c.rushing2010

I got mine 2 weeks ago and have only been out with it once. It's very nice for 110. I'll probably get another one. I got the 8.1 version with the nice handle and really like it.

I use a 7' medium fast mojo rod and a shimano symetre

I might catch flack for this, but I think the combo that bass pro offers for $160 is hard to beat for beginner to intermediate bass fishermen. The combo includes a pro qualifier of your choice and a carbonlite rod. My suggestion for you would be the 7' rod and the 6.4:1 ratio pro qualifier. This was my first decent combo and it served me very well until I decided to get into the expensive stuff. What you have listed will probably work fine for you though.

I love all my mojos. Really liked my carbonlite too until it broke.

One of my kayaks is the OK Prowler Trident 13 and it is a very suitable fishing platform. I hate the seat on it, but other than that, it is great. The 13' length is perfect for the areas I fish, which are very similar to the ones you have mentioned (6-30 acres) and I also bring it to the marshes for some inshore fishing.

The guys at the bass pro around here tell me they use their pro qualifiers for inshore fishing exclusively down here in south Louisiana. They said they just wash them out with water after the trips and they keep working. I have 2 of them, but have only ever used them for fresh water purposes. Great reels at the $80-100 range. Even better for $64. I used mine straight out of the box with 2 brakes on and the dial around 4.

I use a garmin echo 150. Water temp, depth, and bottom composition is all I need it to do.

Another vote for the ultimate (hybrid) here. I bought my 14.5 on craigslist for $600 and it is my favorite of my yak collection for fishing calm, flat water. I can stand up and fish with ease (6' 1", 200lbs) and it feels like I'm standing up from a chair at the dinner table. Paddles just as easily as my trident, but it is a much more comfortable bass fishing platform. I also have a jackson coosa that I like a lot for bass fishing, but it doesn't paddle as well as my ultimate. Never had a problem with water getting into the ultimate for flat water purposes.

Ended up going back 3 times since I work across the street from academy. 2 shopping bags full.

This is the best advice you're gonna get, and almost everyone who is into kayak fishing will tell you the same thing. Buying a quality used yak is far better than buying an average quality new one. I feel like the only thing buying a new midrange yak does for you is get you on the water quickly. Once you're on the water, you start to plan and save for a better yak you could have bought in the first place.

My frog rig is a 7' heavy castaway rod and a 7.1 revo sx. Works well for me and the whole setup new is $200

I own both and much prefer the carbonlite. It just feels better to me. Bass Pro is pretty good about their warranty on their products. Just to clarify, my carbonlite has regular guides. I've never felt the need to get a micro guide rod.

My personal favorite for a "grab and go" bank fishing setup is a 7' medium or medium heavy rod with a 6.something:1 reel. Currently, that setup for me is a 7' medium mojo bass rod with a shimano citica and 14 lb fluorocarbon. My previous version of this setup was a 7' medium carbonlite with a pro qualifier. This setup just gets it done for me as far as bank fishing is concerned.

I love all 3 of my mojos. Haven't been able to try out a duckett

Water's not really cold down here anymore. Took the kayaks out friday and water temps were in the 60s

Just a heads up. 25% off all zoom products at Academy. I fish a lot of their products so I loaded up. Super Flukes ended up being around $1.75 a pack. Brush hogs were around $2.80/ 12 pack.

I own 3 and 6. Both really nice, though you can't go wrong with a chronarch. All products I have bought from Shimano have been supurb.

The pescador is a great fishing platform and very easy to paddle and steer. It's not super wide, so standing isn't really a viable option, but it is still a great boat. My kayak for saltwater is an ocean kayak trident 13 and the pescador is just as nice to paddle. There are tons of reviews out for the pescador, so you don't have to take my word for it.

Heard this one more times than I'd like.

http://perceptionsport.com/kayaks/PRS_Pescador_120 Bought this one in red for my girlfriend on craigslist for $350 with a paddle and some rigging already done. Perfect yak for her, and she paddles it without any problems. They go for $500 new at Academy.

I have a perception pescador 12 and it is a breeze to paddle. Also paddled a coosa which is wider than the pescador and it felt much more sluggish. Hull design, lenght and width play a big part in how fast you are going the be able to paddle and how easy it is. You are going to find that speed is typically going to sacrifice stability in kayaks.

Also, as far as kayaking being a young man's game, I'm 22 but the local kayak fishing club, Bayou Coast Kayak Fishing Club, has members more than double my age who get along just fine and catch way more fish than I do.

They are the cadillacs of kayaks for sure. Eventually I will own one, but for now the ultimate gets me where I need to go. I too purchased a jon boat with the intentions of bringing along fishing buddies, but it has been sitting in my yard since I bought it and will soon have a for sale sign. I have enough kayaks to take whoever wants to fish along. I have found several pro anglers for sale locally at some tempting prices.

As far as spinning gear is concerned, I've been looking into the shimano symetre (sp?) but am open to suggestions up to about the $150 range for a reel. I'm clueless as far as spinning rods go.

Thank you for your replies. I have been researching several fishfinders, because I know how beneficial they can be. I'm tired of not knowing what the bottom of the water I am fishing looks like (depth, structure, etc). I am thinking about matching whatever I receive in gift cards with cash, since I would have spent that much to kick off bass fishing season anyways. This way, I could update some gear, and acquire a fishfinder to really start my season off right.