thinkingredneck

yes. I have rigged a pole with an orange flag with lights. Thinking of buying a commercially made one, though. Was really in to making my own gear for a while.

I habe contributed one rod and reel to the rez

Nothing I hate more than a theif!

Thanks, I have been using my mh baitcaster for worms, jigs, and frogs. My spinner for treble hooks and weightless worms/ finesse, but sometimes I like the medium BC rod with mono or fluro for cranks, spinners and weightless plastics. I think I just like BC rods better as I have more accuracy with them.

Great replies. I had a friend who flipped in cold water and did not have his pfd on. Almost died. Had to be hospitalized. My biggest fear is idiots on jet ski bearing down on me. I have had close calls. As I have gotten older I have realized that you only have to be wrong once to get in trouble, or maybe I have just become an old man.

I thought it woulf be a good idea to have a list of essential gear for kayak fishing, other than rod, real, baits (if this has been done, I can't find it). I realize that these are not limited to a kayak. Some are sessential (*), some nice to have, some optional. Everything is attached in case of a turtle (flip). I will list what I take, please add to this! *personal flotation device--on at all times, I use an automatic inflatable *whistle attached to shirt or pfd *sunscreen bug spray *cellphone in waterproof container *spare truck key with phone *accessible knife or emergency line cutter *whistle or horn stake out pole anchor and rope +/- depth finder set up *light pole with flag +/- cooler or fish bag *flashlight or headlamp +/- Measuring tape (mine is on my rod) *paddle with leash fish gripper for toothy fish and to attach to stumps for anchoring *dehooker or long forceps *clippers/braid cutter +/- go pro camera set up paracord *Hat or cap +/- rain coat or poncho +/- gps

I fish from a kayak. That limits me to 2 rods, ideally, as that is how many rod holders I have behind me. To carry more gets awkward, and anything that sticks out in front of me, like a rod lying down or in a front rod holder, can cause a wrapped line and lost fish. Don't ask how I know this. I read the "rod selection, the basics" thread and it helped a lot in clarifying my thoughts concerning rod selection. I mostly fish a relatively shallow, heavily stained to muddy reservoir with a lot of pads, wood and other vegetation. Currently, my primary rod is a mh bait caster fast rod with 65lb test braid and 15 lb yozuri hybrid leader--when I use a leader. I also have a medium baitcaster that I have 12lb fluro on and a medium spinning rod with 25 lb braid plus leader. I use the mh rod for single hook baits and toads. I am comfortable with worm fishing, but don't have a lot of knowledge or confidence in "reaction" baits, other than toads. If I were limited to one of the other rods for treble hook lures, and or soft swimbaits, which rod would you suggest? I appreciate any advice.

Thanks guys, very helpful. I like the shower caddy. Very cool. I think the lure box and day box is very similar to what I am thinking. (I have a flambeau hard satchel for hard lures). The reason I am trying to learn new techniques is because my confidence bait is limited to when fish want slowly fished plastics on the bottom. I need to learn other methods. Thanks for the replies.

I personally find trick and finess type worms follow the weight better than ribbon worms when fishing thick stuff. That helps me. I fish in some gnarly stuff. Also, the larger lead weights may push the plants apart better than tungsten, so the plastic can follow.

Can you expand on your lure box and day box, please?

I get a lot of blowups on horny toads but have trouble because I set the hook too soon, I think. Just got some Culprit frogs on sale. I liked the z-man frog but cannot find them.

Thanks. I am learning soft swimbaits. interested in spinnerbaits. Kind of lost, but studying posts. I am leaning toward the confidence box plus something I want to learn. I seem to always wind up catching most on a trickworm. Maybe I should leave it at home and take only stuff I want to learn? Do you guys use your confidence baits to find the fish first and then go to new baits, or just take new stuff to learn?

I fish primarily from a Field and Stream Eagle Talon kayak. A milk crate won't fit in it. I use a craftsman open top tool box. I can put 4 plano boxes or three plus two shallow boxes in that size. I am always struggling with organization. I currently have a box or more for each type of soft plastic or lure, I.e., spinnerbait, jerkbait, top water, toad-frog, trick worm, ribbontail, etc. I also have a binder with nothing but every size and shape junebug plastic and candy bug plastic I can find. My thought was I could work on a particular technique until I learn it. This is working sometimes. However, I always seem to want womething else that I don't have with me. Questions, would you guys organize soft baits by type (senko, ribbon tail, trickworm), color, size, or how? How would you separate hard baits, depth, type (jerk vs. Crank, vs lipless)? I also thought about confidence vs new/experimental boxes. Thoughts? I am way overthinking this. Limited space.

