DogBone_384

I think you answered your own question. The membership’s pretty well covered the plusses of kayak fishing. I have anchor trolleys on both sides of my kayaks and use a seven pound claw anchor to keep in place. I also have a drift sock for times I want to work slowly with the wind/current. I own a Ranger RT178 too, and there are times I prefer fishing from my kayak. I have access to many more waters with my kayak than boat. That’s a huge plus.

I found a ‘17 RT178 for a bargain last year. I’ve got a Yammy 70 on it, Elite ti2 7 on console & ti2 9 on the bow. I just installed a Ghost and so far love it. Overall I think it’s a great first boat for smaller waters, which I fish. I’ll have to give thought to a 4 blade prop. Thanks for the review and enjoy your boat.

I wake up at 0300 when I want to be on the water just before the sun comes up. Most of my favorite waters are an hour or more from me.

My break even was almost 5 years. All monies paid on SRECs are now profit. I had my electrician install the panels.

SRECs is selling my production back to the grid. I get 1 SREC for every 1000 KW my system makes. That SREC is sold and the proceeds are deposited in my bank. My electric bill is based on my usage. My meter goes backwards when I’m giving to the grid and forward when I’m taking from the grid (i.e. nights and cloudy days). Hope this answers your question.

Yes, I own the panels, so in addition to the low bill I get paid for each SREC my system makes. I live in a city and my house is a ‘garage under’ so I was limited to 18 panels. It wasn’t too expensive to install. With tax credits it took just under 5 years to make back the cash I spent on the system. I make enough $$ on the SRECs that it almost covers my heating and cable/internet bills for the year. Yes, my Tundra’s mileage is about the same as my ‘72 Monte Carlo was, but you have to admit that 401 ft/lbs of torque and a bullet proof motor is pretty nice.

I too will miss my V-8, but only the sound. I drive a ‘17 Tundra and would gladly give it up for a full size electric truck. If Elon’s P/U was more like a P/U, I’d be the only kid on my block with a 0-60 in 4 seconds truck… I also have solar on my roof. From roughly April to September I have no electric bill. Add a charging station in the garage means very low operating cost. Electric cars and trucks are coming, like it or not. If you have a Tesla dealer near you, test drive their Model 3. On the other side of the coin: do you really think the oil companies are going to give up their power/influence? Food for thought.

If the air pressure is high, be prepared to fish slow. Sunday’s forecast is for rain, so keep n eye on that. I don’t think one warm weekend will raise water temps very much.

Mashpee-Wakeby on Cape Cod. I've seen folks catch 4+ pound SMB, but it escapes me almost completely. Sure has my number.

Saw beaucoup beds on Mash/Wake two weeks ago and not many at Great Herring. I saw a few at Hedges three weeks ago, where a local resident told me they were already off the bed, which I thought was early.

Installed my Ghost trolling motor so I dropped into Great Herring this afternoon to calibrate and play with it. It’s much better than the Minn Kota Edge 45 that was on my boat. Anyway, I fished an orange/black Ned, 3.8” bass colored Keitech on a CoolBaits underspin, LV500, Vision 110, and a couple different Whopper Ploppers. Three SMB made it to the boat: one dink, one around a pound-ish, and the last just over two. Two took the Ned and one on a bone WP, size 90. Had a couple hits and lost a good fish on the Ned - too quick on the hook-set. Nothing else got so much as a look. Weather was mostly sunny, 10-12 mph wind from SE, and air pressure at 30.2. Water temps were 63.x - 64.x.

Mr. Aquarium’s aleady out catching them. Try this too: https://www.onthewater.com/regions/massachusetts

For sure. My go-to SMB rod is a Kistler KLX LMH. The best way to describe it is that it’s a mod-fast MH with a light tip. To me, it makes a great ‘all purpose’ rod.

Do you use any 12V power tools? I power my Lowrance Hook-5 with Milwaukee M12 batteries, stowed in a Pelican box with a quick-disconnect. I get almost two full day trips from a 6.0 AH XC. The Pelican box holds two XC batteries while fishing and keeps the control head safe when I’m not fishing.

You don’t. Make sure you’re keeping the line taught when you’re fighting a fish, especially when Mr. SMB is in the air. I use braid and the’ll still get off if I allow any slack.

This IS the place to vent. I feel your frustration. So far, ‘21 has been a bust for me too when compared to the last couple years. I’d guess it’s the weather, because I’ve had too many trips where the kitchen sink’s produced nada. Water temps where I fish are 58.x - 61.x and SMB are bedding on Cape Cod. I go home frustrated, my wife tells me to not over think it and just enjoy being out. It’s great advice AND works when I listen to her. You’ll beat the skunk.

Ranger is comparable. I found a '17 RT178 in 'like new' condition for $14,500 last Summer. I added a pair of Lowrance Elite TI2's and Ranger's website has their '21 model priced at $27K as I've got mine outfitted. My Lowrance Ghost is scheduled to show up today... I guess that's they way capitalism works. ?

Keitech fat Swing Impact / Easy Shiner, along with Swim Senko's are my 'confidence' baits. I've stayed away from wacky rigging anything any Ned rigs. For me, they're a 'crutch' when other baits don't produce.

Dunno about that, but they sure caught ME!

I'd be lucky to do catch 30 bass in six months... congratulations!

I feel your pain. I've skunked 2/3 of the trips I've taken this year. A few friends are doing well, but I'm firing on 7 cylinders, or something... BTW, 2 to 3 pounds is a big fish for my home area, no sorrow for your small fish being 4 1/2... Best of luck recovering.

Fished Buck’s for a couple hours this evening. Threw a couple different crank baits, a T-rigged swim Senko, chatter bait, 3.8” Keitech, and black/blue Rage Menace. Took a skunk. Weather was beautiful. Air pressure was 29.9 and water temps were 60.x

I fished Mash/Wake for about 6 hours the other day and couldn’t muster anything more than a handful of followers, some light strikes, and one hook/unhook. Water temps are in the high 50’s and beaucoup beds. I nabbed two nice SMB on T-rigged swim Senkos at Hedges this evening on the way to the Cape. The water felt warmer than the air. I talked with a guy that lives next to Hedges and he said the SMB were off beds already. I haven’t fished Sheep since ‘19, so I can’t help you there. I’m in Dennis Port until Tuesday afternoon and plan on hitting LPH with @Fishing Rhino Tues AM and kayak fishing Bucks or Snake later in the day.

Fished Mashpee - Wakeby from 11:00 to about 5:30, throwing misc. trebles, a couple different swim baits, and a Rage Menace. Although I blanked, I determined that black/blue was the color. I had two pair and two single SMB follow the soft baits to the boat and peel off. Hooked onto another, but it got off as I tried to boat flip it. Try as I might, I may as well have left all my treble hook baits home. Weather was good. Sunny, low 50’s, wind 10-15 from the east. Water temps were 58.x - 59.x and air pressure was 30.0. Mash-Wake sure has my number. I blank 80% of the time I try the place.

Welcome to the forum!