Darren.

I'll add my opinion to the others: For me, I love M, XF rods from 5'9" to 6'3" and my mainstay spinning reels are Shimano Stradic 1000FI models with 10 lb yellow Power Pro mainline. I like my setups to be shorter and lighter. I'm getting older, so this is what suits me, may not suit you at all!! Personally, I see no need for anything more than a 1000 size reel. Muskie? Yeah, I'd go bigger, but I've not met a bass I couldn't handle yet. Yet. When I do, then I'll think about it. Look at it this way, you want to be prepared for whatever you might catch, BUT, you also need to know how to handle a fish if you're not using your optimal gear at the time. IE., if you hook a monster with 4lb test on a 5' ultra light setup, you won't give up because you don't have your 7' MH + a 3000 or 35 or whatever size reel! No, you will fish accordingly, play it, use your hand to supplement the drag on your undersized reel and work it to bring in the prize. I digress. A M rod can have a 1000-4000 size reel if you want. Probably wouldn't put a 1000 on a MH rod, though. Spool the M setup with lighter line, the MH with heavier line for heavier fishing. Use what feels good in your hands and gives you confidence for whatever is lurking in that waters you fish.

Nice to have you aboard, papajoe222.

Guess a definition of "break the bank" is needed. If you're looking to spend a max of $1200, say, look at easy-to-stand kayaks such as the Native Ultimate 14.5, the Wilderness Systems Commanders or Ride models, Jackson Coosa and Cuda, Moken Anglers, etc. There are several great kayaking stores on the web you can find discounts on last year models that put some of these models below $1k. Because you're a tall fellow I'd suggest nothing shorter than a 14'. All of these will let you stand, the Commander and Ultimate are hybrids (canoe/kayak) while the others are SOT's (Sit On Top) with scupper holes. If money is not as much of an object, Hobie Pro Angler... But $2500 ain't small change.

Alas, no Cabelas in South Eastern Virginia... Sigh. BPS needs some good competition down here. Nothing against BPS, just like competition keeping prices down :-)

Agree with backlashes causing kinks. Like MarkH said, KVD might help a bit.

Wow. That's awesome. Now if I could borrow those guys for a day at my reservoir to show me what my el cheapo Garmin fish finder screen translates into down below, that'd be great!

These are my most productive plastics and styles to fish them. 1) 4" Yamamoto Senko / watermelon gold flake / wacky. 2) 4.75" Zoom Finesse worm / watermelon gold flake and/or watermelon magic / wacky, TX rig, split shot 3) 4.75" Zoom Finesse worm / green pumpkin + chartreuse tail / wacky, TX rigs, split shot 4) 6" Zoom Finesse worm / watermelon magic / wacky, TX 5) 6" Zoom Finesse worm / green pumpkin + chartreuse tail / wacky, TX 6) 4" Yamamoto Senko / green pumpkin magic / wacky 7) Zoom Tiny Fluke / watermelon red flake / wacky, TX, split shot

Interested, as well. Have seen them, never bought tho, but very curious. You'll have to post your experience when you get them.

Sure, look here at the Coleman Scanoe (has a square stern for mounting a motor).

Another Shimano vote here. Stradic, Saros, Symetre, etc. All good quality. I like Shimano quality, have owned other brands, just like Shimmys the best. Other plus is they are all approved for fresh + salt water. If that matters to you.... Reel choice is another "to each his/her own" thing. If you can get to a sporting goods store, try some out. Bring in your fav rod to BPS and they'll let you put reels on it to test out how the balance/feel is. That helped me make my decision(s).

That's what I was after, too. Started out with a cheap ($350) fishing sit on top from BJ's Wholesale Club. Then graduated to the (on sale) U12. I pondered pond boats and all that as well. I transport it on top of my car. Now the U12 is heavier and I had to build a trolley to transport it across distances, but it has been well worth it for me. My fishing has been more enjoyable. The stability of the boat is amazing allowing me to stand freely. And being a kayak/canoe hybrid, the customizations are different than with a SOT.... Not trying to sell you on the U12, these are my experiences, preferences. To each his/her own. Go to a good kayak store and see for yourself. If you can take some on demo runs, do it. Lots of good brands to try out.

Having fished canoes, I now choose kayaks. But I've actually got what is considered a hybrid, the Native Ultimate 12. I had a sit-on-top yak and liked it a lot, but missed some of the "roominess" I had with my canoe, and the ability to stand in it (which was mandatory for me). It was between the Wilderness Systems Commander or the Native Ultimate. I went with the Native for various reasons having sat/stood in both. Now if you're gonna be in big water and have the possibility of getting swamped, go for a SOT with scupper holes for drainage. There are a lot of fishing SOTs out there to choose from in all price ranges. If standing is priority, your choices narrow and price goes up. Hope this helps.

Hey Jason, some nice bass there, man! Welcome aboard.

