DogBone_384

It's hard to say. I don't own a boat and can't tell you the differences between brands. If boat owners are like car stereo geeks, I'd bet the first round of drinks that one company owning four brands will do better than just two, using the entire US as their market. Best of luck to them however many brands they might market.

That wouldn’t make sense. Each MFG fills a consumer’s targeted need. Now that BPS owns Cabelas, it has more market share. I worked for Alpine Electronics for a long time. They have the best sound quality and are the easiest to use. Kenwood has the best feature/price ratio and are as reliable as a door knob. Pioneer falls in between. Say Alpine bought Kenwood or Pioneer, now they take more of the market and don’t have to change much of anything.

What Grampa said ....

What almost everyone else said. I have one in the garage I've had probably 40 years now with a Shakspeare Sigma reel on. I don't use it anymore. I just keep it as a spare for nephews to use and remember the fun I had fishing as a kid.

I'm planning on fishing Plymouth next week at a couple ponds that have SMB and trout .... anyone interested in meeting me, drop me a PM.

I’m going to try to get out next week and will pack for SMB and trout. There are a couple ponds in Plymouth that have both. Trout = dinner.

Something like this: https://www.austinkayak.com/products/1241/Hobie-Mirage-Inflatable-Seat-Pad-i-Comfort.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping:%20ACK%20PLA&adpos=1o5&scid=scplp1241_2665_1&sc_intid=1241_2665_1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA84rQBRDCARIsAPO8RFxTQuh3jk2FulynD_-UT6c30K25Y1isIahGXo8KsP1kfEFSYpXqUnQaAq1jEALw_wcB That’s about as much help as I can offer. Both my kayaks are SOTs and have awesome seats. Best of luck.

I have a Hook-5 I use on my Ascend 128T and Lure 11.5. I mounted the transducer in the 128T with a plumbing flange and the Lure's with a scupper mount kit. I power it with Milwaukee M12 batteries stored in a Pelican box. Two batteries lasts all day.

What make and model is your kayak?

Launched at Plymouth just after sunrise to meet two poor guys coming off the water because they had to go to work. They reported low numbers but quality fish. I paddled across to the 'spot' and gave it a go a few hundred yards to the right of the launch. I got a nice SMB on a perch colored Zara Spook. Shortly thereafter I felt my line get a little heavy and pulled up, to my surprise, a 3-8 LMB who inhaled a 4" wacky Senko I'd let sit on the bottom in 8-10' of water. I worked other areas with the Rapala DT16 I'd witnessed another fisherman kill SMB with, but to no avail. I tried a few more baits, including a perch lipless that's at the bottom of the pond because of knot failure. The wind picked up steadily until I packed up and left at noon when my spinning gear was nearly useless. Water temps were 60.x Still not done yet! Oh yeah, I saw a Bald Eagle early in the AM. He watched me for a few minutes and flew away.

Almost 70 degrees on November 2nd! I launched at Ponkie a little after 3:00 with no real expectations and started with a perch flavored Rapala Shadow Rap shallow. A few casts later a big, fat, pickerel hit it and ran. Good start. The pickerel fest continued for a little while when one LMB joined in, grabbing the Rapala while I let it sit. I switched to a wacky 4” perch Senko, searching for takers. A couple more pickerel and one LMB. Water temps settled in between high 62.x and low 63.x. Unless I get called into work, I’m heading to Plymouth in search of some SMB...

Usually a lot later than I should. I’m type-A with a short (Irish) temper....

I’m lucky. Since 2011 I snapped a Veritas in my truck’s tailgate, shortened a *** casting rod with a passenger window, and lost two of my favorite setups off my kayak in deep water (different trips). A bummer, sure, but I fish once or twice a week.... so I’ll write it off as accidental carelessnes.

Cost of lures? I bought a stripped down work truck this Summer whose sticker price was nearly what our first house cost. Our daughter is looking @ $20k a year for college and $400K for a house after she graduates ..... Most lures aren’t that expensive. We’re simply getting priced out of everything....

It ain't over yet .... Had some time this afternoon so I threw the waders in my truck and fished Houghton's Pond on the way back from Bass Pro Shops (didn't pick up anything THAT good...). Got one nice LMB to shore on a blue/black T-rigged Rage Tail Menace. I figure it was 1.5 - 2 pounds, which is likely the biggest I've ever caught there. Larry didn't have much fight in him either. I also caught 3 pickerel who were kind enough to unhook themselves for me at my feet. All were decent size and had great color. I'll guess the water temp is still in the low 60's because it felt warmer than the air this afternoon.

WHAT!?!?! You mean we're gonna have to talk to our families in PERSON ...... nah, I'm going fishing!

Launched in Westport at dawn with no expectations. A slab of a crappie thought it could eat my Zara Spook on the first cast just past the orange rocks on the main body of water. Did well until 9:30 - 10:00 when the bite shut off. A handful of LMB between 2.5 and 3 pounds, a couple yellow perch, and a bunch of pickerel. A perch Zara Spook and black/blue 5" wacky Senko proved the most productive. The bass didn't hit the lure hard, just kind of inhaled them. They also didn't have a lot of fight in them, especially compared to the SMB I've caught recently. The pickerel were typical pickerel: hitting the bait hard and thrashing around until they got in the kayak. Luckily, a few of them kindly unhooked themselves for me. Water temps started at 61.x and were low 63.x when I left at 2:30. Barometric pressure was 30.5 when I left the house this morning. Not sure if I'll be able to get out again this year. I'm planning on it, but I've got a lot on my schedule. If this is the last trip this season, it's a pretty good way to close it out... We'll see.

Fished Hedges pond for a few this afternoon until dusk. Thankfully I got a good perch on a lipless, keeping me from a shut-out. This is the only time I’ve not landed a SMB at Hedges all year. Nothing else worked: Whopper Plopper, Zara Spook, different color lipless, wacky rig Senko, and Hula Grub on a 1/8 oz Keitech jig. This is the current pattern where I’ve fished over the last week and a half. I didn’t have my Lowrance, but my barometer read high when I got home around 8:00 pm.

Hhhhmmmmmm ..... been quiet here lately..... everyone must be out fishing......

All but two Ploppers are 90’s.

Fall up here’s been almost a fail. I’ve tossed the kitchen sink at a smallmouth pond I’ve frequented the last couple weeks with only a few small SMB to show (shallow). My Lowrance marks plenty of fish around 15’ deep, but they just don’t like my offerings. A month ago 2-3 pound fish were easy picking, but not right now. Water temps were 66.x the other afternoon when I left for work.

I bought a few when they came on the market and have not had great results with them. About half of them require the rod be at 11:00 for the lure to stay on the surface. Pickerel like them, but up here, they’ll hit almost anything noisy/shiny.

Went to Plymouth when I should have gone to Westport. Fishing Rhino took me to a pond down there where a hack fisherman like me can catch good fish (he still out fishes me at least 4-5:1 though). Managed a few small SMB in Plymouth. Just couldn’t find or get the bigger ones to take my offerings. Water temps were 66.x when I left at 3:00. A+ on the name change Mike! It fits you.

Yep, Mr. Aquarium .... you gotta change your name .... congrats on some good fall fishing. I have to decide where I go tomorrow, Plymouth, or Westport....

Cool. Can’t do that with my Kistlers or Abus....