weight overall, but makes it tip manageable. Prefer a lighter setup when I can afford one.

I run a MinnKota Endura C30 on the back of my Native Ultimate and have a 56 lb battery that sits behind me. Mine is similar to a BassYaks system, but was much less expensive. Before I went to kayaking, I used a trolling motor on my 16' aluminum Grumman. The Endura pushes me along just fine, saves my arms/elbows from repetitive stress on the joints for one thing. And I can move around keeping hands free to fish, not hold a paddle. I don't use it all the time, but enough to tool around to areas I don't fish often.

If I may suggest, go for the 5s if you can. The technology, A7 chip benchmarks are rather amazing. Don't have one myself, just got a 5 this summer. But the 5s is much more prepared for the future with 64 bit chip, the M7 motion processor, etc.

Very cool!

Indeed. That and the new T-wing system. Plus they make it in a sup'd up Type R model. I never paid much attention to Daiwa until I saw the Lexa (spinning and casting). Become a real fan of both since then. Very good quality, easy on the wallet, Daiwa durability. Huge Shimano fan, as well. Have a Chronarch 50e, and two Stradic FI reels. Have 2 Quantum Accurists. Lexa utterly blows both out of the water.

I'd look long and hard at the Tatula... I've got experience with the Lexa, which I *really* like, and am very impressed by the Tat's specs.

I'll chime in with the Shimano guys, but add to it Daiwa Lexa, Procyon, Ballistic. While I've got experiences with the Stradic FI (love 'em), and Lexa (super impressed, love it as well), I don't with the Procyon and Ballistic. But as I've grown to appreciate some of Daiwa's features, I'd love to try a higher-end model. I definitely like Daiwa's bail system over Shimano's at this point. More positive feel to the Daiwa. But I'll know in another year if that holds up. One of my Stradic's bail system has gotten a bit wonky, needs to be serviced. Before I bought my Stradics, I did look into the Quantums, but Shimano won the day then. Not sure they'd win over Daiwa today.

I don't own a Jackson, but if I were looking for one, of the two you mention, Cuda all the way. Personally, I prefer Sit On Tops, or wide open hybrids like my Ultimate 12. As far as stability, Cuda is supposed to be plenty fine to stand in. Once you get used to the secondary stability of whatever kayak you buy, you'll have a *feel* for how it balances for you.

Would agree it is in the 4+ range.

Black works for me often with Zoom Finesse and Trick worms. Can be deadly on certain days. I have not gone straight black for Senkos/knock-offs, but have had limited success with black + blue flake, and black + red. Limited on those. I simply haven't bought black stick worms. I might just try it soon enough, though.

Could be smaller bass, sunnies, perch, etc. Sometimes I've casted to an area numerous times and finally landed the fish I think was nibbling. Its been all the above. Short strikes can be annoying, but are part of the game.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard...again

Welcome aboard, Mr. Wilson!

I don't buy all the color craze, either. Walmart only had a few colors and that happened to be one of them, so why not... it coincided with reviews, too. Totally agree on lake personality. What works at one place may/may not work elsewhere.

Excellent haul! Congrats!

Actually trying them out for the first time, myself. Bought Fire & Ice at Walmart the other day. I normally don't go for such colors, but it came up in a lot of reviews, solo. Nada so far, but certainly not giving up.

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