DogBone_384

the Tackle Monkey bit me & forced me to buy a Diawa Ardito 3-piece, 7', M/F casting rod. Build quality seems top notch, and the case is really nice. I've not fished it yet, though I can tell you it feels a lot like my Fenwick Siver Hawk M/F and BPS Carbon Lite M/M (both 7'). Though temps are falling quickly, I hope to get out a couple more times to break it in before ski season.

I have a T3 in 8.1:1. & a T3 Ballistic in 6.3:1. They're both well built and cast great. I've only had them for one season so can't comment on long term durability. Mike from Delaware Valley Tackle said they've got a full floating spool and don't need super tuning like my other bait casters. Overall I like them a lot, but they're not my arsenal favorites, which happen to be Shimano Cores, pretty stiff competition.

Not sure yet, but I know it's gonna be in the 5.X:1 range, and weigh under 7 oz.

My Grandfather used to say, "Believe none of what you hear, and only half of what you see."

Split cork is my first choice, but if the rod feels really good in my hands, it really doesn't matter all that much.

My advice to anyone looking to buy a fishing kayak, is to write down a list of features most important to you and find a shop and see them in person. Sit in it and paddle it if possible. If you can't get to a kayak shop easily, this forum is the next best place to start. I found tons of info that helped me form my baseline to shop by. With a budget of $400, you might also check your local Craig's List. I own three kayaks: an Ascend 128T, a FeelFree Lure 11.5, and a Native Watercraft Red Fish 10. All 3 are SOTs, and were pretty affordable. I don't paddle the Red Fish, I bought it for my daughter. Both the 128T & Lure are stable enough to stand on and are rated at 300+ pounds. They both also have all-day comfortable seats, which was a key for me. I bought the 128T first exclusively on price (BPS offers Military & Public Safety 10% discounts on most purchases) and the Lure because I was able to test-paddle it. The Lure also has an integrated wheel that makes it easy to transport from my truck to the water. This was my first full season fishing from a kayak and really enjoyed it. I was able to fish waters where powered boats aren't allowed and fished ponds I'd previously only fished from shore. Best of luck picking out your 'yak. ADD: I forgot to mention that Ascend kayaks are made here in the US.

I guess I'm NOT done yet ... What town/city? I'm just outside Boston & most ponds near me are heavily fished.

I agree with you. I took my kayak to Jacobs Pond in Norwell yesterday morning after getting home from work. Within the 1st hour or so I caught 1 bass, 1 pickerel, and 2 yellow perch with a perch flavored Rapala topwater minnow. They were all little guys, but no complaints. My Lowrance showed a surface temp between 49 & 51. Just as I started to work a jitterbug along some reeds I got called into work. Perhaps I'll try casting for trout too.

Great fish! Just confirms I have to get out of MA..... 16 years 11 months...... tick tick tick....

X2

Didn't get out on the kayak today. Had EMT continuing ed. class and bought stock for another job. Stopped by BHR but didn't fish for more than 15 minutes or so. I spent an hour with my Sonarphone cast-able fish finder trying to find some fish. I let it go with the current to its max broadcast distance of about 100M and located nothing in the places I let it go. Average depth 20' off the bank was 18-22'. Surface temp showed 41-42 degrees.

For < $50, I'm gonna recommend a BPS or Cabela's rod, though because a rod's feel is so subjective, I'd take the time to handle as many rods in your price range. One of my favorite spinning rods is BPS's Micro-Light, in ML, which I have a President hanging from. It casts a mile with #6 mono using light baits. A friend of mine has a 2nd gen Ugly stick which I like a lot too. Best of luck with your search....

Doesn't one have to admit there's a problem before they define themselves as such? I've got quite a way to go, though I'm off to a good start.....

I'm planning on Little Pond, in Plymouth, if I take the kayak. Houghton's Pond if I'm on foot.

Thanks, gonna give this a try. I've never fished for trout. The Fall LMB bite's been way off for me, which I'm rationalizing as the crazy weather we've had the last 6 weeks here in New England and NOT me....

