Choporoz

I have some thoughts, but may not be of much explicit value to your situation, I'm afraid. We don't have a sedan or a van. -I bought a Hullivator for my wife's RAV4. She loves it and can easily handle her 10' Perception, even with chronic back issues. So, I heartily endorse the Hullivator if your cars can handle it. -I am neither young, nor particularly fit, but I carry my yak on a full size SUV with Thule Glide and Set racks. I'd think my loading method would work as well on a van. The only heavy lifting I do is to stand it straight up. I put a 3x5 throw rug on the back top, trailing down the window, and then stand the yak and lean it against the rug. Lifting, sliding onto the racks across the rug isn't very difficult, at all. The rubber backing on the bottom of the rug prevents slipping, and the rug itself makes a good slide surface. Lastly, not sure how the van is configured, but I saw a guy with a 'family van' at the launch the other day. He opened the back doors and slid his yak right on up inside -- I didn't go over to look at the seating or see if it had been gutted, but it looked 'normal' from a distance....probably just folded seats and slid the kayak right on in.

Holy cow.... This fishing forum has more HONEST, virtuous FISHERMEN than any other in the entire world wide interwebs.

I don't target them. Maybe why I catch so many. I haven't been on the Potomac for a few weeks, so I don't know what they're doing right now, but it was probably about this time last year...maybe a few weeks later...when I would paddle into huge boiling schools of them in the shallows of Gunston Cove - I'm guessing they were spawning, but I really don't know. I catch most of them on plastics - Cut-R's, especially....but that may just be because I throw Cut-R's and Rage Bugs ....a lot. But, I've also caught them on chatterbaits quite a bit. I've always heard that frogs are best, but I've never caught one on a frog. They're fun enough to catch, but I'm generally disappointed when I do -- takes me off the bass for too long...between the fight to the yak...and then wrestling to get my lure back

Hope you bought a lottery ticket on the way home

I was getting close...maybe not to fulfillment, but at least the buying was tapering a bit....and then had to start planning for first walleye trip in years...bait monkey is happy once again

Thanks, all. I hadn't noticed this with other reels when I get them dialed in, but I will accept this as natural for now. @Angry John, appreciate that advice. I am pretty ill-equipped to handle all but the most basic maintenance. I've not even removed a spool tension knob before, but I'll give it a look. Thanks, @keagbassr. I will give that a shot, also. I've generally made most of my adjustments with the spool tension knob, but your comment makes a lot of sense. I've only been really concentrating on skipping since early last year and was getting pretty confident...that is, until I started getting frustrated with this particular reel. Who knows how good I'll be if I adjust the reels right :)

Sounds like me. I've only been fishing for bass for about nine years, so I still have lots to learn. Even the good days result in some Monday morning quarterbacking and I inevitably think of something that I should have done different. I have considered making myself a checklist. I do tend to get into a bit of a rut on the water and stay with something too long. If I had a checklist and remember to look at it, I wonder if I wouldn't be better about changing things up on the water. Some lures or techniques just don't rise to the top of my consciousness when they should at times.

Morone also has a FB storefront

Sarcasm? :)

To be a little more specific, I think that most any kayak will be stable for most anyone who stays seated on small waters. When I think about the 'stability-factor' in fishing yaks, I'm thinking about whether I intend to stand; or if I want to take it on the Chesapeake or main stem of the Potomac, or swift smaller rivers...also may be a consideration for folks at the higher end of the 'weight spectrum', though, while it is discussed often here, I've never heard of heavier guys feeling tippy in any but the smallest yaks.

I have a relatively new (less than a year old) Quantum Smoke baitcast reel that acts differently than my other dozen or so reels (3 of which are also Smokes.) In most 'normal' conditions, my ideal spool tension adjustment has zero effect on my handle. However, when I tighten the spool tension knob for 'challenging casts; like skipping, or into strong winds, even just two clicks past 'ideal', I get noticeable resistance when reeling. Seems logical - tighter spool, more friction - more effort needed to reel. But, I've never noticed this on any other reels. So, just looking for similar experience - or reassurance that it's normal....or something easy that I can do to 'fix' or improve....or, does it need service? While the resistance is somewhat 'light', it is a big deal because I get so much sensitivity through my reel-handle-hand. (I never realized how much I rely on the feel in my right fingers and thumb for bites until my handle got a bit 'stiffer'.)

