Choporoz

+1. Visualizing rock skipping while practicing helped me a lot.

"Worst thing you can do in this sport is go behind some who is catching fish" LOL He LEFT 'his spot'....forgot to build a wall, I guess...but his losing two good bites isn't the reason for not winning, I suppose.

How would that work, exactly? For Elites tournaments? MLF? 'Lesser' pro tournaments? What about pros designated practice days? Not Collegiate or High School? You may well know where and when every pro tournament within 50 miles is taking place. I sure don't....and I'm pretty sure 80% or more of the people headed out to a particular lake on a particular day do not either. Even if some of us more 'informed' fishermen yield to pros, many won't...not because they're rude or boorish, or even lack common sense...they just wouldn't know that is 'expected' of them. So, then you get some pros expecting special treatment, because it is often offered...and conflicts will occur. Close off the water to the public....or everyone fishes same water with same rights and entitlements.

Decent reel. Just may need a good cleaning:)

"His spot"?!?!?! I am floored by this idea/mentality. Either close the entire lake to anyone other than competitors, or ....fish somewhere else. I don't care if the purse is 100K or five bucks. Public waters means exactly that. I also don't care if the locals watched him fish it and rolled in after he left it. Though....I am probably the only person that ever fished a spot after seeing (or hearing of) someone else having success there.

I only use 12 and 15 with 50-60# braid. 10 is pretty good all-around....but if you aren't in a lot of heavy cover, sharp rock, or zebras, you would almost certainly be fine with 8.

Rod sleeves and sox

Far and away my most used leader line. I use 6, 8 10, 12 and 15

There was an interesting article in Bassmaster not too long ago. Two elites were discussing two issues for tournament anglers (though, I'm sure they'd say that they are different than tourny anglers discussed above, because they're elites.) First they talked about gawkers and seemed fine as long as looky-loos stay a couple hundred yards off. Then, when they talked about sharing the water, is when it got interesting. Wish I could remember the mag issue date or the pros' names. But, the more they talked, the more upset that I got....you could easily infer an entitled mentality that they were there for just a short time and it was their 'job', so locals should probably just get out of their way. May not have been quite that explicit, but that's the way I took it. I found it a bit disturbing. Really? How has that improved anything? You would be absolutely contributing to the exact sort of friction and interactions that most here have said is a problem.

I think that I like what I like...and I think that I don't care much what others like. BTW, what's a youtube? How do you rig it?

Yup! And you can also tow a 5th wheel with a Sentra....downhill....once, anyway.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him a bait casting reel. Abraham Lincoln, I think. Or, as an old boss of mine used to say; 'In adversity, there is opportunity" -- that right there, to me, is just another excuse to hit up TW

Two likely reasons: 1. Super smart bass can see the extra line, snaps, swivels and stuff and avoid your lure. 2. Extra 'stuff' can change, even detract, from the 'action' of your lure.

I was surprised to see names I recognized, also. Wonder if BM didn't consider 'unqualifying' those that bolted. Or that MLF didn't schedule something big next weekend

I couldn't disagree more. Not unusual that a boat isn't big enough for my wife and I to both fish out of. Can not even begin to imagine what it would be like with both us us casting while seated three feet from each other. Having separate yaks allows my wife to pick up and go fishing while I'm at work, if she wants. When we go together, we often take separate cars so that if she wants to leave after 5 or 6 hours, I can stay out. Nothing about a double yak sounds the least bit appealing to me.....but, I'm sure some couples make it work without ending up in divorce...or paddling a two seater alone.

My biggest reason for choosing kayak over boat was/is storage. I live in a townhouse without a garage and the only boat storage options are miles from my house, over $100/month and nearly all uncovered and without electricity. So, several years ago, I saw kayak as my best option. I grew to love it. I like fishing from a boat, as well - and do it often. But, as much as ease of storage and overall cost of ownership, I've also come to appreciate the time saved on general maintenance. I'm not mechanically inclined and don't enjoy tinkering, routine or even preventative maintenance, very much. Wouldn't be so bad if I could do it in an attached garage, but doing everything off-site, or paying someone else to do it isn't appealing, either.

This. I love Gliss for jerkbaits on spinning rods for this reason.....jerk control...and castability

If I were forced to just use a single lure for a period, I'd probably choose a Rage Tail Cut R. It can be a bottom worm, a swim bait, a topwater (if fast and weightless) or a falling bait.

If, for some reason....like me, you find yourself in Nebraska in March....Scheels has MH Veritas/Revo S combo for $130

This. I kneaded it a bit to soften, then rolled it into a puck. If you work it a bit without 'folding' it onto itself, the air bubbles don't appear to be an issue. I made sure the inside of the hull was clean and then pressed the putty-puck onto the hull...firmly. Then simply press the transducer into the putty and mold the putty up the sides a bit to secure it.

Now that so many are fishing for dinks, they don't need MH rods any more jk

Nice primer, @ThypeBassin. Thanks for taking the time! I've been fishing it for a number of years...and I've read Penrod's Tidal Potomac fishing book a couple times...and I still learn something every time out.

What was the question? Why a kayak over a canoe? I've fished from canoes only a half dozen times - and always rented boats....so, I haven't any experience with better equipped, more stable canoes. That said, my preference for kayaks is strong: -Much more stable (to me) -I generally fish alone -- handling a canoe on the water alone, for me, was difficult at best....terrible, if windy -As challenging as car-topping a heavy kayak can be, I don't think I could handle even a 'light canoe' any better. --- mostly the second point -- first couple times I rented a canoe to fish for bass, I ran into significant windy afternoons and had an extremely difficult time just transiting, never mind, fishing

Bait Monkey thanks you. I don't think that I have bought 17 frogs in my life. I don't lose them. Ever. And it takes significant use/abuse to wear one out. You should be set....your kids and grandkids, too.