Trying some toads. Blow ups. Hard to hook. Definitely a blast

I am wanting to focus on learning one tool at a time. I was thinking about chatter baits or spinners. What type of trailer on a chatter? The problem is that I have a bunch of options, but keep going back to fishing worms because of lack of confidence in fast baits.

Thanks for your reply. I just got my Rage tail order in, with Smoking Rooster, Recon worm, lobster, Menace. Did not order any Cur-R worms. I do have some U vibe speed worms, some paddle tail minnows.

I am basically a one trick pony. Catch 90% of my fish on worms, specifically a Candybug Trickworm. Weightless and weighted. I have caught a few on cranks and spinnerbaits. Just chuck and chance. I have caught a few on TX rigged Senkos. Also on poppers with fly rod. I am getting dialed in on soft plastics, but don't have any other areas I am consistent with except the fly rod. Basically, I need advice on what to work on for "reaction bites." Fast moving, search bait, etc. I fish a muddy, heavily stained reservoir that has a TON of pads and a lot of docks. Have caught everything in pads. Gnarly stuff. I Have BC rods"--mh and h. Braid on both. Mh also with fluoro. I also have m and mh spinning one with braid and one w mono. Thanks for any advice.

Trick worms. GP, Junebug. Spoons

I second the Eagle Talon. Get a better seat, though. BTW, having had a float tube spring a leak, I am not a fan. That was when I lived out West. With gators, snapping turtles and water moccasins, I ain't that brave. Don't overlook one man canoes.

I thought I got in trouble washing my new sunglass clipons. You are in it

Get a kayak. Not expensive and easy to transport. It will open up a whole new world.

Today I received my first order from Seiberts. A few weeks ago I placed the order. Noted that it shipped. Missed the order after a while. Emailed them. Seibert found out it had lost at the USPS shipping center and Seibert shipped another order. Great customer service. Hope it was insured.

Thanks for your responses. I need to correct my first statement. I have been stalking this specific forum reading back to 2012. I also left out A-Jay's punch rig. I even bought one to try! From Siebert's! And rage tails. I think many people ask for corroboration rather than information. I don't post much, that is true. Don't know much. I have read a lot of the articles and watched a lot of videos/ you tube posts on here. Good stuff. now if I had to choose fishing with Glen or J-Lo,.no contest. Sorry, Glen.

I have stalked these forums for a while. I have learned a lot. The following seem to be consistent themes 1. Rage tail yamamoto, keitech and zoom soft baits 2. Gamakatsu, owner, trokar hooks 3. People have very strong opinions about hook shape. 4. Natural or tranlucent colors in clear water (up north, out west), dark or bright colors down south in stained or muddy. 5. Jig fishing approaches a cult like status 6. Most people prefer to either fish fast or slow. Not both. Fast with spinners, hard baits, toads, and slow with worms or jigs. It is the rare and great fisherman who is good with both. 7. Braid requires heavy hoooks, 8. Seibert or Northstar jigs 9. Senkos might be all I need to buy, but that seems boring 10. Snell, palomar, improved clinch, San Diego, Albright, Alberto knots 11. Braid in dirty water, fluro in clear. Mono? Do I need mono? 12. GP, watermellom red flake, june bug, black plastics 13. Sexy shad, chrome black back, gold black/blue back, fire tiger, citrus shad, crawfish in hard baits 14 . Pay attention when Catt, Tom, Mike S, Big O talk. I also enjoy Sir Snook alot and Big Bill for different perspectives. Many others also, but these stand out. 15. Nearly everyone has too much stuff and has trouble organizing 16. Jerkbaits and cranks seemed straight forward, but now I realize they are technical to understand and use to their full potential! 17. Whopper plopper 18. Structure, cover 19. Big baits equal big bass except when they don't 20. Don't let Elastec touch any other baits. What am I missing?

I have just moved back to the Southeastern US from the Pacific Northwest. I have not fished for Bass for several years, and never really knew what I was doing when I was younger. I have been a fly fisherman and have fished a good bit for Trout, Salmon and Steelhead. I tie my own flies and make spinners similar to the Mepps spinners. I also like to surf cast. I am looking forward to learning about Bass! I have just got a new used aluminum boat that I am picking up in two weeks. Can't wait to get out. I grew up in North Mississippi and have lived in Florida, Texas, Colorado, Oregon and Washington. I went to Mississippi State--GO DAWGS. I currently live in Palm Coast, Florida and work in St. Augustine.