Hanover_Yakker

Looking for deals is not that uncommon for any of us. Regarding the EVx, I will issue one word of caution on cost relative to replacement under warranty based on personal experience. I too loved the overall weight and feel of the rod when I paired it with my Revo Inshore. That quickly turned to dismay and disgust when I was tossing a jig-n-craw into some timber. I had a nice strike and went to set the hook, I gave a quick firm side set and with the load applied to a decent fish, the tip snapped clean and I lost the fish. Now I wasn't hung up, the fish was simply applying leverage against my pressure when the tip snapped between the second and third line guide on a MH/Fast casting rod. I was disappointed to say the least, especially since this was the first time out with the rod but I know it happens to everyone at some point. I took the rod back to the store and learned that the replacement cost from Okuma plus s/h would be more than the cost of the rod itself if I bought it brand new. I decided to switch to a higher end rod instead.

According to one of the guys I ran into on Saturday that fished that lake a lot, they didn't treat the lake like they had been scheduled to, so the hydrilla/grass/weed growth was excessive when we hit the water this past weekend. I lost a beast of a bass at yak side when it spit my lure but those are the breaks. Had fun at the TKAA tournament as always. I am sure I ran into most of you at the check in table if you turned in a score sheet. I was the one recording your check in times and taking your fish rulers.

Love them - wish they held up better over time, but I made one mod to mine per a post I read on here a while back and that is to use a pair of needlenose pliers and bend the tip of the spinner blade slightly. This will help the blade rotate each and every time rather than the occassional non-rotating that Rooster Tails are prone to. My four favorites are: black/silver blade, white/silver blade, chartreuse/gold blade and rainbow/gold blade

My favorite treble-based lure was and always will be the Rapala Mini Fat Rap (discontinued - not smart if you ask me). The newer versions just don't work as well. My favorite soft plastic craw - Powerteam Lures 3.5" Craw D'oeuvre in Kitchen Sink or Black/Blue My favorite stick bait - Powerteam Lures 5" Sick Stick in Green Pumpkin Light Blue Swirl or Black with Blue flake. My favorite spinnerbait - Strike King 1/4oz Rocket Shad (but I replace the skirts with a custom tie for better endurance) My favorite topwater frog - Stanley Ribbit in black, watermelon pearl and catalpa

I have used everything from a 4'6" U/L to a 7'11" swimbait rod and my 10' fly rod. It all depends upon your physical stature (arm length/torso length) combined with seating position in the kayak in order for you to be able to reach the bow of your kayak with your rod and snake the line around the bow to avoid a fish gaining leverage on you during the fight and snapping the line. My normal setup is 3-4 rods for regular outings, but for a tournament I will bring 6-8 depending on the techniques employed. A tournament I was in this past weekend was on a body of water I had never been on, so I rigged up my 7 favorite techniques. For bodies of water that you frequent or that have distinct and known patterns, your gear will be greatly reduced. In a Ride 135, you should be able to stand with some level of comfort, so technique specific rods aren't necessarily a factor. Another tactic folks fail to employ in a kayak is that of kneeling in your footwell/seating area. This affords you the opportunity to maintain control and balance of yourself and the kayak while still being able to fish. In some cases, using a technique you otherwise did not feel comfortable doing while sitting like topwater, roll casting, skipping, etc. Get some seat time and try your favorite techniques - then you will be able to hone in on what to carry with you. At first, keep it simple (2-3 rods, a tray of lures, a couple bags of plastics and a small tray of terminal tackle), then expand if need be.

If you are looking for more, I am getting ready to post some in the flea market. Medium divers.

