Hanover_Yakker

Satisfy your curiosity and get one of each!

Congrats! It's official! Now go and get a bigger one - fish that is

Thanks and yes - I have it spooled with a 30yd backing of 10lb mono, filled with 30lb. PP braid in moss green and topped with a 6' length of 15lb. PLine Flouroclear leader.

Sure thing - I'm checking on the best launch spot now. Let you know soon. You have my cell, so drop me a line anytime. I'm sure my son would love it, too!

J - there is a spot a couple hours away that is loaded with them in case you're interested. I'll hit it with you one weekend if you like. Let me know.

I use the Yakima Landing Pads, Control Towers and 50" crossbars for my PA14. All I do is angle the back of the PA from the rear of the van then liftt the bow handle and walk the bow onto a yoga mat laying on the rear of the van's roof. I can then walk to the stern then lift and shove right up onto my Caravan with no issues.

I use two that are the Bee's Knees so to speak - well actually only one is foldable, and that is the Leverage Landing Net. The other is an EGO S2 Slider, but it floats and has a large basket that I use for saltwater species. The Leverage Landing Net is a cool design in that it utilizes the natural leverage of your arm to guide and lift the fish - best part is it only requires one hand to operate. Check it out!!! http://www.leveragelandingnet.com/ You can order them in a variety of sizes and shapes. I had the standard hoop size I gave to a friend who owns a bass boat and he loves it. Easy to manage with one arm while landing a fish. I use the kayak specific model with a narrower hoop design and an integrated rod holder extension for easier stoarage on my Pro Angler.

Congrats - sorry we haven't been able to mesh our schedules to meet up and shop, but the folks at Green Top will get you setup. Steve is a good one - Fred is also a good one as well. Pay attention to their calendar as well - they have classes and seminars from time-to-time that may be of interest. When in doubt, just head up there on a Saturday morning and mill about with your ears open. You might be surprised at what you "hear" walking amongst the aisles or hanging out around the counter.

The concern is not always about the talent of the picks that JJ makes - it's in his evalution of that player relative to the collective grade that is published prior to the draft and their relative value against the entire draft class. From a value perspective, the third round picks and later were exceptional values, but the first two picks relative to their projected selection is where you could make a case for JJ reaching. As with any draft, you can never justify one pick over another until four years later, so we'll just have to wait an see. If you look at it from a needs perspective, Dallas drafted and address several needs not only for this season but also to protect themselves after next season for cap concerns assocaited with unfavorable contracts like Austin, Bryant, Witten, Murray, etc. Remember, the draft class of 2009/2010 has their 3 year and 4 year contracts expiring at the end of this upcoming season that has to also be considered when selecting new players in a draft. In the end, Free will likely only be designated as a June 1 cut if Clabo or Winston agree to a 2-3 year contract that has a small cap hit this year. If not, then Dallas will have to suck up the mistake and deal with Free for one more season, then cut him next year. My one big question is whether the interior line will be stout enough against the run this year. We'll have to wait and see on Crawford, Lissimore, Ratliff, Spencer and crew can hold up. We have insufficient depth in that area for my tastes, and it is an area that should not have gone unaddressed in the draft.

Quality outing for an awesome cause! Well done John!

Awesome - welcome aboard. Isn't amazing how our favorite hobbies and recreational activities end up costing more and more?

I use a Shimano Crucial 6'3" Medium/XF spinning rod paired with a Shimano Stradic 2500 ci4. I also have a casting setup - a St. Croix AVID 6'8" Medium/XFast that I use as well.

Welcome aboard! I have several Rooster Tails that always seem to find their way into the water when I head out

I was fuming at first as well, but then I took a step back and did some more homework. Granted, he is not the most fleet of foot, but playing center is not about being fleet of foot? The inside run game is any area of weakness, and clearly this pick was an attempt to not only supplant Costa at some point, but it also gains depth on the o-line as a potential replacement for injury-riddled Bernadeaux, because Frederick also has played OG. Keep in mind that our O-Line coach is Bill Callahan (former Wisconsin coach prior to Frederick), so he understands how the Wisconsin line play operates and probably had some pull in this selection. Granted it is considered a reach, but at least we didn't blow our load on a player with the dreaded "potential" flag and move up sacrificing more picks. I wish the pick would have been Elam, but oh well. The big plus out of the whole thing in my opinion is that they won't have to pay through the nose for him like a top 10 pick, and they have the fifth year option on the player, since he is a first round pick. So, they have basically 5 years of service at a reasonable cost and can avoid the dreaded franchise tag and save themselves from cap purgatory further. The real steal of the deal is that now we have pick 47, 74 and 80 and could really add some quality talent on the defensive side of the ball and possibly a RB. I suspect that they are targeting players like Jonathan Cyprien (FS), Larry Warfod (OG), Jesse Williams (DT) and Jonathan Hankins (DT). Although, I could really warm up to the idea of drafting Menelik Watson (OT) and send Free on his way today, or a skill player like Le-Veon Bell (RB) in the 4th round tomorrow to replace Felix Jones.