OK, I'm parked in front of the TV watching the Pats beat the Broncos (2nd qtr). It's 39.2 degrees outside but expected to reach high 50's to low 60's this week. I've got day shifts off this week.... any predictions on the daytime bite? If I don't head to Plymouth with the kayak, I'll be shore bound at Blue Hills Reservoir or Houghton's Pond. I might try for some trout. I've never fished for them & caught 3 my whole life on a shiner, Senko, and chrome Rapala jerk-bait: in that order.

I use 10lb mono, 10lb Fluro, and 30lb braid on my assorted medium baitcasters. We don't have BIG Bass here in 'the city'. Unless you're talking Stripers - a different forum...

Got over to BHR an hour before dusk yesterday and threw a chrome Rapala jerk bait around for a while. Switched to a candy-craw chatterbait off the bottom. Got one decent hit but blew the hook set.

I have an Ascend 128T, FeelFree Lure 11.5, and a Native Watercraft Redfish 10 (my daughter's). Like J Franco says, each have their strengths & weaknesses. My 128T is stable like an aircraft carrier, has tons of storage, and has an all day seat that swivels; its weaknesses are it really needs side handles and the fit & finish is sub par (especially for an American made product). The Lure's fit & finish is excellent, has an all-day, height adjustable seat, a rail system, and a small integrated wheel that makes it a breeze to cart from my truck to the water. It's not terribly light, but is easy to hoist onto my truck's ladder rack by myself. It's only weakness, IMO, is the bottom's shape, which is flatter than the Ascend, making it very prone to drifting. I don't fish from the Native. I paddled it once and found it toyish. I guess that's why it's my daughter's. I live on the ocean and use the 128T & Lure in the bay. Both are equally sea worthy. I'll give the Lure +1 because it's faster in rougher water.

You're not alone. Up here in Red Sox country the bite's been way off, for me, at least. I've fished three of my 'regular' spots over the last two weeks with surface temps in the low 60's and have four 1 + - lb. LMB and one Rainbow Trout to show for it.

Great fish! I don't think I caught many more than 12 LMB this whole year. Looks like I've got to get out of MA and up to ME - after all, isn't it all about ME?!?!?!?

Got over to a small pond on a cranberry bog I know has good fish. Not terribly big, but good for shore casting. Only spent an hour there, and struck out anyway. Got called to bail out the boss' (read: WIFE) friend and conveniently ended up at Blue Hills Reservoir for 45 minutes - again nada... Though a guy fishing shiners across from me got two decent looking LMB. Tomorrow's job got rescheduled. Weather permitting, I'll get out there somewhere & maybe focus on crank baits.

Very cool, Congratulations!

Got out of work this morning, had nothing on the books for job #2, so I tossed the kayak on the truck and off to Whitman's Pond I went. Tried a couple different rigs and ended up with one bass on a perch flavored torpedo I've had as long as I can remember - might have been a pound - not great, but not a dink. Just prior, a good one grabbed my Zoom U-Tail but spit me: need to work on my hook setting.... Left Weymouth about 3:00 and headed to Little Pond in Plymouth with higher expectations. A green/brown chatter-bait was fun to cast, but didn't produce. A modified Carolina rig produced the same. While getting ready to head home I found a 18' deep 'hump' towards the middle that averages 35 - 40', so I anchored and tossed a chrome/shad Rapala DT-10 Jerkbait and came up with a decent Rainbow Trout. Overall I'd have to say it's been a tough Fall fishing season for me. After reading 'tales' of folks killing it in other parts of the country and having the sparse pickings since late August makes me thing I'm fishing all wrong for the Fall, or the bite here was just way off. I'll just chalk it up to my first year kayak fishing and/or inexperience with Fall Bass. Oh well, keep at it I guess.

Welcome to the dark side..... I'm in the same boat. I try to rotate what I take with me each trip to give each rod/reel regular exercise and rationalize the money I've spent on about 3X what I 'need'. Gotta admit though, it's fun....