Fishingmickey

Is putting a trailer hitch on it one of the items on the list? FM

I've got the Torqueedo 1103AC (155# thrust / 3hp ) on my Hobie PA14. It works great for what I use it for. A Torqueedo 1103 travel motor clamps on the transom and would be fine pushing or pulling a large 16' - 18' aluminum until the wind blows. I suspect it would wind vane like a mother. You would need a skeg or rudder in the wind to keep the boat tracking in windy conditions. FM

I have seen it done with a milk crate rod hold/gear storage and a small ice chest for a seat. Might be dang sure everything floats before you try it out. FM

Take your reel from Academy to the reel rack at Academy and start trying out different caps and see if you find a match? Ask one of the fishing dept/sales guys to help you. Good luck, FM

Gregory, One thing you really need to take into consideration is your size. How big of a person are you? If you get a small cheap kayak and your a plus sized person (tall and weigh a couple of hundred pounds or so) you will flip the kayak very easily. All it will take is for you to lean the wrong way and the kayak will squirt out from underneath you and you will be swimming. Second thing to take into consideration is the seat! If your are uncomfortable and there are plenty of cheap crappy kayak seats out there. You'll find yourself "hurting" after about 30 or 45 minutes in the kayak. If at all possible try to rent of test drive the kayak your thinking about before you buy. If it were me and I had a $500.00 budget. I'd be scanning the want ad's and figuring out how to make more money and saving. FM

I run 15 rods in my kayak (PA14). I use a milk crate with three triple rod holders zip tied to three sides. The open side crate butts up to a Engel 19 cooler that has four rod holders on it, two per side. The last two are packed horizontally in the rod holders down the sides (inside) the kayak. I seldom use all 15 but very often I do use at least ten and sometimes all of them. FM

I launch my PA14 from the trailer. I do have to load and unload, it may take me maybe 15-20 minutes for everything. Everything being, Milk crate w/9 rod holders, Engel 19 cooler with 4 rod holders, 1103 Torqueedo trolling motor w/controller and battery, Electronics are a Garmin 93 w/live scope and three batteries (one for the scope, two for the graph (one is a back up), one tackle bag, 8lb dumbell anchor w/60' of rope, and 15 rod's and reels. 13 vertical and 2 horizontally stored. I am not one of the newbie or ramp hawg kayak'ers take takes up ramp space to load and unload. I have a 30' bow line rigged up from the kayak to the trailer. I back down, float off the kayak, pull forward a couple of feet, remove the bow line and either beach the kayak out of the way or tie it up (out of the way) at the dock and reverse when pulling out. I am d**n near as fast as a experienced two man bass boat launching. Fishingmickey

If your going to be trailering the kayak. You might want to consider the PA14 instead of the PA12. It is a more stable kayak. The PA14 has a large storage area under the front hatch. The Hobie Compass would be good if your looking at carrying minimal gear & tackle. It's a lighter boat and probably faster then the PA12 or 14. FM

My last two orders ( out of four) should be coming tomorrow. FM

Maybe check out the Shimano Curado Glass? FM

Good luck, Koz! Fish your strengths! Fishingmickey

Think of the babies they'll make! FM

I once experimented with a trolling motor on my brothers 17' racing canoe. I did not have the trolling motor turned straight when I powered it up, It flipped me in a second. It the canoe is large enough and stable enough I am sure you'll be fine. Standard spinning tackle medium & medium light 7' rods should work fine. 6-8# test mono or fluoro or braid if you want. One thing to be careful with is to make sure your lure isn't spinning. Check it's action while moving before you make the drop. Good luck, have fun and report back! FM

We have Guadalupe bass here in Texas that put up a serious fight too. I feel that they, like a spotted bass fight much more like a smallmouth. A 16" "Guad" will give you a battle! Another point I'd like to make is the difference between how differently the fish fight at different water bodies. One of the power plant lakes here in South central Texas the bass really punch above their weight class. Alabama Spot and Darth, I'd love to join you in the pursuit of a 8-10lb California Spotted Bass! Fishingmickey

I got one last night.

6"6" = 78". 2 equals two power or light action rod. FM

X2

Happy Birthday, Ken. Fishingmickey

Wear your life jacket, take it out unloaded (Just you your paddle and life jacket) first couple of times and play with it. Find out how far you can lean out before tipping. This is best done in shallow warm water. I assume you can swim. If not go enroll in a learn how to swim class! It may save your life. Learning how to flip the kayak back over after you tip over when your in water over your head is very important skill to have as is being able to get back into it. Know what the weather is going to do. Don't go out alone until you've mastered the skill of re-righting the kayak and being able to get back into it while on the water. Get a paddle leash and use it. If your on the water and you knock your paddle out of the kayak or drop it. You may very well find your self and your kayak (think wind blown) drifting away faster from your paddle then you can hand paddle back to get it. Don't leave the kayak to go get it. The kayak may blow away faster then you can swim to get it especially if your trying to swim with your paddle. Being immersed in cold water even with a life jacket on is no guarantee your going to make it back to shore safely. Pack a dry change of clothes and a towel in a dry bag or similar. Maybe have a fire starting kit in the bag too. Hypothermia is no joke. Be aware of what the weather is going to do and plan accordingly! Go with a friend if at all possible a experienced friend. I'm not trying to scare you, I'd love to here how your adventures are after getting off of the bank. Cold fronts are no joke and fishing in the winter time in Texas can be dangerous. If your caught out when a cold front blows in the lake can change from a flat pond to white caps with rollers that you can't paddle into to get back to your launch. Every year there are drowning deaths from new kayak owners that get caught out when a cold front comes through. Some of them were from when they got a new kayak for Christmas. File a float plan (meaning let someone know where your going on the lake your fishing and what time to expect you back). In the event you lose your paddle, or something happens that strands you in a unpopulated area. Good luck with your new to you kayak and enjoy fishing from your new kayak. There is a ton of threads on here from people about fitting out their new kayak and some pretty scary stories from your fellow brothers here on Bass Resource about when they tipped over. Best regards, be safe and smart, Fishingmickey

I also have greatly enjoyed the book. I believe the correct title is The River Why, by James David Duncan. The movie title is A River Runs Through It. FM

Even the packaging is great. Perfect gaffer tape job on the outside and Japanese newspaper to read on the inside. FM

Me too... FM

Another item to note is the Zillion TW HD is saltwater compatible too. FM

Hi Blue, It was a Hawg Trough brand board that was involved in the bent board scandal, I don't think I could bend my Ketch polycarbonate unless I used a torch or heat gun and then it would be permanently bent. . In the Hobie BOS series it has to be the Ketch X aluminium board. Hobie doesn't allow the polycarbonate board. FM

Kistler - built in Magnolia, TX. Excellent customer service! FM