Fishingmickey

Sounds like you've done your homework now just finding the time to fish. FM

I like to use a 1/8 oz for fishing over and through hydrilla. The lighter weight keeps in from sinking deep into the weeds. Hit the weeds, the rod loads up, jiggle it free and sometimes it gets smashed after it has come free. FM

Strohs... fire brewed. FM

I think you could really tell a lot with a drone. You'd be able to see color changes from depth or bottom composition changes, current flows, creek channels/drains, subsurface vegetation, edges of weed lines, large boulders or structure, holes in behind reed patches. Water and light conditions would have to be right. I could definitely see doing some serious scouting with one. Leave the fishing rods at home and take the GPS or be able to get the weigh point numbers off of the drone's footage. Fishingmickey

X2!

Your correct sir!

I hope I can make a suggestion? You have all the weight (gas tank, motors and battery) in the back of the boat. Maybe try moving the battery forward. I have a very similar boat except I mounted my trolling motor off the bow. With the trolling motor and battery up in the front the trim is much better for me. I do love my old "tin cup". Fishingmickey

A very beautiful bass! Excellent timing! FM

Shimano fan boy here. I do have a couple of Diawa Coastal SV's that have I have snuck in my arsenal. They are pretty sweet so far. I've only had them a couple of months. But the majority of my reels are Shimano. I have several Bantam's, Metanium's and Scorpions with a few other sprinkled in. FM

You'll have more hanging out then hanging in. If you go with the ATAK14. I'd think about a bed rack and put it on top. At 95lbs it might be tough to get it up on top without devising a system to do it. FM

I like the Scorpion myself. Fine reel. FM

Way to go Bluebasser! Don't ya love it when a plan comes together! Great job on your pictures, they don't look like "first tournament pictures". I've been doing the kayak tournament scene for about six years now. Fishingmickey

Hi Bubba, You might try backing off on your drag or fighting technique a bit. The titanium wire I would suspect is brittle as suggested by Scottf. I've broken my share of the regular spinner baits and some on healthy fish. But it has always been a "experienced" spinner bait that has been bent and straightened after it has caught several fish. I figured out I was bending my spinners when I was heavy hauling the fish to the boat and also when boat flipping the fish. So some food for thought, try some other quality spinner baits that don't have the titanium wire or back off on the drag a touch if you love the Terminator's. Good luck and tight lines, FM

Hi Okinawa, Do I sense a fellow marine there? Regarding the battery, Michaelb had it spot on! You want to try to keep the ends (bow and stern) light. The AGM battery at 68#'s is a serious load. I don't know if you can return it or not. Think about what would happen with the battery inside the hull of your kayak if you would flip/capsize. There are several companies that make lithium Ion batteries that are a lot lighter (1/2 the weight) but also they cost a heck of a lot more. You can probably get away with less then a 110ah battery. Do some research if you like, Dakota lithium and FPV make large enough lithium batteries for trolling motor use. The 100ah Dakota Lithium battery is $899 plus you'd need the right sized charger for it at another $199. With a side mounted motor in a kayak you would have to be really, really careful that you don't turn the motor on (especially on high) with it pointed perpendicular ( 90 degrees to the bow or stern) of your kayak. The torque could very likely flip your kayak (don't ask me how I know). that way I won't have to tell you about mounting a trolling motor on a racing canoe and the results of not pointing the motor in the proper direction. Last but not least, if you do someday flip your kayak and fill up the hull with water. First is can you get out safely, second is do you have enough flotation to keep the kayak from sinking. I'm attaching a link for Cubitainers for a Laser sailboat. I'm sure you can do something similar for your kayak. The Cubitainers are cheap insurance to possibly preventing a catastrophic accident. Best regards and good luck with your project and safe kayak fishing to you, FM Link for Cubitainer: https://www.intensitysails.com/10licuflforl.html Link for Dakota Lithium: https://dakotalithium.com/product/dakota-lithium-12v-100ah-deep-cyle-lifepo4-marine-solar-battery/

Deleted not pertinent anymore. Congrats on your Hobie, I love my PA14. FM

I tried some of the Diawa J-Fluoro Samurai in the #18lb and I have to admit I am very impressed with it. I believe it compares very favorably with Seaguar Invisx and Tatsu. The latter two is what I currently using on 95% of my reels. Fishingmickey

You should be fine all day long. Are you using braid to leader for your line & switching leader sizes between the two? FM

I'll second the NZ wines, I do enjoy the Kim Crawford Sauvignon blanc. and I am still experimenting with some of the others. California has also got some very nice Sauvignon blanc's in that 10-15 buck a bottle range. FM

I gotta go with the Bling, R2S Ish Monroe. It checks all of the boxes and catches fish. FM

All time, Berkley pumpkinseed power worm 7" bit down to 6" , T-rigged with a 3/16 oz weight on a 3/0 straight shank Gamakatsu worm hook. 1/2 oz chartreuse spinnerbait gold double bladed willow leaf. FM

When I was a young minnow, I used to use Eagle claw snelled hooks size 6. I would thread the worm onto the hook and about two inches down come back out and turn the hook and bury it into the collar (wide part) of the worm. Then I would attach a small split shot above the snelled hook. Cast out and let sink on a tight line. Watch your line for twitches. Get a bite, give your line a little slack then let the line tighten and set the hook. FM

Beautiful Musky! FM

My fingers are crossed. FM

Probably my favorite size is the 75. It casts great makes just as much noise as the 90 or the 110. The 90 is the one I won't touch, I know a lot of people like the 90 but for me if the prop gets fouled it rolls badly and creates significant line twist. Both the 75 and the 110 are deeper keeled (fatter) and don't have the tendency to roll or spin on the retrieve like the 90 does. The 130 and 190 in Loon or Bone are supposed to be a serious big fish bait. Fishingmickey

Same color as the greenie CuradoE's? Either way, Schweeet!