Fishingmickey

I've had good luck in Maine, semi clear tannin colored (tea) waters also. I used the KVD Fat baby finesse in Dirt and Red bug. FM Dirt is a two colored, light brown on bottom and dark green back, Red bug is more like a red plum color with green flake.

You might want to practice with it as it is before refilling the spool. Much easier to learn on 3/4th's of a spool then a full one. FM

I have used the Yum 3" wooly hawg tail gp for Guadalupe bass on the river here and they love them. FM

I've done the same thing. My sweetheart and I have been to Maine the last couple of years for vacation. I hit Kittery last stop up. FM

I gotta call ya on this one. One of our guys that fishes KATS will flat leave behind the peddle drive's in his wake. He paddles 16' racing kayak. He can do 6-8 mph in his Ferrari. He gets to his spot first. FM

Excellent comments so far! Using night crawlers should get you bit by something. When i was your age I liked to use a small split shot and a number 6 Eagle claw snelled hook. Cast out and let it sink, reel in the slack lift the rod and let it sink again. Work the worm back slowly. Watch you line and see if it jumps or starts moving off to one side or the other. The other thing that hasn't been mentioned is try to go at the prime fishing times. I call them "the magic hour's". The hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset can be magical. A few last things, walk the bank slowly, be quiet. Observe the water for signs of activity. Things like birds feeding, Small fish being chased by larger ones, Shad flipping. Good luck and go catch'em or one! FM

I've tournament kayak fished for the last five years. I fish the KATS series in Texas. There is no doubt that a pedal drive does allow you to fish more water in the wind by far compared to a paddle driven craft. That said two of the guys that have literally "ruled" for a couple of years use paddle driven craft. Both of them are top notch sticks and one of them finished fourth at KBFNC and used a paddle. So I feel that the quality of the angler is more important then the type of drive they are using. I do feel that using trolling motors is a too much of a advantage and it will become more of a arms race to develop the fastest craft. Next thing you know we will be talking about Kayak hole shots! FM

I have the same unit. I use mine in a kayak though with a side mounted transducer. The DI is great for me. I can see individual strands of hydrilla coming off of the bottom and it shows branches in trees, besides fish etc. I'm thinking you might be getting some interference from other electrical or electronics on the boat. Is the side imaging lousy also? The only thought I can come up with is to try taking the transducer loose and maybe mount it on a 2x2 or something that you can stick down into the water and test it that way to see if it makes a difference. Good luck! FM

Could be your reeling them in and the hook is off center with the mass of the fish causing them to spin as you reel them in. Just like rigging a non-straight or crooked plastic bait. FM

Hello Bill, One of the questions that comes to mind is are you using a spinning or a bait casting reel. With a bait caster I wouldn't go much below about 30# braid. On a spinning reel the lowest I'd go 15 or 20# braid. With small diameter/lb test braid on a bait caster it can have a tendency to "dig-in". In other words when you have been fishing and try to pull a snagged lure loose or fought a good fish that pulls hard. The line will "dig-in" or bury itself between layers on the spool. The smaller diameter line has much more of a tendency to do this then say 40-65# braid. Spinning reels are usually used for lighter lures and lines. They also lay the line down in a wider pattern then bait casters do. So your much less likely to suffer from "dig-in" issues on spinning reels. All three types of line monofilament, fluorocarbon and braid have pluses and minuses to them, basically different properties to each. Figuring out what works best for your style of fishing is pretty much your call. Fishingmickey

One thing you might try is to "untwist" your line. I don't know how well it would work with braid. I do know it works excellent with Mono or Fluorocarbon. If your in a boat or kayak just go slow and let maybe half a spool of line out with nothing tied on the end. The water drag on the line will cause the line to untwist. After you have got your line out drag it for several minutes (5-10). Then reel the line back in and see if that solves the "birdnest" problems for a little while. FM

Which round reel is that A-Jay? FM

Egads, not even sure if i should respond. I have probably 30 rigs. 6 are heavy's the reels are Curado 300E's and a Tranx, maybe 20 medium and medium heavy bait casters (50,150 & 200 sized reels) and 5 spinning combo's. For tournament fishing I usually carry 15 rigs on my kayak. I have nine holders on the milk crate, four on the Engel cooler and two stored horizontally in the PA14 holders. Depending the body of water and time of year fishing will depend on what I'm packing on the yak. I do find that I use the majority of them through out the course of a day. Fishingmickey

Nice ride! Be careful out there. FM

Both are beautiful bass! Welcome to BR! Fishingmickey

In the Shimano line up, Curado 70, Citica and SLX come to mind. I have all three, I haven't tried the SLX with much light stuff yet. If you went used you might be able to get your hands on a Core 50 or a Aldebran 50. Both are small framed reels that are sought after and perform very well. I wonder about the Diawa Alpha SV or the Tatula 105 SV but I think they are over that price point. FM

Well in Texas it does matter. If it is your farm pond/stock tank on your private property you can do whatever you want. FM

Private property perhaps?

My sweetie likes the Cocoons.

9.1

Three for tail grabbers.

I have had really good results with the River2sea Bling spinner baits. I like the head design on how the wire enters the head and it is flat on the bottom like a skid plate. I feel it allows me to get the spinner bait to climb over limbs, logs, lilly pads and brush in the water. They are made with great components, good hook and thin wire and blades.

Dag nabbit Harold! now I got to go find one or three of these. That's way too sexy! FM

Do you wonder about how many sticko-s that you've lost have gotten eaten by other bass?

This picture shows obviously a descendant of Hercules! FM