Well, the tournament was a blast as always - good times, great food and some interesting weather. Pretty much the usual for this tournament every year. Everyone had to contend with gusting winds close to 30 knots in spots. I teamed up with a couple friends and we fished at one of the Newport News reservoirs. It was a tough bite with several lost fish. Normally, you can work a jig-n-craw or Carolina rig around the trees but the hydrilla over growth combined with strong gusting winds negated those efforts. I worked some pockets with a wacky rigged PTL Sick Stick and a spinnerbait all day and ended up with only two in the yak and two lost. The best fish of the day was a 19" chain pickerel that was very fat, but the heartbreak of the day came with less than an hour to go before i had to leave to get back and check folks in. I was working a large flat slow rolling a spinnerbait when I noticed a rather large bass roll on the surface chasing bait. When it crested the water, there was at least18" of back showing alone!!! I kept a watchful eye for the next signs of baitfish getting antsy before I fired off a cast. When it happened, I made a quick cast only to be greeted by a nasty crosswind/swirl that caused a slight over rotation of the reel - not even a backlash, just a couple loops that loosened on the spool. I pulled the overrun out with a couple quick tugs and reeled in the slack - the line came tight and a fish was on!! A couple hard lunges and I knew it was a good one, and not a chain pickerel. She pulled some major drag and was bulldogging me in to the matted hydrilla. Once she was under the boat, she ended up wedging herself into the hydrilla. As I eased her to the surface, I noticed the spinnerbait was no longer in the fished mouth, rather it was hooked into the hydrilla with the fish still buried nose first in it as well. The fish unflared it's gills and slipped out of the mat as I was reaching to grab her - easily 22" and possibly over 23". It wasn't until later that evening as the winning measurements were being announced I realized that I would have won at least second place. The final placings were: 3rd place was 19 3/4", 2nd was 20" and the winning 1st place fish was 23". The winner won the Wilderness Systems kayak of their choice and any color they wanted. I am already stoked to give it a go next year and see if I can pull out the victory. Here's a quick pic of the chunky pickerel that slammed my slow rolled spinnerbait.

All jacked up and nowhere to go I could still get my PA up there just might need a step stool

Apparently you haven't watched me load my PA14 - which is much heavier than the PA12. Its a piece of cake even for an aging old fart like me at 43 with a bad back, torn labrum and toasted knees. FWIW - I hope to add a Rack-N-Roll soon myself.

There is a Cuda 14 for sale on the Kayak Bass Fishing site...... http://www.kayakbassfishing.com/kbfBB3/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=23192 .....and a Cuda 12 on the Tidewater Kayak Anglers Association site.... http://tkaa.org/index.php?topic=6204.0 .....and a Cuda 12 and Cruise 12 DEMOs from Appomattox River Company (and they will drop ship to you!!!!) http://www.paddleva.com/Clearance/Jackson-Kayak/APP01952-Jackson-Cuda-12-Kayak-2013-Dominion-RiverRock-Used-Demo http://www.paddleva.com/Clearance/Jackson-Kayak/APP01953-Jackson-Cruise-12-Kayak-2013-Dominion-RiverRock-Used-Demo .....or on the Maryland Kayak Fishing forum (snaggedline)...... http://www.snaggedline.com/showthread.php?6937-2013-Jackson-Cuda-14-For-Sale You just need to look around.....they are out there if you look hard enough.

I have both and have no real opinion either way. For me its about how the blank and line choice pair together for sensitivity when I fish.

Powerteam Lures Craw D'oeuvres are killer solo and as trailers. If you are interested, send me a PM with your address and I will send you some.

Stability is relative to three primary factors. 1. The kayak's primary and secondary stability 2. The person's physical capacity for maintaining balance 3. The motion or behavior of the water current and wave action For me, I prefer to stand for topwater, flipping/pitching and sight casting. For anything else, sitting.

I fish year round, and find great joy in fishing out of my kayaks when the air temps sink below freezing. A key point to remember is COTTON KILLS in cold water. If you get wet from falling in, immediate dry clothes or ability to get warm is critical and can be a life or death situation if not taken seriously. A general rule of thumb I use is the 120 degree rule. That is the total temperature of the air and water temps at the time of launch and during your outing with neither value below 60 degrees. Some argue that 50 degrees is the mark, but your can die from hypotermia exposure in 50 degree water if the air temp is low enough. If either value is below 60 degrees, then you should be wearing some form of layers to help keep you warm. At the early onset of colder temps, sometimes the waders and splash top approach are sufficient, but once the water temps drop down to 50 and below consistently, you need to use the full gammut of layers. The proper approach is one of layering. Now, depending upon your climate, the layers may vary, but here in the mid-Atlantic, the following is the bare minimum for most outings that I wear..... Hands - wool gloves and a spare pair in case they get drenched. I use a fingerless design with a protective palm and fingers. Head - wool or fleece hat tha covers your ears. Don't take the wind for granted. The head is first place to lose heat in the winter. Feet - wicking socks as a base layer and a pair of smart wool socks over top. Body - base layer of wicking material (Thermax, Duofold, UnderArmour, etc.) covered with a fleece layer covered with a waterproof layer. Face - some folks like face shields, but I personallly do not. Your climate may dictate otherwise Now, for the waterproof layer, opinions vary. Some people prefer full body dry suits (Kokatat, NRS, etc.). They are expensive ($600-1500) but worth every penny, just make sure you test fit it with a base layer on, and make sure you get one with a relief zipper. Also keep in mind that the neck area is sometimes more restrictive in some brands than others. Other options, I use a pair of breathable chest waders with neoprene booties, wading boots and a waterproof splash top with gasket seals at the neck and hands. The water temps I fish in range in the high 30's to low 40's all winter long. Hope this helps. I am sure others will chime in. Hopefully some of the folks from the NE area like Jfrancho who also fish out of yaks.

