kayakfisher

I have a pair of rapala pliers I got from wal-mart for $8. They work great, 2 good squeezes and it cuts through with no problem

Looks good. I just broke my sunglasses, I will have to pick up a set with my next order from TW

360 gear mount... can be found at casttheflats.com/merchandise/ It fits into a scotty flush mount.

It wont... I fish from a kayak and haul it with a car that gets 25-30 mpg. I live in an area where there are literally dozens of lakes in a 15 min radius... the only thing hurting my pocketbook is my swimbait shopping spree and getting into musky fishing this year.

Probably, Gander Mtn. has them all for sale for $2 a piece right now in clearance bins. I believe they are changing the packaging, hence the clearance prices. I picked one up last year when they were on clearance at gander, but not the traditional spinnerbait, their "hybrid" terminatorlures.com/hybrids/hybrid_blade_series/ .... The only real reason I picked it up was because it looked different, and was $2. Surprisingly I have actually caught a good number of pike river fishing with the thing.

I use the Okuma Guide Series Select Swimbait rod in 7'6" MH for my frogs and swimbaits. I dont jig/flip so it doesnt apply to me... but many people are using it for that application amazon.com/Okuma-Select-Casting-7-Feet-Medium-Heavy/dp/B001V7KQYG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299773167&sr=8-1 I got it last week and it was only $75, but I guess the price went up. Either way, I am a fan of Okumas, cant really beat the price for a good rod with lifetime warranty

I use braid on all my combos...30lb for my spinning gear and all-purpose baitcasters, 65lb on my swimbait/frog reel and 80 on my musky reel. The only time I use a leader is when I am fishing with plastics, crankbaits and swimbaits. All topwater is tied directly to braid, whether it is a buzzbait, popper, or a frog. Albright knot is the way to go imo

Well then go with the ascend...like I said, it is a good brand, just not top of the line (but it floats and thats what matters). As for length, it depends on what you want from the kayak. A 10' will be easier to maneuver is small spaces, but a 12' or 14' will be more stable and track better. Also, you have to look at how much space you want to be able to haul gear. The longer the boat, the more space you have for gear usually. Personally, I like my 12'... it works great for the lakes that I fish. It tracks very well, is stable, and agile.

I am also using the ocean kayak drifter, picked it up last year used for ~$400 with paddle... It is a great kayak,very stable. Personally,I would try to find something a bit nicer than the ascend brand. They are a decent kayak, but they are also kind of cheaply made. If you do go with an ascend, buy it unrigged and rig it yourself. Watch craigslist for used ones. Also, stop on over at kayakbassfishing.com