Felix77

I have a Ride 115x which I absolutely love. I am exploring the option of upgrading my yak and the only two I am considering the ATAK 120 or new Radar 115. The Radar provides the option of a motor, paddle or obviously pedal so that is #1 on my list. The ATAK is bad ass so I cannot ignore checking out the smaller version. If they ever come up with an ATAK 120 with pedal there is no debate about getting it. LOL

I am as critical as the next guy with "reboots" but try to keep an open mind with most. You don't realize how much time has passed until you see a more modern version of an original film. They don't always work but when they do it is awesome! I absolutely fell in love with the new Sherlock series with Benedict Cumberbatch. That has been done and redone a million times and this modern version which includes the internet, his homeless network which he keeps in touch with via smartphones and obviously his genius/demented mind is absolutely awesome. Another way to look at it is that there is SO much demand for shows across an insane amount of channels (tv, cable, you-tube, hulu, roku, amazon, google & on and on ...) that one way to help that demand is to take classics and remake them.

Might make trolling from a kayak more interesting ... Just wonder how I will store that sucker ... LMAO

Seaguar Smackdown ... by far the best braid I have used. As a #2 I have to go to PowerPro.

I swear by the VMC spinshot hooks size #1.

At 16 you might be able to join a club with your parents permission. Check for local clubs and see what their policy is. Good luck.

To me there are several aspects to the equation but bottom line is that with experience you will get less and less of them. 1 - Quality line and spooling it on properly. 2 - Properly balancing the rod, reel, line and lure properly. I tend to err on more tension to begin. 3 - Casting. The smoother the better. The most backlashes have come from trying to cast lures a country mile or get too cute and soft with the cast. As mentioned already wind can suck with certain lures. In those cases keeping low (sidearm) and smooth helps a lot. To answer the question specifically I can go days without a backlash now that I have honed in my setups. For example I went 2 full days of a Kayak tournament without a single backlash this past weekend. 1 baitcaster had a Sexy Dawg, 1 had a light jig and the 3rd had a chatterbait. Good luck.

Congrats! I remember those days. ?

Anything white, pearl, sexy shad ish that swims or walks is for me.

done

Already said .... Just fish ... let everything else take care of itself. The only thing you can control out there is your presentation and your attitude. The rest ... .don't worry bout it.

Big fan. All my tournament gear is Abu Garcia reels

Weightless t rigged for me

I own a Ride 115x and love it. Of course I bought it and then the Atak came out. Might have went Atak if I didn't already bite the bullet on my Ride.

swandog beat me to it .... The line needs to compliment the lure you are using. 8lb for chatterbaits seems a bit too light for me. I use at least 12 - 15 FC for all my fishing applications down to a 1/4 oz. Another way to think about it ... Chatterbaits and Lipless CB's are reaction strikes. Generally aggressive strikes. That 8lb test needs to handle 1 - the aggressive strike and initial snap of that bite. 2 - the aggressive runs the fish will take with that lure. While you might be able to get away with it ... the odds are not in your favor. Trigged plastics are dragged - That same 8lb test may need to go over rocks and stuff causing the line to weaken coming over every rock, limb etc. Again ... you can do it but the odds again are against you at that weight. FWIW - I don't like P-Line in general anyway. Had bad experiences with line breakage at other weights as well. I much prefer a better quality mono over co-poly.

Count me in! Anyone interested in a roommate?

The great thing about that toy is that you can do both. FWIW this is one of my favorite bank fishing lures. Here is what I do with my favorite grub. Zoom Fat Albert Grub. 1 - Swimming - Obviously. I use the VMC mushroom head jig. 2 - Hopping - Same head just different presentation 3 - trailer - I use this to trail spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, & jigs 4 - Topwater ... One of my best friends showed me this so I cant take credit for it. He threads this on a hook about 3/4 the size of the grub. Something like a straight shank or baitholder style Swims it on top of the water. Basically a mini buzzbait. He destroyed me 2 to 1 easily one day doing just this. 5 - Drop shot & mojo rig - I haven't had much success with the drop shot BUT I have caught them that way. Mojo rig is KILLER with a grub and works great from the bank. Good luck!

Skeeter Dan is spot on sadly. As the co angler you are awarded only so much credit for your knowledge. The boater has a lot invested in the boat and wants to fish what they are confident in. In 5 years of random draw tournament fishing I can count on one hand the amount of times my suggestion was even asked for let alone acknowledged.

All great feedback ... thanks .... I have a week long trip to the Outer Banks for my annual Saltwater excursion with some very good friends. That might change my tune.

Have any of you ever lost that passion for fishing. This year has been a series of disappointing experiences on the tournament circuit both on and off the water .... It has left me quite burned out. Right now I am even struggling to get the mojo to just run around the pond on my kayak. Just curious if anyone else has experienced something similar.

I would add the Mojo Rig and Senko (Wacky/T rigged) to that list.

I'm a 50 guy myself. Power Pro

Need to try to work out some logistics but I would love to come out there again. Regretted missing last year!

For FC I use 15lb Invizx as well. I have it backed with old braid. Use an alberto knot to tie the two together. Why alberto. It's what I use for my leaders so it gives me practice tying it one more time. You can get away with a simple uni-uni.

I use the exact same rods I use fishing in bass tournaments as a co-angler. That includes a 7'6" flippin' stick. Cast angles and presentations will vary obviously but the rods to me are more technique specific. If there is one thing I prefer in my kayak is a minimum of 7' for my spinning outfits. Gives me more of an angle when setting the hook with a drop shot or wacky senko. As for your comment about managing line tangles at the tip. With practice you will find something that will work for you to manage this. Dunked a few setups in the water this way but thankfully they were all recovered quickly. Tight lines.