Darren.

Welcome aboard, Drew!

Welcome aboard, Tim!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

That's so true. All you need to add is one of these: http://backwaterpaddles.com/ I just bought the Assault hand paddle and wow, awesome for when you don't need the big paddle.

Well, on the bright side, that means more fish for the guys in your area! No really, good on you for pursuing that which you feel is you. I'd rather make less at a job I love than more in a job I hate.

Welcome aboard, Arthur!

A solid catcher for me in tough times is the Zoom Finesse worm, especially in green pumpkin with a chartreuse tip. I fish it weightless wacky most of the times. But I will use it on a weighted wacky, TX rig, and split shot. I don't drop shot much in my lakes anymore. Hasn't produced enough for me, but it is definitely worth a try. Yamamoto shad-shaped worms are absolutely awesome. I like Watermelon Gold Flake, Green Pumpkin Red Flake. They do garner a lot of strikes from smaller fish, and the little tail can get eaten off in such strikes, but they are solid catchers. Plenty of good advice from others, as well.

I'll usually do 5 braid, 5-7 leader if I'm tying a uni->uni.

I have had the issue in both elbows over the past year. Got so bad I couldn't lift my coffee cup without big-time pain and shaking. There are therapies out there, including an expensive one (forget the technical name) where they take your blood, use only the red blood cells and inject it into the areas of pain, aided by use of sonographic equipment to find inflamed tissue. Watched a video where a pro fisherman had it done. Anyhow, I've used exercises, and yes, rest. Interesting thing that I found *for me*, when I started P90x, the push up sequences actually helped my arms. Every time I did them I did so pushing up from my knees, not prone all the way to my toes. I'd feel a burning rush into my elbows. From then on -- and I quit P90x, unfortunately -- my elbows have been MUCH better. I try to do push ups several times a week now until I feel the burn in my elbows. Like I said, this may just be me, push ups may or may not help you depending on how far "gone" you are. If you can see an orthopedic doctor who specializes in arms/shoulders, that's the best route, IMO. General doctors are not always versed in such specifics, whereas a doc who is specially trained to deal with elbows and elbow tendons is. 2 cents.

The addiction has just begun. There's no hope for withdrawal!

For the life of me, I can't remember. And it's almost all I fish, soft plastic worms, that is.

Congrats!! Always a great day when a PB is caught.

Loyal to an extent. I was loyal to Shimano rods and reels, until I tried St. Croix rods. I became somewhat enamored with certain Daiwa reels (Lexa). Perhaps I really like Japanese-made reels, not sure. Money is limited for me, so when I've been able to jump on a Chronarch, or an Avid, I did. Those are premium, and worth every penny, IMO.

Definitely a "bucket list" "must visit sooner than bucket" for me.

All depends on how you fish. Do you use multiple techniques, or lure types? Me, I rarely fish anything but soft plastics. I used to carry up to 5 in my yak, but now I only carry 2 rods. Usually a spinning setup, and my Shimano Chronarch. 2 seems to be most efficient for me and my style. Sometimes I'll only take one out. I've come to the (current) conclusion that less is more.

Welcome aboard, Willy!

Yeah, the Torqeedo is amazing, lightweight, powerful, super light battery, etc., etc. If you can afford it, it's the way to go, IMO.

I built my own modeled somewhat after a BassYaks, but since I don't have ability to fabricate stuff, I improvised with bolts and such things. On your 10' yak, I'd consider a lighter battery, something like a wheel chair battery so as not to overload the boat. I have actually removed all the rigging for my motorized system because I'm not going great distances at this time, and I'm also working at strengthening my elbows which suffered from poor paddling technique and over use from fishing. You will need to rig a system whereby you use your foot braces as steering mechanisms. You can remove the top of your MinnKota, place a PVC elbow and use some sort of sealing for the wiring all the way to your right/left side where you would put the switch into a Radio Shack project box... I'd post some pix of my setup, but I'm unable to get MyMedia to load on the site right now.

The answer is yes and no. I carry both an anchor chain (or dumbbell), and an anchor stick depending on conditions. Free floating in the wind can be an exercise in frustration and controlling your tongue, LOL. I've been experimenting letting my anchor chain out a short ways in the water and it slows me (sometimes) enough to continue fishing and just drift, but slower than if I was free floating. Others use a drift anchor, or chute to slow down in the current. From experience, kayaks are not the sails that canoes are. My aluminum grumman was much worse to control in the wind, but kayaks being lower to the water don't *as much* *per se*... I'm hedging my words because it is all condition-dependent.

I vote M, but with an Xtra fast tip. This for all techniques you mention except Carolina. That's the one technique you mention (Carolina) that favors a heavier setup. My spinning rods are MXF power and excel in TX, wacky, split and drop shotting. The split-shot rig is a variant of Carolina, w/o the bead and such. S'pose you could make your own, lighter C-rig using say 1/8-1/4 oz weights. But have to make sure the rod can handle such weights.

10lb braid + leader I've posted that Gary Yamamoto article (above) several times over the last couple years. Was quite influential in my choice.

Crazy indeed. Sure hope the fish doesn't make it down to my waters! Although they're probably great sport.

Welcome aboard, Robert!