Felix77

I don't find the fishing easier. That varies based on too many variables. What I certainly do find easier is the ability to apply my experience to the situation at hand. I find that I see the conditions I am facing and can choose a technique or 2 which best attacks that situation right away. That has resulted in a visible improvement over time. Before I would fumble with what to do and have the opportunity just drift away literally.

Thanks for sharing your story. Glad you are ok!

Red Label - Leader material IMO InvizX - Good all purpose FC line. Use it for spinning and baitcasting AbrazX - Better abrasion resistance. I use it in 15 - 20lb for flipping Tatsu - Best of the best of the best.

Congrats! Changed my life to get on a yak! I am the healthiest I have been in part because of kayak fishing.

Focus on your strengths, experiment from time to time and just make it a game. Think of it as a challenge to uncover fish, patterns etc without someone. It will only make you a better fisherman. I fish alone 80+% of the time. It just takes practice. You will learn with time.

VMC Rugby Jigs should work well. It's what I use with finesse worms

I would have to say very nicely indeed. I have two tournaments left in the season and thus far I have been able to catch them on a few new tactics. All learned on this forum and from boaters in my club. In particular ... Punch rig Drop shot Power shot

I swear by my uni-2-uni. 7 wraps on each side is enough. Usually go 15lb Braid with 6-10lb FC. I have tried the alberto knot and I am slowly building confidence in that knot as well. Seems to produce a smaller sized knot. Easier on the guides.

Depends on how much time I have to fish. Limited time (1-2 hours) - I tend to go to a place I know I have caught fish on before and work it thoroughly with as many baits as possible. Usually start off finesse and work my way up to topwater as the sun goes down. Otherwise I work the area with a few baits for 15-30 minutes and move on to the next. At the very least 2. Something finesse and power. Mojo rig and spinnerbait for example. Shakey Head and Crank is another combo I used.

I am one of those set the drag by feel kind of guys. I tend to err on tighter with a baitcaster but I am also using heavier line and heavier wired hooks. For spinning I love the 2.5 - 3lb drag suggestion. I tend to go too light on spinning and it has cost me some fish in the past. Going to try this out and see how I do on Saturday.

I fish it sitting down. The trick for me ... 1 - Anchor. As already mentioned if you want to pick something apart you need to be anchored down OR at the very least be in a very slow drift to cover an area slowly. 2 - From a seated position I don't bring the bait all the way back to the reel as you do when standing. I bring it back half-way and pitch it from there. Takes a bit of practice and you need to learn to handle the bait without actually holding it in the other hand. 3 - I don't use less than a 3/8oz weight. Seems to just be easier to handle. 4 - Keep your rod tip relatively parallel to the water and with little/no slack in the line. When you get that bite you set upwards hard. Just don't flip over. By the way ... I have tried it with spinning gear. 15lb Braid and a 6'6" rod. Works well too. It doesn't need to be a 7'+ baitcaster when sitting in the yak.

IMO even at 6 or 8 lb test you will have problems in time just due in part because of line twist. Things you can do to help minimize the impact ... 1 - Close the bail by hand. Heard it over and over again. It works. 2 - Line conditioner - KVD. First when you spool it on and the night before you fish is what I do. 3 - untwist your line from time to time. Either let it our behind you (boat) or tie it to a tree with a swivel. Let out at least a cast or two worth of line. Stretch it a bit and reel it back in. Don't forget the conditioner. With all that said I don't go higher than 8lb test with FC.

Lures I find I can also find at WalMart. Never anything more expensive than a Rapala.

Congrats! Awesome job

I had a few but they were intercepted. Lol

I don't have a timetable ... When patterning fish I tend to switch up quite often trying to get a gauge for what is going on. That could be a handful of casts or much more. Once I have success on a lure I tend to stick with it. Changing colors if the bite slows down.

When I have problems fishing senkos it's because I am too impatient and tend to do too much with them. For example ... imparting too much action or action too soon. I am supposed to wait for them to sink down and I prematurely move it, twitch it, jerk it etc. While I can get bit that way from time to time it's not ideal for catching fish on them consistently. As cheesy as this sounds I use a count method to slow myself down. I take a few casts and watch the line. I count to see how long it takes for the line to stop moving away from me. After that I begin my retrieve ... slow drag, hops, twitches. Each move I use that same count. It takes forever for the retrieve sometimes but that seems to work consistently for me. It takes a ton of patience.

x2

Absolutely ... I tired a bunch of others but always find my way back to the KVD lure and line conditioner. When I spool on new line I run it through this stuff. Then the night before each tournament I saturate the line with it and let it sink in overnight. Makes a huge difference IMO.

d**n you ... Now all I have on my mind is that parking spot that wasn't ... Had that happen to me with 2 motorcycles instead of a small car. Nothing more disappointing ... LOL

I own the swimbait and lipless crankbait ones. Bought them to watch on the plane when traveling for work. Very basic ... not worth the money IMO.

This is what I have rigged up on my Yak. Love it. Great entry level finder at a great price.

Welcome!

I keep a few steel leaders around when this begins to happen.