flyfisher

I am pretty sure that every bridge has a right of way that allows legal access to the river. the tricky part is if there are landowners that think they own everything and then parking completely off the road.

Pony Gabot is the easiest walking frog with zero modifications needed that I have used.

james river, shenandoah river and most of the tributaries that empty into them have smallies. The type of place you want exists but would be a smaller type location so I won't be sharing info there but i can say that Google Earth, DGIF website and knowledge of right of way access on bridges is your friend good luck and half the fun to me is exploring and finding out of the way stuff...

one my older CI4+ i run 20 or 30lb braid, currently J braid i think, but usually the 30lb and it does very well. I have used power pro suffix etc....i am not too picky about braid but i know i didn't like the 832 or whatever it was called.

that sound pretty good. Might have to make one tonight

When i am not using my fly rod which is a better producer for me I almost exclusively use a circle hook nose hooked 4" stick worm. I had some custome made a while back that were double dipped in clear plastic on the nose just for this purpose and any color works as long as it is yellow Fly rod is the way to go though with slow sinking spiders and poppers.

Lots of places to fish really. The james is fun but it is always pressured and catching fish isn't always the easiest. I have had some success wading under the nickel bridge. There is also some good wet wading of small streams around too. Just go to the DGIF website and take a look at boat launches, particularly the hand carry ones, many you can safely wade nearby and catch some fish.

Eye protection is paramount and it isn't just projectiles, UV rays are also damaging. I am pretty sure anyone that wears contacts are UV protected. I had a fly come back at me yesterday that hit me in the chest after a hookset but i have had them hit me in the lens before too.

i usually take 6 with me on the kayak when conventional fishing and 3 when fly fishing but it is as much about not having to retie if i change techniques. I always have the following rigged up i the warmer months, winter time i pare it down quite a bit Jig Frog fluke chatterbait/spinnerbait soft bodied swim bait crankbait Fly fishing 10/11 weight larger streamers/topwater 7wt smaller streamers/topwater/bottom baits 7wt sinking tip streamers

Caught these guys today.....When i snagged that catfish i thought for sure I had a monster smallie too lol

Yeah on the first kayak i bought a long long long time ago i got the rod holders and i learned real quick they aren't for me lol I do use them for my fly rods though as they are the only thing that will hold them and being longer, it is nice to angle them flat to keep them from anything overhanging and my back cast. i use one of my flush mounts for my stake out pole probably as often as i do for rods though, on lakes anyways. I like the anchor wizards but i went with the DIY version and used a retractable clothesline under my seat and fashioned a bracket and piece ov PVC i heated up and used a bottle to make the funnel at the front. Seems to work very well thus far too.

Yeah the only thing i have added to mine are 6 flush mount rod holders, anchor trolley and an anchor chute off the bow for river use.

yup had it happen multiple times.

I'll disagree with the paddling well and being able to stand. I have an ATAK 140 and have paddled the 120 as well. The 140 paddles very well and is decent in the maneuverability aspect given it is a 14' boat. I can easily paddle at 3.5 mph for extended periods of time and over 4 if i want to give it a little more effort. Both of the boats are very easy to stand in and i even paddle standing up to get to different spots. Is it going to be super nimble like a boat designed for rivers, nah but i'll take it for lakes any day of the week. It is the first kayak i have owned that I haven't thought about upgrading after a few seasons. it truly is a great kayak for fishing.

I am pretty sure someone else had one like it before but can't remember who it was. They look cool and i hate transducer arms...major consideration was an electronics pod in my last kayak purchase. I know i would be nervous at first should it come apart but i am guessing it won't without serious impact. Any idea if the magnet will cause any type of interference with the transducer?

haven't had many close calls where i was nervous while fishing really. Closest thing was when brookie fishing about 3 miles up a mountain stream i heard something...i look up to see two black bear cubs making their way down the hill and then across the creek. Mama bear wasn't far behind so I just sat and watched. Black bears aren't a big deal but mama bears are and i wasn't about to agitate them in any way if at all possible. I was far enough out that and in a place not many people fish so if something happened I'd still not be found probably lol Now rock climbing i have had lots of close calls......

I think they are pretty cool and had a chance to talk to a guy near me who has one one day when i saw him fishing. He said he loved it and would buy another one. I know now they offer the option of joystick steering too which i think is awesome.

Good questions for sure. I have zero experience with the kayaks you mentioned so i can't speak to them. What i will say is if you have a local shop see if they allow demos. most places that do allow demos will apply the demo cost off the boat purchase. Boats hat look good on paper can change when you are in them. $700 is a tough budget to be honest to get a new boat that is high quality. Paddles, it is about budget and the weight really. I have a manta ray hybrid paddle which is relatively inexpensive and relatively lightweight. i think it runs about 125-150 and it does the job for me just fine. You will want to determine which paddle works for you and your boat though as boat width can help to determine what length to get. your Mustang inflatable would be fine. i use an inflatable as well and only use a traditional style PFD if i am on moving water where i may have to use it, that way i don't have to rearm it. Electronics..you can mount whatever you want on your kayak. nothing kayak specific. just be cognizant of the size of the unit and location. If your boat unit is removable you may be able to just get another transducer and wires and use the one from your big boat on your kayak. Save you some coin.... I'll give the same advice i give to everyone new to kayak fishing. Don't rig your boat because of what you saw....rig it because of what you need and the only way to now what you need and where you need it is to paddle it. I have been kayak fishing for a long time and every new boat I get i fish a few times with nothing rigged to it just to see where i want stuff. I have a general idea in most cases but on the water things change.

I am gonna tie some stuff up here soon for my dad for Father's Day, maybe do some of those pig boats, not sure yet. I started making brushes after liking the EP ones and they are turning out pretty good so far.

those look great. Are those hollow flies where you use silicone to hold the shape? I have tied the pig boats before and used them as swim jig type patterns. I used those fish skulls on mine but not the weighted ones, the plastic deals and they worked really well. I got out the past two weekends but it has been so windy I have gone with conventional gear.

Maybe i am missing something here by what does braid to leader have to do with casting performance? I have a couple Curado Ks and i have braid on one and copolymer on another and i have never had any issues with casting either type. This is also the first i have heard of this type of issue to be honest.... I will say that it took me a little to get it dialed in, one trip, but i haven't opened it up since.

I guess it all depends what you are looking for. I am a customer of a lot of places but gas stations, convenience stores and the like i am perfectly fine with zero chit chat as long as everything is taken care of properly. they were probably both shocked you used cash lol I wonder if the Covid19 situation is what prompted them to place the money directly on the counter instead of your hand. I went through a fast food drive thru and they had a tray for my debit card and when i got it back, it was obviously sprayed with disinfectant of some sort. I am ok with all of that.... restaurant service is different though.....crappy service there and i will give one more shot if the food was good but two times bad service and i won't go back.

nope. I'll take my chances. If i am paddling through an area that i may lose the rod or flip the kayak then i will fasten things down but for the most part I am not worried. Not a fan of leashes at all either as they are just one more thing to get tangled up in should you flip.

you are right that this isn't the place for this type of banter. As far as him baiting, yeah i know, I was just having some fun messing with him because it was pretty easy to get him riled up lol

Lots of the boats mentioned here are barges to paddle, the feel free especially as you will see most motorize them. For me it is paddle or motor. No need to pedal a boat with the motor options out there now. I have an ATAK 140 and it is my favorite kayak i have owned in my very long time kayak fishing. I might even get a motor for it but for now a paddle does it for me. I can paddle at 3.5-4mph pretty easily. Wind stinks but it is what it is....anchoring is easy if you learn how to do it properly.