Nicely done.

Good info but still hard to justify as a first time purchaser from a cost perspective. Especially when they release a new phone yearly now with the older models still jacked up in price. Here is a dumb question for you Darren. Any techies you trust install iOS7 on an iPhone 4? What were the comments?

Charlie goes out almost every other day weather permitting. Basically anything from Broad Bay through the Blackwater area and North Landing. If it has a launch, Charlie has hit it at some point in the past.

Hard to buy in on any reviews of a product that was just announced a few days ago and has not been on the market for any amount of real time. I mean 24 hours in and already the reviews have it flagged at least as a 4.5 out of 5 really? I don't buy it and I want one. I'll wait a little bit before I jump on the bandwagon......

I'll take a different approach to answering this one...... My favorite guitarist isn't based on generation, it's based on playing style and the listening mood I am in at any given moment..... Soulful blues - John Mayall, Jimmy Page, Tony Iommi, Carlos Santana, Robert Cray, Eric Johnson, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Eric Clapton, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shephard Nasty blues - Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Bonamassa Electric Blues - David Gilmour, Gary Moore, Warren Haynes and Jimi Hendrix Blues Rock - Joe Perry, Ted Nugent, Chuck Berry, Paul McCartney, Billy Gibbons Angus Young (sorry folks, he is a blues guitarist if you listen to the licks even with the distortion cranked up) Blues Swing - Brian Setzer Modern (90's and newer) - Tim Reynolds, Mike McCready Hard Rock - Slash, Mark Tremonti, Jerry Cantrell, John 5, Kirk Hammett, Zakk Wylde, Dave Mustaine, Chris Broderick, Eddie Van Halen (love him or hate him, he can play) 80's Metal - Randy Rhodes, George Lynch, Michael Schenker, Phil Collen, John Sykes, Jake E Lee, Matthias Jabs Instrumental Electric - Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Al DiMiola, Yngwie J Malmsteen Progressive Rock - Alex Liefson, John Petrucci As you can see, I have quite the eclectic taste but all of these center around one theme - BLUES! Most music originated from times when life was challenging for one reason or another. Listen to your favorite songs a little closer and you might be surprised to find how much blues chords and progressions are layered in there. The 'blues box' is the considered by many guitarist around the world as the most fundamental lesson to learn. Great topic..... I think I will go crank up a CD or two from my collection here at work.....

....and that is why there is no one craw to solve this dilemma and the OP's question. The answer is a variety depending upon the situation, body of water being fished and the time of the year.

In all honesty, a person's size is not the true limiting factor in which kayak to choose, so your nephew at 320lbs is only one factor in the decision. The true factor is his case is which kayak will he be able to enter and exit from while still being able to paddle/pedal and fish comfortably in. All too often, people focus on how they are going to use the kayak and completely miss the boat (pardon the pun) on sizing the kayak for them and the gear that they carry. Your gear alone (depending on whether you are a gear junkie or a minimalist) can add anywhere from 15-50lbs to your kayak. In your case, I would venture to say that your choices are going to be limited to one of the following, based simply on a hull's maximum load capacity: Paddle-based: Ocean Kayak Big Game Prowler - 550-600Lbs. Native Slayer 14.5 - 450lbs. Native Ultimate 14.5 solo - 450lbs. Wilderness Systems Ride 135 - 550lbs. Wilderness Systems Commander 140 - 475lbs. Jackson Big Tuna - 500lbs. Jackson Big Rig - 500-600lbs. (planned 12/2013 release) NuCanoe Frontier 12 - 650lbs. Pedal-based: (pricier but worth consideration) Hobie Pro Angler 12 - 500lbs. Hobie Pro Angler 14 - 600 lbs. Native Slayer Propel 13 - should be the same as other Slayers at 450lbs. Ones that you should probably not consider based upon manufacturer's specs only (no personal bias or experience): Old Town Predator MX - max load is only 375-400lbs Old Town Predator 13 - max load is only 400-425lbs. KC Kayaks - no specs available on their site (call them to confirm the load capacity) Native Mariner 12.5 - max load is only 400lbs FS128T Ascend - max load is only 350lbs Diablo Paddlesports Adios - max load 400lbs Now this is not to say that other brands shouldn't be considered, I am just giving you the max load capacities as a means to help you narrow down your realistic options while still affording your nephew room to move about, fish comfortably and feel safe on the water.

