flyfisher

I'll echo the I haven't had that issue sentiment prevalent on this thread. If you spool braid correctly from the start, the only time I have had it dig in is when I am straight pulling back to try and break off and even then, it is minimal at best. On spinning gear I almost exclusively run braid and never had an issue digging in and even if I did, I'll take the handling characteristics on spinning over any other issues I may run into.

Right about the time bass are spawning from what I have read

one of the lakes I catch them frequently is weed filled and crystal clear so I can agree with this as well.

I am not sure why the rod length would matter in a kayak. I routinely fish with a 9' fly rod out of mine with zero issues. I can cast standing or sitting with no problems due to the rod length.

don't they eat their eggs though? I've always wanted to catch one in spawning colors too...they turn almost a fluorescent green.

Not sure about freshwater but it sure would be nice when surf fishing to get out past the breakers or to reach spots where you normally kayak out and drop the bait and paddle back in.

The most underrated game fish out there, right up there with carp only they are mean, have teeth and will hit baits with reckless abandon. They do destroy some gear though. Caught this guy on my fly rod and it was a blast. Whenever I see one, I am making a concerted effort to get him to eat. It is pretty rare that I can see one and he won't hit what you put in front of his face, now hooking them can be different story as their mouth is solid bone pretty much.

if you aren't going to be using it then I would wait until you are. There is no reason to have potential issues and spooling up a rod takes less than 10 minutes at most.

Just like any hobby I guess. I am not a hunter and the appeal of hunting isn't there for me in the slightest. I do think most who hunt are raised in that mindset though. I don't think I have ever met someone who said yeah I am gonna take up hunting as an adult but I have met a lot of people who did it with fishing.

I use anywhere from a 6' to a 9' fly rod on small creeks and up to a 7' spinning rod too. If hiking is the issue, there are some things that really help the may seem obvious but aren't, or at least weren't to me. Always when going through brush or bushwhacking have the rod tip pointed behind you with the tip only a little above shoulder height if possible. This will put the spine of the rod, and not the eyes in contact with any branches and help them to slide off without getting hung up. it also allows for you to throw the rod to the side if you fall and have very little chance of landing on it as it will only be the butt section ahead of you. There will always be times you have to set a rod over or under an obstacle, comes with the territory.

I haven't but I did take a look at the jigs you are talking about and they would be very easy to tie if you could get the jig heads. Messed around with a sculpin helmet of the first time...I think these are gonna be killer on a bunch of different patterns.

Nope. I have a rear mount one with foot control steering. Spot lock would change things on a lake I would think but I haven't used one so I don't know. I am so used to anchoring now, it isn't that big of a deal anymore.

Deep cranking is the hardest mainly because of keeping your kayak stationary with a high resistance bait like a deep crank. Even with a motor I can't keep stationary while deep cranking so I am going to anchor. Pitching and flipping is easy from a kayak, especially if you are standing.

I usually don't carry more than three fly rods but on the occasion I do, I use two of the pro models in conjunction with the regular ones. it allows one pair to be just high enough to still clear the other rods and not stand straight up in the air.

If I am keeping a fish to eat I don't really consider the state of them in the spawn. That being said, I can't remember the last time I kept a freshwater fish to eat other than a few smallies on a multi day river trip.

Best rod holders I have found are the Yak attack omega mounted to a track system. They hold my fly rods and all my conventional rods very well and are easily adjusted. I hate rods sitting right up behind me too which is why I usually use angled flush mounts on my kayak. They are far enough back that they are not in the way but close enough I rarely if ever hit them. Fly fishing though I have the rods in the omega holders and parallel to the kayak. Fly line catches everything.....

Protection from current at all water levels, food source and ease of access to shallow flats for those "warm" days. I haven't found a wintering hole super spot but the success I have found seem to be deeper pools that have additional structure in the form of ledges where they can sit and wait or move easily up the water column.

I have them on a couple of my St. Croix rage rods and I have no complaints.

Doesn't have to be deepest at all, it has to have the right factors for a wintering hole and while depth is a factor it is not the only or even most important one.

Study after study has been done to show that any type of work other than mindless type jobs that money is not a motivator in the long term. People need to find value in their work and pay the bills. I know many won't agree with my stance on here and that is fine but the proof is out there. He is young and doesn't know what he wants to be when he grows up, it happens. If he wants to keep switching jobs, let him do it. He may find the one that sticks and he wants to go to every day. He obviously has something people are able to see since he is getting jobs. Let him figure it out but that doesn't mean allow him to be a bum. Some people just need to figure things out on their own in their own way. I was never one to switch a lot of jobs but it took me 16 years to finish my undergrad and 18 months my masters....people change and the people calling the kid a bum at 20 makes me scratch my head....

I use a standard milk crate with nothing mounted on it. I cannot stand rod holders mounted to a crate and I could never see the need to buy a "fishing" crate. The features they touted always seemed to be solving for a problem that didn't really exist.

And that is part of the issue but maybe your post and the responses will open a few eyes

The entire premise of this post is making it seem like you are doing your wife a favor by doing these chores. That entire mindset is part of the issue. We all live in the same house and we all chip in as we see fit. There is no such thing as women's work or man's work unless you want it to be that way and doing what is needed around a house you live in isn't a favor to your wife it is more disrespectful and ignorant to think you don't have to in the first place.

Practically new meaning you just bought it or practically new because it hasn't been used? if it is relatively new then I would just return it to where you purchased it and exchange for a new one. If it is the latter then the video posted above should help. I have a couple baitrunners that see use about once or twice a year and are all over 5 years old and I haven't experienced the issues you are.