MikeJames

Haven't had a problem with them. Still holding up just fine

I have an Ascend FS12T and I love it. I can set the hook on 4-5lbers while standing without a problem. Before I bought it I read a few reviews with scuppers leaking and an issue with the seat (the frame didn't sit on the kayak correctly and would cause the seat frame to bend) but they listened to complaints and corrected the issues. My cousin had a FS128T and exchanged it for the FS12T. He said it was just too cumbersome for his needs and the FS12T was much easier to handle on the water. He is 6'2" 190lb and we fish mostly 200-400 acre lakes. He also said the size and weight of the FS128 was a pain to load and unload since he transported it on the roof of his car.

A friend of mine made a drag anchor out of chain. Cut it to 1 foot lengths and covered each piece with bike inner tube so it doesn't get caught up in anything. He attaches them to his rope with a carabiner and adds/removes sections depending on how much weight he needs.

I started with a Jon Boat and switched to a kayak because I fish alone most of the time and the boat was just too much. Kayaks now a days are pretty stable. I started with a cheap sit-in I bought used and upgraded to a sit on top. Last year I bought an Ascend FS12T from Bass Pro for $500. It's 12' long 31" wide and very stable. I can stand and fish all day long and have caught 5lb Bass off top water lures while standing and never fell out. I can carry more then enough tackle in a milk crate that sits right behind the seat and I can also carry 5-6 rods if I need too.

They don't bother me. In fact, I would like to have one but I wouldn't be flying over other peoples boats/homes ect simply because I know some people get annoyed with them. More out of respect then privacy. Privacy laws are already in place in most states. They differ by state. Some states you must have at least one persons permission to record, others see it as if you are in public you have no right to privacy.

I drive around NOVA and DC every day and they give road rage a whole new meaning but one of my favorite happened on my way home from Quantico on leave. As I'm headed down Rt 50W I'm coming up on the small town of Middleburg when I see 2 Fire Trucks and an 2 Ambulance coming out of a gravel roadway with lights on. The car in front of me stops to let them pull out, as he should. The guy behind me starts going crazy beeping his horn and yelling, waving his arms. I guess he was more important then Paramedics trying to do their jobs. I just ignore the guy but notice the driver in front of me watching in his side mirror when the psychopath behind me throws his car in park, gets out and starts walking up to my truck screaming and yelling. I was driving a Dodge Ram at the time and I guess he didn't see the on duty police officer in front of me because when the cop opened his door and started to step out the guy did an about face real quick lol. The cop ended up pulling over to get behind the guy and pulled him over but I don't know what happened from there.

What kind of waters do you fish? Lakes, rivers, both? I have an Ascend FS12T from Bass Pro ($550 new) that I love and use in lakes. Seat is comfortable and I am able to stand easily. They had a few issues when they first came out but they really listened to reviews and complaints and fixed all the issues. I have a Wilderness Commander 120 that I just bought used for $400 ($1000 new) to use in rivers. It should track better then my Ascend and be able to stand if I want.

Milk crate, used PVC pipe rod holders and used a heat gun and a beer bottle to add the flare at the top.

I just bought an fs12t Saturday, I looked it over pretty well before I bought it because of the issues boostr stated. The scuppers looked good and I took it out for a few hours on Sunday and didn't have a problem with leaks. It was bone dry after about 4 1/2 hours on the water. The seat issue was the bolts on the sides would bend because the back of the seat frame didn't rest against the kayak, it was kind of suspended. They fixed the issue, it should be ok. The seat is also way more comfortable then the seat in my Tarpon 120. It's fairly easy to stand up in but I am going to add a standing assist strap, the fs12t doesn't come with one but the fs128 does. It tracked pretty well even though it was a little windy. You should have no problem at all adding accessory rails. It came with the kayak, seat and 6 scupper plugs. There is only 2 carry handles (front and back) so I added handles to the sides.

I have used hydro shok or Speer gold dots for years

Keep an eye on craigslist. A lot of people are getting new yaks and selling their old ones. I got my Tarpon 120 w/paddle a couple years ago for $300.

I do. Last year I bought a tarpon 120 and ended up selling my boat.

Check out http://www.tinboats.net/

I'm not a meteorologist but I work at the Baltimore/Washington Forecast Office in Sterling, VA. I can tell you that most meteorologist and observers here agree with you. Especially working in the DC metro area these guys really have to CYOA when forecasting any severe weather. If they forecast 1-2" and someone measures 2 1/4" in their back yard they flip out, start calling governors offices and whoever else they can think of, it just rolls down hill from there. Not to mention the addition of social media where everyone and their mother is a facebook meteorologist. The following is a facebook post from someone here this morning after some of the backlash from this latest snow... This is going to make me sound like an old curmudgeon, but I am a firm believer that the plethora of weather forecast models that exist in today's world make us WORSE as meteorologists. When I started in this business, you had exactly two computer simulations (with a third that came along around that time). If they didn't agree, you did actual weather analysis to determine which one was more likely to be correct, and you went with it or went off the board out on your own. Today, this is impossible. For some weather elements, there are **40** different models (plus a plethora of individual ensemble members of some of those models) to choose from. You can't even LOOK at them all, let alone analyze them. And with that many solutions, you know what? Unlike the old days, one or more of them is probably pretty close to being right! I'm not saying we should go back to having only two solutions again. But I have a vision of how this could work better -- or actually *work* at all? Not posting it here (mostly just ranting...and disclaimer: this is a personal opinion and does not represent my employer) but I think it's time to see if I can sway an opinion or two...or just keep venting frustration on Facebook. This is a comment from another... I definitely agree that we've gotten away from the "weather analysis" part in lieu of having to sift through multiple models and ensembles (not to mention customer questions and the like). The external pressure from the high schooler down the street posting straight model graphics is hurting that, and the constant upgrades--while producing better models--make it tough to keep up with the biases and tendencies. I'd like to see more emphasis on smarter visualizations and use of data--not to mention training on how to sift through everything!!--but I'm not sure if the 'right way' has even been invented yet.