FryDog62

Done with short-casting SV’s except the two reels that I have for skipping. Am thinking of a Tatula 80 for a Medium-Light rod - for lures somewhere between BFS and Medium. It’s a question of if you can get enough distance with the 80… is the start up inertia to cast a light lure better on the 80, or Elite? I plan to find out next week…

A friend in need is a friend indeed - thx to you and the Bait Monkey for thinking of me lol! Any similar deals on a Tatula 80 out there?

How would you compare to the Evo Mini Max (besides the price?). Anyone bite yet - what size/colors?

I think the fact these guys make as much $ or more on endorsements/sponsorships/image/reputation as they do on actual tournaments - that these discussions are all behind the scenes and agreements are made on how it will be released to the public. Stuff will leak out, but likely never the whole true story.

This is the reason I run 2 units on my kayak... Humminbird for SI and 360 Imaging, and Garmin 93sv for Livescope. When I was using the Garmin GT54 I couldn't even see many of the rocks my Humminbird was able to locate.

I did not like the GT54 for side imaging, have heard the 56 is better. Something to consider if you use SI much...

I have a 93sv on my 120 Autopilot. Perfect size and you would be able to add Livescope later on.

These are valid points - I do miss fishing with friends/family, and for sure some speed. Learning bodies of water like Hartwell, Kissimmee at a top speed of 3.7 mph in an Autopilot has its challenges !

Words of wisdom, good stuff. I’ve been at it 4 years as well and just told my wife yesterday that I think I’ve finally got everything where I want it. it’s a process, and I don’t think you need everything Koz listed above out of the gate - BUT THE KEY - is to buy the right foundation/platform you can add to that fits where/how you fish. Nothing worse than starting with a kayak that’s too small or limiting to add to over time. Then you have to try to sell it, and start over the right way - - For some yes, but not for me anyway… At a similar price point, I fished out of a jon boat and then a tiller for many years. The kayak is much more comfortable and adaptable IMO. Easier to trailer/store as well. The downside is only one angler, not two. I also had a Lund Pro-V Bass for 6 years. To buy another one similarly rigged would be $70k. Big difference… I think I enjoy my kayak 80-90% as well as my bass boat. The jon boat/tiller about 50% as well… But that’s just me - -

If there is a difference, I think it's fairly subtle if any. However, different lures, weights, etc may magnify the difference again if any.

I've had Tatula Elites for 5+ years now after switching pretty much everything over from either Tatula SV TW's or Shimano Curado MGL's. The Elite kicks their butts casting-wise by quite a margin. I had to convert all my reels over to the Elites because it was almost comical switching back and forth - either bombing the Elites too far (on shore, up a tree, over the green monster, etc.) or back to the Tatula SV-TW/Curado and sputtering out with only 2/3 of normal casting distance. I bought my first Tatula 100 two months ago and have switched it around on the same rods/line/lures and honestly I can't tell a casting performance difference from an Elite. I'm quite impressed by the Tatula 100 (and surprised). The Elite and the (newest model) of the Tatula 100 share the same A7075 Deep Spool and line capacity. If I had to buy another reel today, given the cost difference I'd probably opt for another 100... and as a committed Tatula Elite fanboy, that's hard to admit!

I have a 5 year old Steez SV TW on an NRX 852c. The SV spool is great for skipping lures like wacky/Neko worms. However it struggles to get much distance casting light lures. A true BFS reel will give you smooth, great distance casting, but I would never skip with one either. It’s a trade-off…

Here's a recent photo of a friend of mine (expression enhanced for effect) but you get the idea. He freed a hook that came back so fast he thought the guy next to him hit him on a backhanded cast. Had it been in the eye, he would have probably lost his sight. I wear sunglasses 90% of the time (plastic lenses) for this reason. The other 10% that I don't is because I'm launching at sunrise and can't see well enough to wear dark sunglasses. However, am planning to get some either yellow or clear lenses next for early mornings...

This is an interesting situation as it relates to tetanus. As a fisherman who gets stuck with hooks, metal tools, etc. from time to time I have always had a tetanus shot every 10 years. I’m at about 8-9 years when I went in to get antibiotics for my recent infection and I brought up if I should get a tetanus booster. My doc said I could if I want but the recent research over the past 10 years indicates to get the vaccination as a child but not necessary as an adult. Another report says to get a booster every 30 years, not 10. Crazy eh?

A friend of mine is a pretty well known walleye guide in Minn. He had some clients from Iowa each year that wanted to keep the occasional rock bass they would catch as by products to the walleyes. He just said “whatever” and cleaned them for his guests. After a few years they asked why he the guide didn’t keep/eat the rock bass and he was like “no way,” but if you guys want them I’ll gladly clean them for you. Fast forward, they finally talked the guide into at least trying rock bass, mix them in with other species and see if you notice the difference. He prepared walleye, perch and rock bass cutting them into similar sized pieces. Pan-fried, deep-fried… he could not tell the difference and eats them on a semi-regular basis now. I think you can eat them, but just be sure to check for worms (like any other species) when you clean them..

The reels are likely better/different now. 7-8 years ago, I bought three different Lew's LFS reels over a bout a 2 year period. Good price, casted well, decent value. The downside was - each of them started squealing after about a year and a half of use. Added lube myself a few times, then took them to a shop to be serviced, etc... and they just seemed to dry out a screech again and again.

Minnesota Twins to open the 2025 season with Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis and Brooks Lee on the IL? Last year they were on the field at the same time for a combined 17 games…

This ^ I’ve had to adjust going from a traditional bass boat to a kayak. You can’t take a step back and lay the wood to them like on a boat. It’s more of a lean back, or sweeping hookset. I’ve also converted a handful of my rod/reels from straight fluorocarbon to braid/leader so there’s no stretch when setting the hook.

I’ll just offer one additional perspective… If there are rocks for either the shaky head or finesse jig head to get stuck in… I switch to a Neko. The flexible nose where the lead is buried is less likely to get wedged between rocks.

I'll agree Darth - I too caught my kayak PB at 24 inches a couple weeks ago. Frankly, the catch process was a ***** show blamable primarily on angler error (aka "me"). But kayak fishing presents extra challenges over a boat (I'm sure you canoe-ists have many of the same issues). Nets are a huge PIA in a yak - they get in the way and stuck to everything you don't want them to. I reached for the net while trying to land my 7 pounder and a rod/reel combo with treble hooks got caught in the net and went overboard as I tried to scoop the fish (thankfully retrieved!). Then the fish dives under the kayak and comes out on the other side airborne (did this twice). And just as I'm getting ready to lip the beast, the line gets wrapped around the hook retriever notch on my paddle and pulls it in the water too. Should have lost the fish at least 3 times. It isn't always harder to another site in a kayak, but at a minimum I do think it deserves its own category as "Kayak PB." Nice catch Mr. Baiter !

Except maybe casting distance. The SV spool is great for skipping but limits range for sure.

I have both a Tatula 100 and Curado 70. In terms of pure casting distance - the Tatula 100 wins that dual easily. That "easier startup inertia" thing that Shimano touts in the MGL reels is over-stated IMO. In all other respects they are similar reels, palmable, quality, etc.

Thankfully I can't find any deals on the JDM sites for - Abu Garcia Zenon MG-LTX BFS Casting Reel. I really don't need it, shouldn't buy it, need something more practical, etc... must resist ~ help

Doc recommended I have a small bottle of hydrogen peroxide in the boat - put it on, let it foam up. Then rinse with clean water and apply some 2% Mupirocin Ointment USP. Best defense against infection and/or Staph. I have both in my kayak now!