Thanks - I love that place. It's my preferred location.

I had a Revolution 13 and feel it is probably the most versatile Hobie in their lineup. I used it everywhere here in VA waters. Here's a list of where I used it to give you an idea..... Freshwater Lakes/Reservoirs: Sandy River Bear Creek Lake Briery Creek Lake Anna Smith Mountain Lake Waller Mill Daiscund Creek Reservoir Lake Frederick Lone Star Lakes Freshwater rivers: James River Shenandoah River Chickahominy River Daiscund Creek Freshwater ponds as well. Saltwater: Lynnhaven Inlet Rudee Inlet Elizabeth River Back River Poqouson River Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (both the VA and MD ones) It is very versatile!!! If I hadn't stepped up to the PA14, I would still have it. It is very fast, pretty stable and forces you to simplify what you carry on the water.

Thanks J - yeah the Hobie PA 12 or 14 and the Native Mariner are viable options at that juncture. If you are looking for motorized, then the Ocean Kayak Torque, Native Propel, bassyaks conversion kits, Torqueedo motors, etc are also points of consideration. I prefer the manual option, because it serves a few purposes. First, it is stealthier than a motorized kayak when adjusted and used correctly. Two, it is relatively lighter and easier to transport compared to a fixed mount motor. Three, most states require some form or registration for any vessel under power as well as other navigational lighting requirements. An added benefit is you get some exercise at the same time. As far as choosing one manual power option over the other - that is personal preference. I've already written up my thoughts on which is better, but only you can make that decision based upon your physical capabilities/limitations and your preferred pedaling style. They both have their merits and limitations - which ones you can accept and manage while on the water given your particular fishing styles/styles should help guide you in the right direction.

I highly recommend "The Snip" from Boomerang Tools, but a handy alternative is a pair of the Fiskars kid scissors - they cut through 65lb. braid without skipping a beat. I always have a spare pair in my dry box while on the water as well as the Snip in my PFD. I also have a spare Snip at home and a couple pairs of the Fiskars grade school scissors that I keep inside for when I am tying leaders or cleaning up line ties on lures preciously used after a trip.

In all honesty, you have nothing to worry about. This sucker has a pontoon style hull and is very stable. I was standing in it this past Friday casting with 20mph winds slamming against me.

Consider it done! It's mounted on the YakAttack Articulating Arm so you get a good wide angle view - possibly even capture some priceless facial expressions You've seen my videos, so you know I already have it positioned just right

No problem J - heck, you can text me anytime, and I'll take you to a local pond where I have permission. I mean we do live in the same town together, so we can just go fishing together sometime as well and swap boats for a bit. I love the Commanders and have fished out of them, too. I know I'll get one for quick trips at some point. Morgan already told me it was okay to do that.

I use to fish Three Lakes almost exclusively - there are some good fish there, but they are saavy. The best spots to catch them are also the most difficult to cast from (sloping banks, overhanging trees, etc). I 've caught several 3-4lbers and some massive chain pickerel on jig-n-craws. Once I started kayak fishing though, I left that place in my memory. The best lake is actually lake #2, but that is strictly no fishing as it is for the nature preserve and science center there. Lake #3 is a hidden gem but it has even more limited casting areas - a spinning rod is your best friend at that place. Spool it with 20-30lb braid and top it off with a 10-12lb. flouro leader. Tie on a shakey head worm in black, orange craw or a watermelon seed variant. Cast that sucker parallel to the banks underneath overhanging trees on the shady side and hold on. Use tight enough drag to coax the fish away from cover yet still loose enough to give on strong runs. Check your phone - sent you a text message on my availability to go with you to BPS or Green Top and help you pick out some things or at least familiarize yourself with what things are called. FWIW - the folks at Green Top are more knowledgeable than the folks at BPS. BPS employs a number of high school and college kids from the area, while GTSG employs seasoned anglers that know the VA waters from experience.

You guessed it. I might even let you take a couple of your fishing rods with you just to seal the deal and entice you further

Tell you what, anyone that wants to try it out back at the launch is more than welcome to. I warn you though - once you try it, you're going to like it a lot!! The new Vantage seating is no joke - it has three adjustments (back, leg and lumbar) and is a high quality mesh material that allows air to move through the mesh and keep you cool on hot days.

Absolutely! I'm game, but I opt for the single use fee, since I visit so many different bodies of water in VA. I have a good kayak friend who lives there, and he clues me in on when the big stripers are on the prowl.