Boomer_bassin

I am needing new rods and can't spend a fortune what's a good rod for this price range? I have gone over the lightning rod shocks and shimano sellus what other options should I consider?

I'm really tempted to grab a gx2

What is a good size weighted hook to start with for this rig?

You too huh? Oh well... OP welcome aboard! I think the lightning rod suggestions are right on, also the new ugly stik gx2 looks sharp my friend says they are a step up from the reg old ugly stik

I know a store here called Dunhams had them for $59 right now

I agree, learn this! I caught my first ever senko bass yesterday and he swallowed it before I knew he was on the line. Used this technique after seeing it here and I got the hook out with no bleeding. He was small so I had to use needle nose pliers but it worked

It's going back, went out today fishing for about 3.5 hours when we went to carry the yak up the ramp it felt really heavy, turns out about 4 to 5 gallons was in the hull, called academy and they said kayaks don't fall under their boat return policy so I can bring it back to a store for a refund, hopefully the local store manager doesn't try to give me grief about it

Good call

Just for further reference here are the screws.

ok fellas looks like you talked me out of running it back to academy... just cant afford a Jackson Big Rig right now so this will have to get me by for a little while, Flyfisher didn't you have a Native Redfish as your first boat? what were your impressions both good and bad? the heritage angler is the same boat without the nice seat and different hatches but if you look close enough you can see the native and redfish logos under the current stickers

It freaked me out cause I was on flat water with no water getting near the hatches.... thanks for the replies fellas

So I took my heritage angler out for the first time the other night and after about an hour of just paddling to get the feel of the yak I got the yak out of the water and looked in the hatch. I found what appeared to be 8-12 ounces of water in the hull. I was just wondering if I should be alarmed and possibly talk to academy about a replacement. There are screws on the very back of the yak and I wonder what those are for and if that is possibly where the water is entering at. This is my first kayak so I'm learning as I go. I cant get my phone to cooperate right now but when I get home I'll try to upload a picture of these screws. Academy's website says no returns on "used boats" but I wonder if the first trip with water entering the hull qualifies? Any thoughts? Thanks folks!

So after looking I ended up seeing this on sale on Academy's website for $399. This is the same boat as the Native Redfish 12, I noticed it looked the same and when I went into my Academy I looked at the boat and actually saw where the Native name and Redfish labeling under the Heritage Angler label. So the store had it priced at $499 when I showed them the online add they tried to tell me they couldn't match it because it showed "not available online" on the website. I told them it was their company and they should honor it, the manager said he would knock off $50 but not match the full $100. So I told him I would buy elsewhere. That changed his tune, so needless to say I walked out with the boat for $399. My question is for anyone who has previously had the Native Redfish or Heritage Angler. What are the ins and outs of the boat? Anything I should watch out for? Also how was the standing stability? The manual says I should not stand due to chance of capsize but my assumption is this is just for lawsuit issues. I know I saw someone post that they had this boat before but can't remember who it was. It also comes with just a seat back not a butt pad, what is a good aftermarket seat that isnt ridiculously priced? Tight Lines and Happy Fishing!!! Boomer

I'll be fishing the TN river, Hiawassee r and the lakes on those rivers and maybe some ponds.

So I think I have narrowed it down for my first kayak. There aren't any decent used kayaks on Craigslist in my area so I will be getting a new one. I have three options that I am considering: a Perception Scout from Academy, Perception Stryker from Dicks Sporting Goods, or a Pescador. The scout is a somewhat hybrid boat, its a sit on top but you sit a little lower to the water line. There are no scupper holes which makes me a little nervous. Its a little longer at 12' than the Stryker at 11.5. But also a little narrower at 30.75in vs 33. I would like to try standing at times and at 6'2 235lbs I wonder if that little bit of stability loss would make a huge difference. Then you have the pescador that everyone says is a great starter boat. I cant demo the Scout or Stryker for sure but not sure about the pescador. Any thoughts from my fellow kayak folks? Thanks for your time!

This may have been covered and I'm sorry for not seeing it but for a plastics/jig rod do I want a fast or x fast tip and why?

Just demo'd one at BassFest in Dayton, I may be in love! Sooooooo smooth

Yeah, I'm looking at kayaks just haven't quite made my decision. Unfortunately a bass boat is out of the question for a year or so

I went out today and couldnt buy a bite. I threw senkos forever(rigged every way I could think ok), then tried every other soft plastic I had from tubes, magnum worms, craws and then I went to the cranks and jigs and I got nothing. I packed up and was headed home when I decided to stop at the Dayton boat dock(where they are launching for the Elite Series event this week) I walked in the store and remembered someone saying that the Power Worm in Black was their confidence bait. I figured hey why not, so I grabbed a pack. Walked outside and over to a nice looking spot rigged one up on a 3/0 hook, 1/8oz bullet weight, and an owner CPS bait keeper and on the second cast BOOM FISH ON! It was much needed, one fish does not a confidence bait make but I can say for sure I will keep throwing them the next time I head out. I needed that fish! Happy Fishing folks!

Maybe jigs should be my first adventure with this idea!

How many of you folks will take only one presentation out to try and learn it like say only take Senko style worms out with the needed terminal tackle, or just a Plano box of squarebills? I think I should do this one lure at a time to have a deeper understanding of each technique.

I'll talk with our R&D on Coppertones taste lol, but no promises

Go for a aerosol spray, I'm partial to Coppertone Sport SPF 50 spray myself, with the spray you never have to get the scent on your hands

I'm gonna try and take my kids to the weigh in every day and to walk around the bass fest festivities