Choporoz

I have a DX 744C and an H3 7'4 MHXF. I haven't weighed them, but the H3 feels much lighter. I'd say that sensitivity is comparable, but the Kistler just feels better.

I broke my ETSM 6'10 MHF last year on a big cat that dove under my kayak and I about cried. It was my favorite rod. It was phenomenal for light Trig and skipping.

"The idea behind stocking these fish is we want to try to enhance the trophy fishery component in our big lakes. If we can get fish to a trophy size faster, then theoretically there will be more trophy-sized fish in the lake."

Made it up 20+ years ago for some bbs, I think. Chop from a nickname I had for a while (short for pork chop). And appended one of my dog's names backwards (Zoro).

I have probably fished more this year than ever. The kayak has been on the car since March. After a full day out on Friday, I looked at the weekend weather forecast of low to mid 40s and small craft warnings and decided it would be a great time to 'generously' choose to spend the weekend with my wife. Saturday, I worked on tackle and then put the kayak away. When I came in, my wife said "You put your kayak away? Aren't you going fishing tomorrow?" I said, "I've been fishing plenty lately. I'll stay home tomorrow." She told me she had other plans with a girlfriend and I should just go fishing...lol. So, I went out on Sunday in the blustery cold and caught one of my biggest of the year. Win win

I got some Struke King RT Craws in "Road Kill" (I think from Siebert Outdoors). Its a great color because it can pass for dark green or blue....it goes on any jig. Their Blue Craw is similar

Kistler Helium 3 LMH. Best light Trig/jig rod I've ever used.

Cold and windy yesterday made for a tough bite, but @Siebert OutdoorsDredge Brush Jig came through as it has all year. By far best jig I've ever used in the thick stuff.

Thanks, AJay. That's the 'sequel', Bigmouth Forever. Also very good.

Re-resurrection....original Bigmouth seems to have fallen off of YouTube. Despite various reports over the years, it doesn't appear to have come out on DVD...least not as far as I can tell. Anyone ever come across Bigmouth on DVD? Know of any available, other than VHS?

Its a metrical conspiracy

65 is good because it can double as tow rope or spare anchor line. I have used it for frogging and for heavy flipping, but probably won't go over 50 again.

Don't forget sinking....and, of course....stretch....lol

I just tear them off, tear off the head, toss it in bottom of the yak and put a lizard or Rage Bug on. Aside from a couple dinks, brush hogs of any size have never served me too well

I used marine goop to glue packing Styrofoam pieces inside the hull to make a sort of tray that the battery sets in and doesn't slide around

Maybe not what OP is asking, but great point!! For me, I find diminishing returns on reels after around $150. For rods, I peg that point closer to 200...maybe 250. So, I'd say hooks, rod, line, reel. For whatever that's worth.

I was going to hit the Black Friday sales hard. But then, I stopped....took a deep breath...and decided to just hang out over by the BR Flea Market and wait until reality sets in for some of y'all..... ?

I just wrapped up my second season of kayak tournament fishing. They definitely can be quite fun. And they can be very trying. I never thought it ruined fishing for me. Even though the bad days are much amplified...same with the good days. I lucked into a tremendous club that puts a high premium on keeping everything very positive. I'm probably a little too competitive at times, and it takes a conscious effort to to keep the right perspective. (I had to go re-watch G-Man videos on PMA three different times this season...lol) At one point late this season, I told my wife I was through with tournaments. But a week later, I entered another and did well enough that I am already looking forward to next season. The costs are not high for club action, IMO, but they can add up. $30-50 for club membership...that much again for national membership if you want to fish or qualify for their events....and then maybe $25-40 per club level tournaments. I really think your experience will depend both upon your club leadership, fellow anglers, and your attitude/approach. So, I'd say there's low cost/risk to trying and high reward potential if it's a good fit for you. It's funny that one of the positives is also a negative for me. I've fished a lot of water I might not have...but I also got so focused on upcoming schedules and pre-fishing, that I didn't get to places I would have liked to this year. Between the relationships forged and the skills gained, it is well worth it for me.

I applaud you! I'm quite used to my reels, but I had to cut out two this fall. First time in years. Funny....both times were first cast with the reel well into heavy downpours. I don't know if it is because my attention was lacking in the rain...or if the brakes or line were affected in such a way as to make professional over-runs more likely

Of the half dozen or so times that I tried this, it worked exactly zero times. I must be doing something wrong.

I spent 4 years paddling and loved it. However, in the back of my mind, I still always thought I'd prefer a boat. Two years ago I upgraded to pedals, and not once since have I thought about a jon boat. Up front cost was pretty big. Maintenance and usage cost has been negligible. As @Bluebasser86said, tournaments are certainly an option in a kayak. I fished ten this year.

DX743, no question, IMO. DX744C FH is my most expensive rod. But not because if the purchase price. But because I bought it as a jig rod and it never hit the sweet spot until 1/2 oz....so I strongly felt the need for another jig rod to handle 3/8 and under. Sounds silly even to me, but in my hands, it just never felt right with 3/8 oz jigs. If I'd started with 743, I would have been happier initially....though I still 'need' the 744 for big jigs and deep trigs, and 5/8 spinnerbaits, etc.

I have been using 7' MHF Aetos with braid for years, and I throw chatterbaits a lot.

I mostly use yellow. Whether I can see the line is the most important factor regarding color...to me, anyway. I have used pink and lime green with good visibility results, also.