HeavyDluxe

Others have commented on paddle length... I'm with JFrancho - the big thing is the width of the boat, and Ride is wide. 230-240cm. I have a 240cm and paddle from the low seat as well. I would think going shorter than 230 would be a bad idea. re: vests - I wound up buying a Hobie-branded inflatable vest since I'm mostly paddling in flat water. It's very small, light, and (most importantly) cool.

If you can, paddle both... you might be amazed how different things 'feel' in one or the other. I haven't paddled an Ascend, so I can't help there. My candidate boats were the Ride, Coosa, Cuda, and WS Commander. Having said all that, I bought a 2013 Ride 115 and couldn't be happier.

At your size, there are tons of options... we *ahem* more robust men have to worry more about carry-weight and stability. A lot depends on the bodies of water you intend to fish. A longer boat will track better and be somewhat faster, all other things being equal. So, on larger bodies of water, you'll be able to paddle around from point to point a little more quickly. Even just a couple feet of extra length (10-12ft, or 11-13ft, for example) can really make a difference in how tubby or not tubby a yak feels on the water. The shorter boats, on the other hand, will be a little more maneuverable all other things being equal. I think either of the boats you mention will be great starter boats, based on what other people have posted. I bought a Wilderness Systems Ride 115 (11'5), though I thought a lot about the Ride 135 (13'5). I opted for the shorter boat because of these factors: Cost delta... I was able to find a really nice, supposedly 'blemished' 115 Portability... The extra length and weight of the 135 didn't look all that significant on paper, but my experience was the 135 seemed much more cumbersome Performance... I might want to fish on small, faster-moving rivers from time to time. So, the 115 was better suited to my all-around tasks. Plus, in my tests, it was clear that the 115 was slower but not so much that I felt like I was going to be really hampered by it. re: storage capacity... FWIW, unless I'm also planning to take camping gear, there is no reason I can't fit adequate equipment on the boat for a day of fishing with ample room left over. Paddle the two boats you are considering, and maybe a couple other options just for comparison. Then have fun! Trust me, you'll *love* the kayak angling experience.

Rainbow smelt.

Some details or a pic might help. Apart from all those, my guess is 'shark'.

You're forgetting, though, that they were all concerned that the pigs might have been a vector for the infection.

Hey Dolores!!

Do you have any way to demo them? I imagine which one to choose would become more obvious then.

There, the experts have spoken. Consider my post set aside!

I won't dispute your choice... But, just for a comparison, check out the Jackson Big Tuna: http://jacksonkayak.com/jk-kayaks/kayak-fishing/big-tuna/ I know people who fish out of it solely as a tandem (two people) and also some who occasionally use it solo. I think that there are trolling motors for yaks that will mount to the Tuna. No agenda... Just offering a point of contrast. Given your needs, the Prowler might definitely be the right decision.

As a portly guy myself who just got into kayak fishing, there are tons of models to try... WS Commander (hybrid) and Ride (SOT) Jackson Cuda (SOT) and Big Tuna (tandem-able SOT) Old Town Predator (SOT) Native Ultimate series (hybrid) And others, I'm sure. I wound up buying a WS Ride 115 and I love the thing. I detailed my evaluations elsewhere, and would link the post if you think it would be helpful. Best advice: Find a good retailer, and get as much butt-time in the seat of the candidate boats as possible. You'll be surprised how 'different' the boats can feel and how quickly you'll find things you love/hate.

I've long heard it said that the best rig for catching pike is to target bass with your most expensive lure. Being serious, I think your post highlights something important - namely that experimentation can be a great part of this sport/hobby. And, just like SirSnook said, a good fisherman can catch all kinds of fish with key adjustments suited to the targeted species.

Roast marshmallows?

The other trick: GO SLOW. The vast majority of time, I think we anglers fish baits too fast. Take your time, let the bait rest for some seconds (even *many* seconds) before twitching it again. This is a good thread, too: Guaranteed to Catch Fish

They caught my PB smallie this afternoon... And they even caught that one rigged backwards.

