Choporoz

Not a bad question, but it is going to be tough to get a good answer. Hook preferences aren't much more cut and dried than rod types or favorite lines. Hard to suggest a 'best drop shot hook' for example, because you might 'need' a small circle-type and nose-hook a bait, and I might use a heavy wire 4/0 EWG for bubba shotting. One thing I've read a few times here on BR that I somewhat rely on: Use a hook with a gap approximately double the thickness of your plastic -- gives room for bunching up and sliding around while still getting the point set past the barb. I've used lots of very satisfactory brands through the years and wouldn't disparage any brands except maybe Matzuo or BPS. However, I've gotten a bit finicky in my old age and if there's an Owner hook that will do the job well, I'm using it. There are just so very few applications I use that I cannot find an Owner that will do it well and give me confidence. This is a decent enough article to get someone started, but I'd guess you already know much of it: https://www.bassresource.com/beginner/Fishinghooks.html

I still use it, particularly for cranking rods. 12# is the max I will go, however. Just couldn't tame 15#. I do use KVD spray every time out.

I drop the spool on the ground and turn the reel handle, reeling the line through my fingers. Sometimes I have to go chase a spool that rolled under a car, or off the porch, but they rarely go very far.

I have a rack like @Scott F's. But usually just 'spares' and some of my wife's rods are in it. 10 (sometimes 12) months out of the year, most of mine are in the back of my Durango. I try not to be off the water long enough to justify taking them out

Just now watched a couple of videos of the Hobie 360 on the water. I'm glad my 180 drive is only 7 months old...I'm not too tempted at the moment....but....WOW....if I was back in the market today, I'm not sure I'd even care what it costs...that thing looks to be able to nearly spin in place. The sideways action and the bump-up capability truly could be game changing. I really do not have any issue at all with the reverse cabling on the 180. But there are times, maybe once every 4-5 times out when I find myself reaching for the hand paddle because I've gotten into a tight spot.

A more interesting discussion often results when it is asked whether the hook bend should be 'along the wacky worm' (parallel?), or perpendicular to it. Not that there's ever a satisfactory consensus, but it is, at times, entertaining to hear the theories.

True. But impressive since you can't just search and find a gar thread, since BR search doesn't do three letter words. Well done, @ZbestBassman I've got one small bay where I fish that is just frothing with gars. I don't know if bass are there because a gar will immediately attack a lure, especially any lipless cranks -- just asking for trouble...lol. It's crazy because there's a LOT of other very similar bays close by, but they tend to stay in their corner

Please take no offense...because, truly, none is intended....but I can't help literally laughing out loud...that a self described geek starting a thread about cutting edge personal tech...has difficulty posting pictures to a fishing interweb forum... btw, I use "Photo and Picture Resizer" app on my phone....and whatever free image hosting site google search offers, if on a pc

Owner makes a 3/0 Straight Shank -- are you looking for something different than that?

Agree with above posts. I kayak fish, also. I use spinning for cranks1/4 and less....St Croix Rage MF for everything over 1/4 to about 5/8. I have a St Croix glass crank rod that will throw up to about a 6XD, but I rarely use it....just never got comfortable with it.....so on the rare occasion that I want to throw something really deep like an 8XD, I use a long H flipping stick

Been there and done that. I've since learned the string-yank technique...hard to do alone, but probably someone at the ramp that can assist. I had to perform it on a jerkbait I managed to sink into my wife's hand...works like a champ - she never felt a thing

Speaking as another introvert....one that essentially dislikes people...you're point is actually a good one. I can hold a conversation just fine with the one in 20 people who actually interest me....but I'm perfectly happy ignoring someone else in the boat all day if they feel similarly

I guess it depends. I know a number of laydowns that will give up fish every day...more than once a day. In fact, if it is a big body of water or has current, you might have a new fish take up residence in your spot minutes after you catch one. How big a spot and how long did you fish it? Skunked after 30 min? 9 hours? Did they stop biting? Have you varied not just the lure, but the way you present it?

but...but....its simple....the ends are on the sides!!!!

Interesting. I have some Owner Twistlock Lights that are still in the package. I have assumed that worms would get tore up fast, so haven't used them yet. When I use screw on bullet weights, the worms won't last two fish...so I just assumed that a worm screwed in at the top would shred fast. I'll have to try them out this weekend. I have been perfectly happy with Owner 3/0 and 4/0 worm offset hooks, but I'll give the twistlock a shot

Not making fun of you, Justin...but I did have to laugh a bit....many (most?) of us have fifty times that much....and we are STILL stocking up

I fished out of a 10' kayak with a lousy seat for a couple of years and often wished I was in a boat. I loved kayak fishing, but never really preferred it to being in a boat; except for a getting on some small waters. This year, I'm in a larger yak with pedals and much better seat. I rarely consider going out in a boat any more.

Unless the HOA has a problem with it, I don't see why you couldn't use the other parking space for a kayak...maybe even a relatively large kayak (or canoe) on a trailer. You wouldn't have to back a kayak trailer down into the garage since you could maneuver it by hand (a lot easier than a boat on a trailer, anyway.)

I got one. No reason for a second one. Cannot hold a candle to @Siebert Outdoors Fogy, nor to @Bluebasser86 custom. That is not exactly saying anything, because none really can. Jackhammer, maybe, but not when I take cost into account. Skip the Shudder and get a Fogy

My brother in law is color blind. Believe me, I am quite envious. He does just fine out there

@CountryboyinDC, crowds were not an issue the one day that I was there. My understanding is that it has only been open for fishing for a few years. Probably could be helped by some dink harvesting. But even without intense management, I bet it has a good future

I haven't been on Motts or Ni. Hunting run has a lot of submerged brush, great, easy to define points and channels. You are right, that those small stick-ups often only hold dinks in the summer, but they are still good for helping to discern contours. BTW, I was on Mooney for the first time a week ago and caught a LOT of dinks, but did have a couple good fish on. It is another good lake to work the many long points in the summer. You may not get a PB out of there, but you can hone your offshore summer tactics on easy to find drops and points without graphing the whole lake to find deeper fish hangouts

Many of the outfitters will offer you a pick up or delivery service even if you use your own yak.

Never been to that river. Sounds like you have already got a good amount of knowledge about how to fish and catch bass there. But the one thing that I'd do different is get out of the party raft and into a kayak. I've gone on river floats with friends in rafts or tubes and me in a kayak. We're all a lot happier. I can stop and fish the good holes, and then catch up when they park to drink or play.

There's good skipping videos out there. Two that I found most helpful are Andy Montgomery and Gerald Swindle. Some differences, but both are instructional. Biggest single mental thing for me was to envision skipping a stone -- it wasn't until that clicked for me that I managed to get the bait moving sort of underhand/sidearmed/upflipping to do the skipping thing