0119

I dont know, I could never understand seeing guys just drop their outfit on the deck to handled a dink of a bass. Why scratch it all up. Do you drop your kid too? I got to laugh when I watch those fly fishing shows and see the guy dunk his outfit to cuddle a trout thats all of 8" long. Why just suddenly forget your holding an outfit and drop it in frigid water and rocks. Especially when the fly reel has got to be several hundred dollars. Even if the guys sponsor gives it to them, it shows utter disrespect either for yourself or the sponsor. My reels always stay in a reel cover when not used on the boat, Ive never gotten a scratch one a reel. Ive been able to resell dozens of reels for nearly new prices because they didnt have a scratch and I kept the box,papers and reciept. Rods are a different matter for me, I wont spend much more than the cost of a St Croix Premier or a Shimano Compre anymore. I just dont see the difference in performance or feel. But I'll spend $200 or $300 for a reel in a heart beat. Did the other post really ponder the weight of the hook Holder??

Oh man you'll hear tons of reasons why shortly! I agree with you. It at least cured the line twist problem with spinning gear, but I dont see myself ever using spinning gear again anyway. I have tried over and over to like it, but I see nothing but negatives to it. What supply I have left of it, Im religating to my Shiner fishing rod.

Man you guys are the bomb! My old lady wouldnt put up with my tackle in the house. I did get her to buy me a shed though, insulated, paneled with electric hook up. I only use the a/c when Im in it though. The Florida heat doesnt get too bad, I think because of the insulated walls and ceiling. Ive never had mono suffer or problems with rust.

9lbs. on a Watermelon Candy Sizmic Toad.

Bigger and bigger yet! For me a day I catch maybe only one bass, say 4lbs and up, is more memorable than a day filled with dinks.

IM a morning person too, but my favorite time on the water is around high noon, when theres a topwater bite and Im getting hits on a zara spook.

Incredible pics. I;m jealous but more so because you got to be with your Dad. My few trips with my Dad were before I was mature enough to appreciate them. I'd do anything to have him back for a trip or two.

Reel Mech - you have serviced Calais ? Were you provided the special disassembly tool by Shimano? I had assumed Shimano did'nt sell them. I have seen the makeshift tool sold at one time by Lake Fork Tackle. Being unable to disassemble the reel myself is the only thing stopping me from owning one.

Super Spook Jr., various colors, many custom painted by a friend. Fish them throughout the day even at high noon.

Check out the forums at georgiariverfishing.com. Lots of guys fishing different kinds of rivers and streams for bass there. River fishing calls for a yak that tracks very well and is stable. Lots of other sites are geared towards big water kayak fishing and recommendations will be for a different kind of yak, one with speed and greater length. Length can be an enemy in a stream,creek or small river. Check out Malibu's new Mini-X, the Ocean Kayak Caper. Cobra Kayaks offers a lifetime warranty, others dont. Many people will recommend kayakfishingstuff.com. It has 'interesting' forums, if you like extremely opinionated people.

Nope, nothing else. Thanks for letting me pluck your brain. I'm trying my 'darndest' to like super line enough to use it more than a fleeting try.

Fish Chris, Many of your points seem to be what I consider the negatives to superline. Having to use a leader for one. The water I bass fish in are just as full of tarpon and snook as they are bass. They are very line shy compared to bass. Every knot to set up a leader seems bulky and affects casting performance going through the guides. Not to mention my eyes just find knot tying difficult. Another is fishing treble hooked baits. Have you had to go to lighter action or I should say, more moderately actioned rods to avoid ripping hooks out of bass during the fight? Thirdly knowing you fish saltwater too, have you experienced salt or silt lodging itself in the line and occupying your spool?

Hey Fish Chris, interesting what you said about being left handed in a right handed world. I write with my left hand but do everything else with my right hand. I can't use a spinning reel for the life of me. Every cast goes 30 yards strait up and ends up landing 10 yards in front of me. 25 years of trying and I still cannot use a spinning reel well. You say you have used braided line for 14 years, I cant even remember braided line being out back then. What brands did you use back then, and have you seen a noticible difference in the 'modern' super lines compared to them? I have despised superline for so long but repeatedly try to use it successfully. It ends up in the trash after nearly each trip, with me unsatisfied.

Hey Earthworm 77 Doesnt the Antares require a special tool to disassemble just as the Calais does? Have you found that to be a problem when bearings needed lubing?

You going to the Ft. Myers Bass Pro? I hit it yesterday, bumper to bumper people inside. Exactly one hour from my door to theres but man was I disappointed. Its like going to Wal Mart. The fishing dept. keeps getting smaller and smaller while the gift section and clothing gets bigger. The reel case was huge but was seriously oriented towards the saltwater customer, as was the lure sections. No baitcasters over $200 on display, you had to request to see one from their storage shelves. All in all the freshwater tackle sections were a fraction of the size of the Orlando Bass Pro Shops.

If you find the more common soft jerkbaits hard to throw, here's two that might work. Mann's hard nose jerkbait and the Castaic soft jerkbait. A slightly thicker body style, they are no problem for casting gear with 14-20lb. mono.

