Darren.

Welcome aboard, Wyatt! That's a loaded question I'm gonna say Shimano and Daiwa. Ducks for cover....

Go Bills!!! Curious if Flacco deal will pay off for Denver. Have my doubts, but hey, who knows!

Oh yeah. Nice for a first bass. Many more to come, mate!

Very common discussion on the forum. My knots: Uni-to-uni Alberto/mod'd Albright Shin's knot (current knot of choice) And I never worry about any of the knots above. 100% confidence for fresh and salt water.

Solid advice above. If you can get to a local kayak shop and demo the ones that tickle your fancy, that'd help a lot. The other option is simple sit-in demoing, which is what I did when I bought my Native Ultimate 12. I couldn't demo on-water, so I just sat in various models in-store. Bass Pro should let you sit in some. Obviously used, or demo sales will see some price drops. If you find something on Craigslist, etc., make sure to comb it over for cracks. Scratches along the bottom are normal from dragging, and even going over stuff in the water.

Junebug is a happy color. Happy happy happy.

Biggest one I've caught was in freshwater -- 14# and about an inch longer than my bump board (32"). And yes, even that size took me for a nice ride in my yak. I've got friends who've caught striper in the Chesapeake Bay well over 50#. A dream.

I avoid larger boating waters, though I venture into the York River for Striper fishing. That said, I stay clear from boats by taking routes around them and not fishing near them unless there is a friendly exchange and/or invitation. As for my local waters, they are electric-only, but even so, big bass boats come out and fish the waters via trolling motor. I've only had one very bad encounter which I've written about a while back. Otherwise I'd say it is a generally friendly-or-keep-to-yourself type of water.

Welcome aboard, Josh!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard! Indeed! I've found some nice ones in trees, etc.

I've found that using Gamakatsu hooks, I really never have to sharpen them. Which I like. But for other hooks in my "arsenal" that I have bought here and there, I may have to sharpen, which is no big deal. But I don't like sharpening constantly as it isn't part of my M.O. and I may forget to do so and regret it

Welcome aboard! For all my setups, I use braid + leader. Obviously we all roll differently on that topic, some braid only, or no braid at all. You are pretty safe going with 10 or 15# braid on spinning, 20 would be the max for me, and only on a larger reel. As it stands for me, I fish 1000 size Shimano Stradics for all my bass and striper fishing. Most are now spooled with 15# PowerPro Super Slick 8 (got a deal on a 1500 yard spool), but I used 10 before that. The Uni-to-Uni is easy, and I have 100% confidence in it, as well as the mod'd Albright/Alberto, and the Shin Fukae knot which I've been using lately. Leader material I use: Yo-Zuri Hybrid in 6, 8, 10 and Gamma Edge fluoro in 6, 8, 10. Here's Shin's knot.

First, welcome to the forums, Bob! Can't help with your rod question as I've never owned a Dobyns or Loomis, but I do throw a lot of wacky rigs and fish from a kayak. Casting vs. spinning wacky rigs. I can't say I've ever worried about missing a hit on the slack downfall with spinning gear. I've thrown wacky with both, I use braid for a mainline and always tie a leader. The slack line hit usually (in my experience) shows in a quick, unnatural speeding up of my line on the water surface - visible using yellow braid to my weary eyes. One of the reasons I went with a bright braid. But I get your situation with being legally blind. Not as easy to watch even with a bright-colored braid. Good luck with your search. I'm sure you'll find some help here.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

Age of a kayak is not really an issue so much as, as @kjfishman said, it has not been stored in the sun or abused. I'm still using a 2008 Native Ultimate 12 and it works great. That said, what does the Mariner have in the package? Is it a Propel model? Does it come with paddle, PFD, etc.?

Didn't hold me enough last night, but I'll give it a chance. Will be interesting to see if both leagues catch on.

Are you talking about removing the bail? That kind of manual? I know it's done in salt water, not seen it done in fresh. As for manually fliipping the bail, I always do so.

Take yer pick. Both get the job done and both catch bass. As for leaders, mono will work, was used for years before fluoro and copolys hit the market. That said, I like how fluoro transmits bottom contact. For me it is either Yo-Zuri Hybrid or Gamma Edge fluoro for leader.

Welcome aboard!

TW doesn't cater to shorter rod fisherfolk by my checking. If I couldn't find stuff in-store locally, I've ordered from BPS, Swanson's Bait & Tackle, etc. As far as the physics go, it really is not much different than a 6'3" or 6'6" rod. I never think about that when I'm on the water. I just make sure my drag is set properly, and I've got a leader tied on my 10 or 15# braided mainline. What do you define as a short handle/butt-end? 12" from butt to top, more, less? I didn't modify my Carbonlites when new, was a few years later when I'd concluded what I like/don't like when on the yak. I like the stock handle for the 6' Premier. Works just fine for my needs.

First, welcome aboard. I fish out of a hybrid kayak/canoe, the Native Ultimate 12. And I prefer shorter rods, anywhere from 5'9" to a max of 6'6", with 5'9"-6' preferred. I've also shortened butt-ends on my 6'6" Bass Pro Carbonlites. That takes them down to about 6'3" total. But my fave rods are the formerly 6' (now 5'9") St. Croix Premier, a 5'9" Shimano Compre, and a 5'9" St. Croix Walleye Tournament spinning rod that was 6'3". That said, the Carbonlites are excellent rods, super light, very sensitive and pair well with my Stradics (FI, FJ, FK, CI4+). You can put floats on each rod like these: https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-rod-buoy

I've read (not here) that there's not *that* much diff between Stradic and Sustain. True or false, I can only attest to my CI4+ being an absolutely awesome reel. I do like Daiwa, but have not experience their mid-high end reels. Looks are great, tho. Just my .02.

Looks like a solid group to me!