After reading some of the responses, I guess mine needs a little more tweaking..... For subtle presentations where less is more - the Powerteam Lures 3.5" Craw D'oeuvre For in your face pure bulk - the Powerteam Lures 4.5" Conviction Craw For a hint of action and flare - the Powerteam Lures 3.5" or 4.5" Texas Rig Jig For pure action and flare - the Powerteam Lures 4" Diesel Craw And lastly, for punching - the Powerteam Lures 4.5" Bully Grass Devil And before you jump on my case for looking like a PTL homer, I am on their Pro Staff; however, I was using their products for almost a full year and switched out all of my soft plastics for their products before ever being offered the opportunity to represent them as one of four kayak Pro Staffers across the entire US. I had the full arsenal of craws from Yum, GYCB, NetBait (my presonal fave prior to PTL), Berkley, Zoom, etc. I tried them all and had the plastics bags to prove it until I gave them all away to various Heroes On the Water chapters and sold a few of the unopened packs. When I believe in a product, I go all in with no holds barred. Also, when you have success with a given product, you run with it regardless of brand. That is the beauty of the soft plastics industry and competition - plenty of choices for everyone to try and find a brand that they have confidence in!

In preparation for an upcoming tournament, I needed to get some much needed time on the water but couldn't venture too far from home due to a sick little one and needing to be close to home in case the wife needed me. So I headed out to a local neighborhood pond to fish like it was a tourney day albeit not on the same type of water. Sometimes, practicing the skills nets you some fish even if that was not your intention or goal for the day. My goal was to limit myself to three presentations and work them. Let me set the scene of this lake for you...... Size - maybe 35 acres total in the shape of a "Y" with the "Y" at the spillway - no boats with motors, electric and paddle only. Depths - deepest spot is only 8' and that is at the spillway, rest of lake averages 4' Surface temps - 83-84 degrees by mid-afternoon Wind - always affects you regardless of which end you fish Composition - man made neighborhood pond with sheer drop offs 12-18" from the bank that fall to 4' pretty quickly. Areas where it is shallow have a mucky bottom from detritis of old leaves, algae snot, old timber, etc. Cover - loads of pads in every nook and cranny, a few laydowns and lots of overhanging brush at the water's edge. Generalities - not the best lake to use open hooks on during the summer and fall (cranks, soft bodied swimjigs, etc). Loads of free floating algae and leaves that snag your hooks on every cast, but you can still use top waters and spinnerbaits or skirted jigs. The banks are loaded with algae snot and the pads are so thick, that casting deep into them is not the best approach either. The best approach is a topwater frog along the pad edges or open casting lanes in the pads and weedless presentations. On this day, I opted for a spinnerbait, a skirted swim jig and a wacky rig. While the wind was blowing, I started with the spinnerbait and swim jig but got no love. Switched over to the wacky rig and it was game on. The best technique on this lake is commonly referred to as skipping. I ended up landing 15 bass in total and really dialed in my skipping technique from distances up to 40' from shore. Now if you have never done this, let me recommend a couple of things.....start with a spinning rod. It will make your time on the water a lot less frustrating. Second, a spinning rod with an extra fast tip really is helpful, because your casting motion is simplified to a simple clockwise (or counter clockwise if you are left handed) wrist turn and release of the line at the right moment to send your soft plastic skipping along the surface. After a few casts into open water, you can quickly learn and feel the right motion and timing of your line release. Need more help than that? Then check out this video montage sample of some of the casts I made this past Friday at this very lake...... ......oh wait, I almost got a warning flag. I can't post it here. It has two non-BR sponsor images at the end. In that case, if you are interested in the video, just send me a PM and I will send the url to you.

I might be in the minority here but the Powerteam Lures 3.5" Craw D'Oeuvre is no joke! Just saying.......

Check your PM!