A problem with current sales being a primary factor in your decision is that kayaks vary greatly; the choice is a personal one -- a decision that may well affect your fishing enjoyment for years. I suggest rather that you look over some of the threads above and make a list of what's important to you in a kayak (speed, stability, weight, peddle v. paddle, etc.) Then come up with your upper end out of pocket cost to start. Don't forget that you will need a paddle, pfd, car top racks, to start....other stuff like crate, trolley, electronics, etc. can come a little later. Lots of retailers have demo days where you can try out a variety of models on the water...search for one in your area. Even if you can't demo on the water, go ahead and actually sit in some right in the store -- not sure if Dicks will let you do that, but any reputable yak dealer will. Lastly, give serious consideration to buying used depending on your budget. Most decent yaks age very well with minimum care --- craigslist, facebook and local forums all will have good value yaks for sale routinely.

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/204011-yakers-what-kayak-do-you-run/?do=findComment&comment=2286424 https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/205227-kayak-fishing/?do=findComment&comment=2301945 https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/205291-fishing-kayak/?do=findComment&comment=2302904 https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/198037-best-low-budget-kayak/?do=findComment&comment=2213538 https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/202602-fishing-kayak/?do=findComment&comment=2269419 https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/200170-how-to-test-a-kayak/?do=findComment&comment=2239379 Take a few minutes and look at the threads above. May give you enough to ask some more specific questions.

lol...and I'd be very surprised if someone in Japan hasn't tried it

Get this and tinker away... https://www.jannsnetcraft.com/fishing-lure-making-kits/032590000009.aspx

I've probably watched a 8 or 10 Swindle videos...and I'm still impressed by how much fun he (still) has. I won't claim to really know anything about the real Swindle...but I can't help like and admire him....makes me want to try a little harder to enjoy my own life

Thanks! Will check them out. Since posting, I've bought and used a HUK Kryptek ICON hoodie. I like it. I think its better than my PFG's. However, I'm not at all sure I like it two or three times better than my PFG's.

Gotcha...didn't realize that you were closely managing a small pond. I find crappie and bass clearly coexist all over, so I was curious.

no clue...but what's wrong with crappie?

This is a very gross oversimplification, as there's LOTS of variables and choices may just depend on how a feel that day....but, here's sort of how I view/choose: shaky: most of the work is done standing still swinging: most of the work is done dragging - moving fairly slow rage rig: most of the work is done straight fall and swimming off the bottom trig: falling, dragging, dead-sticking for me, I ALWAYS have a rage rig on deck and use it the most; if I'm fishing straight worms, I will usually use a trig. Again, this is very generalized and most presentations can be done with any of those as your terminal tackle

Never heard that...doesn't mean it isn't true....but, wouldn't you risk ruining a spool with every fish and snag? As to plug knockers, I use Big Ugly Plug Knockers - from ebay - most of my fishing is from a kayak and the hound was more bulk and weight than I like to pack most days.

+1 on Siebert Zenith. I have probably a dozen different heads, but I usually reach for Zenith. Comes through wood, rocks and weeds well and I get confident hooksets.

I use a leader on all but my frog rods. -break off snags -don't use up braid when changing lures or re-tying -visibility My wife lost a fish for first time this weekend when a leader knot failed (my tie), but I don't think that I ever have.

Various smaller plastics. Typically on one of the following: Charlie Brewer Spider Head Owner Ultrahead Finesse 3/16 Jigs 1/16 mojo-trig

Google Earth shows the grass pretty well. Keep in mind that the lines will change some from year to year. Not sure how old the sat pics are, but it does give you an idea of the good definition of the grass.