Disclaimer: I fish only mono. And, like you, my jig rod is 12lb mono. That being said, if your concern is ensuring you can more consistently get fish out of cover like that, I'm betting that braided mainline would be worth testing. The strength-to-diameter ratio is excellent, after all. In clear water conditions, you would probably want to tie on a leader. Most people here, for jig fish, would recommend fluoro because of its low visibility even at relatively thick diameters. FWIW, I still think mono is pretty good for all-around use. And I like the 'sport' of using it in applications where other lines (science!) might be better. Good luck! The great thing about this sport/hobby is you can make of it what you want.

I fish with nothing but spinning reels... I've tried baitcasters and, with a lot of practice, got the point they felt more 'natural'. But, I still don't like 'em. It's all what you're used to, I suppose.

Generic bait color: Green Pumpkin Generic craw color: Dark Pumpkin Generic shad color: Shad or other grey/silver Generic all-around fish-catcher: Black & Blue

Everyone misses bites. I remain unconvinced that I detect fewer because I'm on mono. And my catch rates compared to friends when we're fishing the same waters seem to indicate the same.

Find a local shop that sells kayaks. Most will have some sort of demo day. Paddle as many boats as you can. You'll learn more about what you like and don't like in one day of paddling that you will from weeks of reading. My fish kayak was a Perception Sport 9.5... not a bad start boat. Easy to load/unload, haul, very stable, and tracks ok for a smaller boat.

Sorry... I didn't mean to say that bass prefer or seek out their own. I simply meant that, once fry leave the nests, bass show no inclination toward loyalty to other bass fry. They're simply opportunistic predators. If it looks like it might be food (size, shape, color, behavior) they'll eat it. I agree with you that "baby bass" is a good color specifically because it (along with other colors like green pumpkin, for example) generically look like 'prey'.

Once fry leave the nest, they are fair game. By percentage, there are far more panfish and other species fry in any body of water, so those are going to represent a larger portion of their diet. Still, there's a reason "baby bass" is an available color in just about every lure imaginable.

Congrats... I'm so thankful I live near great smallie water. They are an absolute hoot!

I'm a new kayak angler, having started with my WS Ride 115 in May. So, take everything I say with a huge grain of salt. My first kayak was a SINK, and I'd clearly agree that it is a generally warmer ride - the walls help you retain heat, keep the wind off our body, and obviously keep you dry. I think a more normal sized angler might be quite content to fish out of a SINK exclusively. However, given my size, the SOT was just way more manageable (getting in/out of the boat, body mobility, overall comfort). I don't know much about cold-season use. Though I would point to NDYakAngler's YouTube channel as illustrative of what's possible. I'm afraid I don't know enough about cold weather equipment to comment much, though.

I could do that, too... The main reason I up'ed the strength of the line was to try to make it easier to retrieve a jig when I hooked a branch (save $$). I also thought the slightly thicker line might be a little better re: abrasion resistance. Since I'm throwing right into snarls of downed trees and rocks, that seemed prudent. But, you're right, there's potentially even more 'sport' in using the lighter line. Mind you, I'm not trying to sound 'holier than thou' re: why I use mono in the strengths I use. It's a hobby, and everyone should be able to enjoy that hobby how they like. I just personally find it a little amusing when I fish with friends who are talking about the challenge of winching a 3lb fish out of weed when they're using 30lb test line. There's a challenge there, for sure, but not fear of a fish breaking it off. Which leads to you second point... FWIW, I would agree with everything you said. *shrugs* The strength-to-diameter ratio for braid is one of the most attractive things about it... Again, I'm not panning braid. I think it's a fine tool. I'm just saying it hasn't been the Holy Grail of fishing for me (yet) as some people seem to make it sound. And, I think that someone can be just as successful fishing with mono (or co-poly, or fluoro, or whatever) if you learn to manage the line well. To sum it all up, and then I'll shut up: Every line is a compromise. It's fun to experiment and see what suits your situations. My personal opinion is that mono, though many think it's been surpassed, is still a fine choice. See what you think for yourself.