Choporoz

I don't know, @Fishingmickey....I won't argue with your experience, but I am quite a bit north of 175# and I have never considered a kayak longer than my 10' due to stability reasons. I have flipped once, but that was only because I anchored...in current....with trolley mid-ships. All dumb, but nothing to do with length of my yak. Which reminds me of something I forgot in my novel above -- Due to less than awesome seat, I use a boat cushion to sit on. I recognize that raises my center of gravity even more, but never to where I was concerned. -Looking at pics of OP's purchase, I suggest some augmentation to seat padding, also. Alternatively to my throw cushion, my wife has used a memory foam-type pad that she loves.

I got my first kayak a few years ago and after lots of reading, I settled on Stohlquist Fisherman High Back. I have used it every single time out and except for being a bit dirty, its as good as new -- straps, pockets, zippers, etc are all perfect. I see it is 'still' on sale from Austin Kayak. I've since done a lot of reading and thinking about getting an inflatable, but always end up deciding against it. I would certainly love to get rid of the bulk of a conventional PFD. However, I am sticking with mine. My hesitation with inflatables have to do with laziness - not interested in 'maintenance', and concerns about when I'll actually 'need' it. Auto-inflates require some maintenance and the fact that I fish in the rain a lot, I'd never be comfortable that it wouldn't inflate due to my lack of diligence and/or too much exposure to rain and humidity. I consider myself a good swimmer and have thought that a manual might be fine, except that I imagine that the time I'm going to need it might involve head trauma in rocky rivers or from jet ski or powered boat, making it unlikely that I would be able to pull the cord. As to customization.....well, books could be written.... Mine came with track rails forward and back, making a lot of customizing quite easy. I have a crate behind me with a 3-rod holder ziptied to the front. In the crate I have 4, 3700 plano boxes, an anchor, a head lamp, three water bottles (one empty for use as a urinal), hand paddle, Hawg Trough. In the hatch between my legs, I use a Bassmaster bag because it fits perfectly - filled with plastics, tools, cigars, plug knocker, first aid, etc. On the rails and other external attach points, I have a flag/light in back, one rod holder, anchor trolley, fish grip, Lowrance, push pole. Mounted inside, is transducer and fishfinder battery goes in front hatch, secured with some foam blocks that I gooped to inside of hull. In/on PFD, I have wallet, keys, lighter, readers, Boomerang. That's all pretty standard. I do adjust a little depending on the trip -- low water river floats, I may lighten load a little, or lash stuff down better.

@nebkan, I almost hate to post this, because I can't recall the author, nor can I find the original post. But the BR member did share it publicly here, and IIRC, most here thought it very well done, even if there were some very minor quibbles. If anyone remembers the 'owner's BR nick, please shout him out here for appropriate credit.

I neglected to follow up... (I realize this is an old thread, but it is MY old thread, so I feel entitled.....) I thought about this over the weekend while I was cleaning spinning reels, because I had another reel, of different manufacturer, with the same problem: Both reels had a small piece of plastic broken inside. I'm not sure how to accurately describe the piece....The plastic piece fits over small threaded shaft extending inside from the cap/screw opposite the handle. The cap (opposite the handle) has a short shaft (3/4"?) and on that shaft is a square (black in both cases) plastic piece that sets into the main shaft 'hole'. That small piece still functions on both reels, but had chips broken off of them. No idea why....I don't believe in coincidences, so either its a common, manufactured weakness, or I'm somehow abusing and breaking my reels.

Lots of great information in here:

Exactly. And...just curious (because I know nothing about that particular rod), are you considering 75 Canadian dollars? Because, if so, the other US posters here trying to help might tell you 'of course' at US$60

I'll anxiously await reports. At twice the price of my single favorite plastic (Rage Bug), I'm going to hold off until I hear that those will regularly outperform....the profile is just too similar for me to jump in and use both.

