Turtle135

I agree that the snakeheads are not an ecological disaster. They are a niche species on the Tidal Potomac. I strongly suspect that the blue catfish are a greater ecological threat to the fishery. However, a big snakehead north of 10 pounds is going to bully a largemouth out of a prime feeding location if it so chooses. I wish they were not here as they are in no way shape or form "good" for the largemouth fishery. IMHO the major problem that largemouth bass experience on the Tidal Potomac is the lack of suitable spawning areas.

I have the KC Welder tool. Take a look at this youtube video. I have repaired several kayaks with cracks in the nose and in the keel using the wire mesh. In my opinion, if you take your time and do it right the repaired area is stronger than the rest of the kayak. I have welding iron if you want to borrow it for the repair. If you want to go that route PM me and I will drop it in the mail to you. p.s. - when you do a repair you do want to heat up the polyethylene on the kayak so that the existing poly mixes and blends with the repair poly.

I use the plastic fish grip on a 4' tether of paracord. I do not use it to land a bass. I just clip the bass and let her swim while I get my board and camera ready. Get on the board quick, snap the photo and then back into the drink.

I think you are on the right track particularly if you are targeting larger bass. Minimize and master a limited number of big fish presentations.

Actual breaking strength is a whole nuther story. I know Trilene XT way overtests what it is rated as. The thinner the line the more of a factor even the slightest abrasion becomes. My Bass Pro still carries Sensation (and it looks like they offer it online). http://www.basspro.com/Berkley-Trilene-Sensation-Line/product/1307090631035/

Are you looking for better casting distance with light lures or just more lure action with lighter line? I find the best way to evaluate monofilament line is to ignore the pound test and take a look at the diameter of the line. A lot of the diameter information can be found in the description on Tackle Warehouse. .015" - Big Game 12 pound test .015" - Trilene XT 12 pound test .013" - Trilene XL 12 pound test .012" - Trilene Sensation 12 pound test I do find I get longer casts with light lures using Sensation on a baitcaster. I suspect I also get a more natural drop with a light jig on that thinner line.

Zona Live will hold you over until the new season starts

Rod: 7'1" Mojo Bass medium-heavy fast Reel: Lew's SuperDuty Speed Spool Baitcast Reel Line: Trilene XT Monofilament, 14 or 17 pound test in clear Knot: Uni Bait: 3/8th ounce Grid Iron Arky Jighead from Seibert Outdoors, Round Rubber Skirt, Baby Paca Craw as the trailer

I wear one all the time. I will even wear one in the dead of winter to keep a biting cold wind off my face. There are a lot of different brands and not all are equal in terms of comfort and breath ability. I have only tried 3 different brands but the one I like is made by "Hoorag". https://www.hoorag.com/

Yes, I catch them while bass fishing. My personal experience is that you find them shallower than the bass once the water warms up. Black&blue swim jigs with some thump in the trailer work best for me.

This is correct. A side imaging transducer needs to ping out to each side, so it needs a clear shot. My Tarpon 130x has a second transducer scupper where a side imaging puck could be installed (but even installed there the transducer needs to be able to be extended below the kayak to get that unobstructed side view).

No doubt side imaging is a great asset to have. However the OP is fishing from a kayak on a smaller body of water and IMHO having that oversize side imaging transducer hanging below your kayak (where it has to be to function) is a PITA. Also, side imaging does come at a price. As I mentioned, the Dragonfly is probably a throw in to sweeten the deal on the kayak package. He is not investing a lot into that fish finder. I have buddies who bass fish from kayaks and they like having SI so much they are willing to put up with a cumbersome transducer arrangement. I have a greater number of kayak fishing buddies who opted to not go with SI. Me, I am more of a minimalist out on the water.

I think the down scan will work just fine. I have a Humminbird and have found that I keep mine in the down imaging setting virtually all the time. I also am looking at depth, water temperature and I am looking specifically for depth changes, weed lines, brush and logs on the bottom. I am more looking for conditions that ought to hold bass rather than marking fish. In shallow water you usually do not mark a lot of fish because as the previous poster pointed out the cone of coverage in shallow water is not very large. Assuming they are throwing this fish finder in the package without a whole lot of markup I would go with it. Fish finders can always be upgraded down the line as technology gets better and prices go lower.

Yes, with those water temperatures your bass are likely in post spawn (they have already laid the eggs and the eggs have hatched). The bass will guard the hatched fry for a couple of days. The bite in post spawn can be hit or miss. The bass can be non aggressive while they regain the strength that they exerted during the spawning process. On my waters I look for breaks (depth changes on the bottom contour) and cover near the spawning areas. The majority of the bass have not moved to off shore summer haunts just yet.

I have become a jig addict and when I just can't talk the bass into eating a manly sized jig this presentation keeps me happy and the bites coming.

A 4" Yamamoto Double Tail Hula Grub on a 1/4 ounce jig head. The bass were acting funky with the cold front that came through this weekend. This finagled me a few bites.

This is a foolproof method for controlling that binge buying. Go to this website and just start throwing everything and anything you have ever wanted into your cart. http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/ No, wait a minute, that seems to have the opposite effect to what was intended.

Greg Hackney (Bass Master Elite Series Pro) will try to use a punching jig whenever he can as he feels he will get more of those bass into the boat after he hooks them. However a texas rigged punching bait will go in and out of that heavy cover cleaner. I too lean towards using a jig whenever I can get it in and out of that cover with out collecting weeds.

Have you ever seen anyone trying to paddle a Pro Angler? A buddy of mine brought his to Mattawoman Creek (Tidal Potomac River tributary). It was a nightmare at low tide!

What kind of waters do you fish most of the time? The hands free pedal option is great to have in certain situations. I fish a lot of shallow weedy waters (Tidal Potomac) and shallow ledge rock (Upper Potomac and Susquehanna) where a paddle is the only way to go.

Rileys Lock does have some good fishing but IMHO the best fishing there (down river in Seneca Breaks) is not mirage drive friendly. Edwards Ferry also has a boat ramp with decent smallmouth bass fishing up and down river from the launch. Edward Ferry: http://webapps02.dnr.state.md.us/MDPublicWaterAccess/ShowWaterAccessToPublic.aspx?PKintKeyID=204 Maryland Boat Ramps: http://dnr.maryland.gov/boating/pages/water-access/boatramps.aspx Good luck!

I am a Trilene XT fan as well. Probably has something to do with having fished with monofilament for decades before fluorocarbon arrived on the scene. I truly detest breaking off fish (still angry about a smallmouth that broke my 6 pound test back in 2002) and there are any number of ways to damage flouro. It is just not for me and would not offer any significant advantage for 95% of the fishing I prefer to do.

mud darter? http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/home/Default.aspx?tabid=605&FishID=89 or maybe central mudminnow? http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/home/Default.aspx?tabid=605&FishID=34

Oh I remember "Prime" cofilament alright! Not so fondly however. The core and the sheath would start to separate over time. I remember watching it happen out on the water one day and thinking to myself "what the H?". If I remember correctly it would begin to degrade just sitting on the shelf so the next season all that brand new line at retail outfits had to be recalled. Stuff was worse than flourocarbon!

Flouro and me do not play well together. I am getting old, I don't think we are ever going to get along. Have you ever tried Trilene XT? I much prefer the strength of XT over XL. The only time I use XL would be for something very light on a spinning reel.