Your right it is an ideal platform to fish from. Long Mike.... you would have to reallt try to capsize a currently made sit on top fishing kayak. Remember what islanderfisherman said, dont get a whiz bang set up model, get a model you can set up yourself, as you like it. Browse the yak fishing forums for awhile to get ideas before you make a move.

I have an Ocean Kayak Drifter. It is a simple design, but the price was right. If I had to do it over again I would purchase the new Liquid Logic S.O.T. I found the Hobies sitting position too much like laying down. I think it is better to purchase a yak that does not have any factory installed rod holders. It is better to set the holders up where you want them after a couple of fishing trips. I use a Scotty holder mounted on the console between the legs. Far enough forward to avoid paddle drips on the reel but close enough to reach easily. In front of that I have a PVC tube that is removable via an aluminum plate it screws into. It is made by www.kayak4fish.com and has a cushioned lip to protect the reel and a rod leash attached to it. I use the tube for spinning tackle and when saltwater fishing to help avoid salt spray on the reel. The Scotty is also removable and I keep for casting gear while bass fishing. Unlike most others I havent found the need to use more than one outfit at a time and have avoided putting more holders behind me. I tried it on my first yak and I always ended up catching the rods on the back cast or getting them hung up in brush while fishing very close to shore. I think a yak ultimately set up for bass fishing will be completely different to one set up for saltwater/open water fishing.

Any kayak seriously meant for fishing is almost certainly going to be a S.O.T., clastrophobia doesnt even play a part. I can carry a cooler(s) and a tackle box of reasonable size along with it. While I dont see a point to it, many do stand in their kayak to fish, paddle or pole.

Positioning and control are definitely things you learn to deal with. It is a chore for awhile but I think you get used to compromise. Your casts arent coming off the deck of a bass boat and are often a bit uncomfortable and clumsy. It pays to use a drift sock and outfit your yak with an anchor trolley to help position it better. The waters I fish are usually so shallow that I found a stake out pole the most conveinent. Check out the drag chains guys use on the georgia river fishing site. Though meant to be used in flowing water I have found it works to slow me down to a nice slow drift in the wind.

Ive been yak fishing for a couple years now, both fresh and saltwater. Ive not found it limiting in carrying stuff though. You can carry several rods if you want and the tankwell holds tons of stuff. Then theres the inside the hull storage via hatches. I use TALS tubes to hold my most frequently used hardbaits and stick them in the cup holder and around the rod holder posts. I think rods behind the seat do hinder casting though. Its great to sneak up on fish spots bass boats cant get into. A word of caution about the Hobies, you sit in a more reclined postion, not upright at all compared to a regular S.O.T. It looks very uncomfortable for long periods of time.

0119 was my badge number. Homer is my avatar because I look and often act just like him especially when it comes to donuts. The Mr. Sparkles episode was my favorite. My quote, from another episode, was the price I had to pay for getting my daughter to finally install an avatar to my name.

About 3 years ago I hung up a lucky craft crankbait while fishing a made made canal. I really wanted the lure back but didnt have a retriever. The water was shallow only about 6ft. max. but very tannic stained. On shore I cut as straight a slim branch as I could find. I ran it down the line and fumbled around and the lure let go wrapped around the stick. Attached to both sets of trebles was a 3ft. piece of trim moulding. I called by Sgt. who said the dept. helo was flying and that they'ed get it to make a pass. They did and could see the outline of a car. The dive team and a wrecker came and pulled out a 93 Olds somebody drove off the side of the canal.

What a rough situation to be in, California has so many fishing possibilities. Are you bored with standard trophy bass fishing? I live a couple of miles from Boca Grande Pass which is tauted as Tarpon capital of the world. Saltwater fishing got boring for me. Having to deal with extra care for the boat, gear reels and such was tedious. Calculating tides since saltwater fishing revolves around a good tide. Heavier gear than I like to use. Leaders which I hate. Redtide being unplesant. I gave it all up for the most part to stick with bass. Less of a crowd, prettier surroundings. Comfortable gear. Less worries of corrosion.

I fish out of a 12ft O.K. Drifter Kayak. One morning I'm fishing an overgrown canal system that's very productive with lots a fallen trees and such. There are a few homes along part of the bank. I was fishing when I heard someone laughing at me. I looked around but did'nt see anybody. Moments later I hear the laughing again. Still can't see anyone. I go back to fishing and a few minutes later the laughing starts again. I see movement at the tip of my bow and look to see an otter. Hes got his two front hands on the tip, resting his head on his hands wingling his nose and whiskers. He makes this noise and it sounds just like someone laughing. He stays there watching me for about 3 more minutes then slips away. I never go out without a camera now. Fishing that same canal a few months later, a water mocassin fell into my boat from a branch overhead. He lands about 8 inches from my feet. You never saw a 300lb man move so fast, as I dove off that yak. Amazingly it did'nt flip and I had to wait about 10 minutes before he gave up his new thrown.