Choporoz

One big excuse is that I fish a variety of different waters; from upper midwest lakes to shallow smallie rivers; from grassy tidal Potomac to deep, steep TVA lakes....year round. This year alone, I have fished at least a half dozen different types of waters (IMO) from nearly two dozen different locations. I may not NEED a different line up for each one, but sometimes it feels like I should. Besides, my widow's next husband will never want for tackle or cigars....I'm generous like that.

Please report back on how they fish. I got super excited when I found Venom a few years ago. They had more realistic gobies, mad toms and helgramites (not to mention great looking tubes ) than I'd ever seen anywhere. For no reason that I could fathom, I never did very well with them. I'll admit that I may not have given them a fair shake, but I just couldn't keep throwing them when other stuff always seemed to work better.

@Harold Scoggins' post about PRADCO buying Larew sent me to the interwebs to learn a bit more about Larew. Stumbled into this fascinating case where Larew was involved in lawsuits and appeals over plastic baits. There's occasional discussions here on BR about salt in plastics...and about protected lure designs...and history of lure companies.. It's all here in this one case....I found it interesting anyway...especially the part that describes salt being added initially, NOT to affect fall rate, but because it was believed fish like it https://casetext.com/case/arkie-lures-inc-v-gene-larew-tackle-2

Fortunately ...sometimes, it seems you gotta get their attention

I've never met an old fisherman who said "I wish I'd worked more when I was younger"

This thread has same technique and some other good, related info: https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/12981-how-do-i-remove-a-hook-a-bass-has-swallowed/

Been on there just once...first week in July, but I'll be revisiting. I got a bunch of dinks, but I lost a couple decent ones. One took off fast and broke off light line ned. Was a flurry where it seemed every cast with a small crank got a bite. Considering the time of year, I was happy with the first trip. Looks to have a lot of potential.

Mid to better 'fishy' kayaks seem to hold their resale value extremely well first couple years in most areas. I don't think it would be a huge risk to get a decent yak and keep both it and the boat for a year to see if you really feel the need to choose. Oh...and please try to make more time to fish....and hunt

So....Pelham.....lovely lake - much of the shoreline un/under developed....great facilities on South end...another improved boat launch on north end...no gas motors...beautiful...but very tough The fishing, however, was awfully slow. Wife and I prefished Friday for about 4-5 hours - she caught two...I was skunked. Fished a charity kayak tournament on Saturday -- I think there were 27 boats - maybe 30 scorable fish caught in eight hours. We raised over $1600 for a veterans support organization, so it was absolutely successful. However the closest thing to a reliable bite was deadsticking finesse worms...and that is tough tough tough on a breezy day.

Cut R?

One more update..... Received warranty replacement from AG on Aug 26. Pretty good customer service all around. One small wrinkle....Since the Regista is discontinued, I got a Premier. No issues from me, since the fit/finish looks even better, IMO....and I wasn't perfectly satisfied with the Regista. Easy to imagine some not happy getting a "$300 rod" to replace a "$500 rod" I'll get it broken in on Friday and see if I find if it fishes as well or better

Anyone have any experience on Pelham the last couple years? Headed there this weekend for a charity yak tourny.

Buy used.

Hated paying through the nose for Thule cam straps. But I have to admit that after 2-5 trips per week...eight months a year...for almost 4 years....and those Thule straps are still in perfect shape -- a bit faded perhaps, but I just checked them last weekend and there's zero sign of fabric fatigue or buckle failure. I am positive that any straps at half the price would have been replaced by now.

Next time on South Fork, bump up your jig size. Micro can get overwhelmed by the current. 1/4 oz will allow you to get them into those deeper pools. Small crazy flappers for trailer....or Rage Tail Menace....and hang on.

Keep an eye on those T-handle cords. I attached a bow strap to my forward T-handle and after just a couple trips, I noticed significant fraying in the handle cord. I swapped the front and back T's since I use the front a lot more...and I no longer use a bow strap. (Since I switched to a Hullivator, the yak doesn't move...at all...very secure.)

The smoothness isn't imagined, IMO. Additionally, the Type Rs seem to go longer without feeling like they need service.

I haven't filleted pan fish in years, though I loved my Normarks....google isn't helping with those, however...must have gone out of business. My brother in law, on the other hand, fillets a LOT of panfish and he insists on electric. I haven't used one yet, but if I start keeping crappie and 'gills in the future, I'll probably check out an electric model.

Take a look at your rod posture, too. Last time that I found myself missing hooksets, I realized (with a fair amount of contemplation) that had started holding my rod tip a bit higher as I was working on intent line watching; I'd been lifting the rod tip just a few inches to give me better view of line between tip and the surface. Dropping the tip that six inches or so was enough to get back to more solid hooksets. You might try a different weighted hook, also. Some just seem to penetrate better than others, depending on your rod, line, etc. For example, I loved Gammy's for the longest time -- but when I had to switch rods, I found I couldn't drive them home as well -- switching to different hooks made a difference.

Everything about kayak fishing is so personal....I found a way to at least partially disagree with almost everything said to this point....and yet they're all good suggestions. A lot depends on what kind of water you plan to be on. And it depends on the yak....I'm not familiar with that yak -- is it pedal? If so, you may find that you don't need to mess with the anchor trolleys -- loved them on paddle yaks...never anchor at all in my Hobie. I'd put a priority on visibility (flag/light...consider bright paddle blades, bright pfd, etc.) Storage will become almost as important as anything else....tackle, rods, tools, etc. Keep that in mind first couple times out and get laid out so that you're comfortable. Speaking of comfortable, also get your seat adjusted and padded and whatever else you need to make sure that you are not hurting after a few hours....can take some trips to be sure what needs doing, but every muscle and joint from neck to ankles can be affected by your seat.

KVD L& L on every non-braid spool. Every trip. It makes a difference, isn't pointless and worth every penny....and no junk lines in my inventory.

^Ike must be up there if he's getting coverage

Awful lot of dinks going across that stage

1 year update....(Fantasista Regista 7' Med Really Fast) Still agree with my initial assessment...quite sensitive, but never much got used to the way it loads and casts. Tip too stiff for my liking. Been used almost exclusively for jerkbaits and small swimbaits like keitech on about 1/4oz heads. One year to the day after ordering, I snapped it in two while high sticking a snag. Big shout out to AG Cust svc - one email with pics and explanation, one short phone call and $10....and they had replacement in the mail to me less than a week after it broke.

I caught one of my favored rods from the kayak rodholder behind my seat with a mighty squarebill-backswing just a few weeks ago ...sent the combo only a couple feet, however. Mine didn't stay hooked....I somehow managed to reach out and grab the butt as it was diving below the surface