Likewise. I'm a soft plastics man myself. But I do have a frog. Yeah, "a" frog. I've fished it, but not had any hits yet. The only topwater success I've ever had was on a jitterbug. Was a full moon night, cast it out and reeled in. Biggest bass (then) of my life. Since then, I've caught "some" on lures, but not enough. Soft plastics have been my savior.

When you guys "rip" the bait thru weeds, is it upon first feel, then you KVD the rod (whip it) out of the weeds? I've got a number of lipless cranks, have used the Strike King red eyes, but lost several... Ones I use now are Cotton Cordell. I say "use", but I rarely fish hard lures anymore. 99% soft plastics.

Hard to argue with that list, roadwarrior. As a Bills fan, and "hater" of the Pats, I 100% agree Brady is numero uno. However, I'm unconvinced of Rogers' pedigree. Can't put my finger on it, but I hear all the accolades thrown at him on ESPN, elsewhere, but I just don't see it myself. If Peyton has a phenomenal year, he's at #2, and I like Brees at 3. Can't wait to see how Luck and RG3 do. RG3 was fairly sound against my Bills last week. Newton is an enigma...a phenom, but an enigma. All IMHO...

Here here. Good stuff, Fishing Rhino!

Welcome.

Amen! I, too, fish soft plastics probably 98 or 99% of the time. They are far and away the most productive way I catch fish.

Same here; however, I've had some issues if I couldn't cut the tag ends well when retying on the water. I use better, surgeon's scissors now and see no issues. Just need to make sure your knots are well lubed and neatly tied. Albright tends to be thinnest profile in my experience.

I've seen the second video with the Japanese freak-of-BC-skipping-nature. I get depressed after watching videos like these. I have a medium powered BC setup in which the rod loads up pretty well so I should, theoretically, be able to skip it. Reality is a different matter entirely. Now spinning gear?! Heck yeah. I can skip easily. Which is why I use spinning gear more.

You have to use a palomar on a jig head, or a clinch, or any number of knots. I snell all my worm hooks, even size 4 Gamakatsu Wide Gap Finesse. I feel the snell is the best as it wraps the entire shank. When you set the hook, the pull is along the shank and "straighter", if you understand me. Other knots simply pull the hook at the loop. Not saying other knots are bad or anything like that. I used palomar all the time before I learned the snell. I use it today when I tie on a jig or a lure that cannot be snelled (pretty much every single one). Here's a video on the easiest way to tie the snell:

Toothy critters definitely can nick and break your line. No doubt there. Pickerel have done it to me where I live. If your line is old, that can mess it up, too. P-Line CXX is well known to be super-strong. I use P-Line Floroclear 98% of the time as my leader line. Braid for main. Could be a bad spool, known to happen. Only time I use palomar knots now on my spinning/casting gear is for jigs, or other hooks with no way to tie a snell knot. I snell everything for soft plastics now. Love the knot, never break it.

Definitely check your line as SlapShot says, and definitely wet your line. No ifs, ands, or buts. Do it. If you're line has any nicks in it, consider some new line, or run your fingers up/down the line to where you feel nothing. Palomar is a great knot, but for Senko and soft plastics, I tie a snell knot. Fantastic knot. I've tied on palomars and snells, and always do a pull-test before snipping the tag line. If the line breaks, I retie. If it breaks again on the pull-test, I get another hook and test that. I've had Gamakatsu hooks with burrs in the eyelets (rarely) But definitely find this more often on off-brand hooks. Which is why I go with Gammies most often, Owners second.

An absolute answer to your question is nigh impossible. There are so many variables. I see "big baits, big bass" all the time on TV, on the web, from casual conversation with fishermen. Sure it's true. But so is the opposite. Small baits catch big bass. My personal best 7.5lb LMB was on a 5" Senko. I've caught plenty of 5, 6, and 7 pounders on 4" senkos, and 4.75" finesse worms, fewer biggies on smaller baits. Hmm. Perhaps wademaster1 is right ... "you can catch big fish on small lures and baits but you will catch more big fish on bigger lures and baits more consistently", emphasis mine. You can drop a 20" worm in the right spot at the right time, you may just land a 10 pounder. Or a 2 pounder with big eyes and a hungry tummy. Drop it in a school and which bass will get to it first? Do all the little guys get out of the way when a huge bait shimmies down? Perhaps there is science out there that proves otherwise. Fish Chris (trophy bass hunter) has caught monsters on live nightcrawlers. Not exactly a "big bait" per se.... Just have to try and see how big baits work for you. None of us have fished all the freshwater spots out there, so what works at one place may or may not work in another. In fact, another fisherman who fishes the same water as you may say "do this, works for me all the time" and you do that, but it doesn't work for you. Go buy some 7" Senkos, or Zoom Magnum Finesse worms and see how they perform. Get common colors you've had success on with smaller baits. Maybe try a Fat Ika, chunky, not really a "big" bait, but different. May be very productive for you. Good luck experimenting!