Wow.... sry....jk I'm with LionHeart -- in fact, I'm the guy that used to put on my brand new Stan Smiths and find some mud and gravel to get that new stink off 'em

Reel maintenance and tackle organization, mostly. My wife is another who is very understanding and generous about giving me time on the water....that said, it still pays for me to build up some good credit while the water's hard

I watched a video of Andy Montgomery a couple/few times. And practiced....and practiced and practiced. Two things that I got from the vids that helped immensely - 1. Go ahead and dial up the spool tension and brakes. I thought it a sign of 'weakness' if I used a lot of brakes and tension -- like if I couldn't train my thumb to do everything, I was somehow lacking 2. Think about skipping rocks -- how your arm and wrist sort of parallel the surface, but kind of 'flick upwards' at the end....and then apply that image/motion to your rod and lure -- might not make a lot of sense until you do it a couple times.

Edit...just took a quick googletrip around the interwebs, and sure enough, there's lots of suggestions to Sharpie the line without mention of camouflage patterns....not sure I completely understand, either. But, then, I've never had any fading that bothered me much...I even use one spinning reel that has braid that is almost entirely white

I don't color mine, but I understood the Sharpie idea was to draw lines across the spool so as to 'camouflage' the last several feet....not simply to color it all black. I'm not in the line-shy camp, but I'd never call the Sharpie practitioners 'dumb'

I don't think he meant 'trolling for bass'

What's a youtube? JK...sorta...lump me in with some of the other old pharts above....I can count on one hand (two, maybe on a generous day) the number of youtube posters that I thought brought me some value, including Glenn and Gene...oh, and those two Tactical guys out in CA, also...not many others. I admit to having enjoyed a few top pro's vids, like KVD or that skipping guru, Montgomery...and I'll watch most anything that Swindle is doing because he cracks me up...and sometimes teaches me a little as a bonus...I don't have time/interest for the rest of it

I paddle a 10' Wildy. I made the short choice purely because of weight/handling out of the water. I'm neither 'young', nor in 'decent shape'.. I'm very happy with my choice...nearly all the time. But, I will say that when I'm on the water with others in 12 to 14 foot boats, I cannot keep up on long stretches. Vast majority of the time it doesn't make any difference. But we get on some big water and a one mile paddle is a lot different in a short yak than it is in a longer one.

I'm ok with calling UCF No. 1...sure the argument about beating the only team to beat the top two is thin...hard to argue the undefeated aspect....I'm liking it and won't argue when they say they've got a case

I'm with @IgotWood and @buzzed bait. Insulated rarely gets me right temp. I layer carefully and use light, Frog Toggs for rain as required. PFD is always on the outside.

I write, cast, and eat with my left hand....I bat, bowl, throw, reel, and golf right handed....I don't even know if I'm left handed or right handed anymore....but I'm surely not ambidextrous, because I can't switch up any of those things. I do wish I could cast with my right hand/arm, though. It could come in handy....a LOT

Still waiting.....

Agreed. Turns out there are forums and FB groups of kayak fishermen all over the place...I'd be surprised if there isn't one in your region. Also, many lake/river parks rent kayaks. Won't be the most stable, necessarily...nor, set up for fishing, but you can get an idea real quick if its something you want to pursue. Carts are available for nearly any kayak and if terrain isn't too bad, you can wheel a yak to an awful lot of places even if you can't park close to the water. Some yaks even have a wheel built into the keel. Even with balance issues, I'm going to bet that you'll feel plenty stable enough in most any platform. You may find you need to be careful about where you launch and recover; and you may not be standing much, but I'm guessing you'll do fine. One more thing - IF you're a vet....and IF you're in eastern OK, check out Heroes on the Water. They'll get you on the water.

If you decide to go with a retractable pole-type, careful to get a decent one. I got one off ebay that was 'supposedly' identical to a Cabelas branded retriever....it felt like some sort of fiberglass composite, but it snapped the first time I tried it.

that's two

Hate to have to choose....but gun to my head?.....the right nostril

I've settled on Big Ugly Plug Knocker (and Mid-Ugly) from ebay. I've tried the ones with chains and poles, but for me, best solution was the 'disposable' ones. I fish from kayak and rented boats, so having a couple each in various tackle bags/crates, etc. works best for me. They take up little room, and little weight. They aren't 100%, and I do lose a few every season, but they still pay for themselves many times over.

I think its a great idea. Netherlands is building indoor golf course. I've been to indoor ski slope in Dubai. People thought those guys were crazy, too. Why not?