the reel ess

The story says the chemicals have leeched into the country's drinking water. So what's the point of avoiding fish for a chemical you already have in you? Of course, there are other contaminants.

The Trion fits into this category for $40. $30 for the smallest one.

You can certainly buy kayaks with a built-in skeg instead of a rudder that can be steered. I have two such boats.

I thought War Eagle was high at $8

Shiners are heartier baitfish. And trophies grow on a diet of shiners.

Lately, I've started "trolling" for crappie with down rods. I don't think I could find an affordable trolling motor for the kayak that will go slow enough. I am on the cheap side. No electronics. I have a milk crate and some rod holders I just bought.

It can be almost as cheap or as expensive as you want to make it. Get a Hobie, a trailer, electronics, a tow vehicle, etc. and you've paid for a cheap used boat.

I fish a place like this where the bluegill are large and they're just competing with bass for minnows. You could remove as many bass as possible to get the balance back. In fact, in a pond you should remove 25 lb min. of bass per acre per year when it's balanced, even more when the balance gets out of whack toward the bluegill.

They're probably eating bluegill. If it's cold, it can be hard to find any baitfish, though they're in there. That's usually the first thing I look for when I get to a small body of water. A lot of active small fish in the shallows means the bass should chase a lure. If it's cold and I see none, I suspect a slower presentation is in order.

Snapping turtle, twice, under the same tree, on two separate trips. I was certain I had hooked the monster of the lake, the 10+ I've always dreamt of. Just an average sized snapping turtle. I've had to snatch a topwater away from an owl a couple of times and a frog from a snake that was sizing it up. My ex-monster in law "accidentally" threw a Zebco combo so far off the dock once that it was irretrievable. I caught it a few years later with a deep diver.

I have no experience with either. I like to paddle for the exercise unless it's windy. Looks like you can't go wrong with either at those prices. Just looking at them I'd say the Old Town Sportsman looks superior quality. read reviews carefully and on different sites. LOL. I actually have a 2008 Silverado 4WD. The thing operates like it's new. So I carry the kayak in the bed. But it has a hitch. I actually bought the truck because I got my old V6 2WD stuck on a private boat ramp once and determined it would never happen again. Now I don't own that boat. I kick myself occasionally for selling it.

Take it from a guy who's currently using a 10 footer, I'd rather have 12 footer. They track better. My last one was a 12. I wanted the stadium seat and cheaped out on the length. Here's what I have. Only changes to it, I have added two flush mount rod holders. Those molded in ones are trash. And I strapped a milk crate with PVC pipe rod holders zip tied in. I can stow 8 rods. https://www.academy.com/p/perception-pescador-pro-100-10-ft-6-in-fishing-kayak?sku=10-green-black If you can get out and stretch every hour or two, that will relieve a lot of the butt/back stress from a molded-in seat like the one you're looking at..

I fished a nature preserve that's about 20 miles from home late last summer. This place has at least 6 ponds/small lakes you can fish. I fished the lake that had the paved boat ramp. It was extremely weedy and about 85% of it was 2-3' deep. I caught several fish on a weightless Senko. They weren't going for the frog. But after I took out, I drove around the place and looked at the other ponds. I found one way better and off the beaten path. I'm going to hit it up as soon as it's warm in the early morning (April).

Too many irons in the fire right now. LOL. I bought a 1981 Z28 back in September that takes my "spare cash". I have a laundry list of things I want/need to do to it and have only marked off 3.

Lake Wateree, SC is about 20 miles from here. My family had a house there from before I was born until a few years ago. There are three small bait shops and one marina on my side of the lake. I love to walk into a place and smell the minnow tank in a place where you can also get a cheeseburger or chili dog. I know that's disgusting, but I associate that smell with so many good days in my youth. And these people will tell you exactly what the fish have been biting (yesterday of course). Luckily, there aren't enough people there or cities nearby to justify any big chains moving in. Whoever purchases for the local Dick's (45 miles away) doesn't seem to know what species we have nearby and they're seasonal and have to clear out for hunting season. But, for this reason, they always have some baits on deep clearance. Walmart is always out of what I want or they don't even carry it. I want specific brands in specific sizes and colors and won't settle for whatever power buy they have. I mean, try to find a gold shiner spinnerbait in Walmart. They force mfgs to provide merchandise at discounted wholesale. Thus, you're possibly buying an inferior product. Their exclusive Norman's DD cranks used to come apart if you hooked a striper or big cat. They would take the back hook off and keep swimming. Plus I just HATE going into Walmart. I drove 20 miles there one night because I was fishing the next day and my boat drain plug broke. They had an empty box on the shelf. Doesn't matter how cheap they are if there aren't any. I went home and rigged mine back up with a washer and nut and bought a new one the next day at the mom & pop on the lake.

I've been doing it over a decade. I'm 52. I feel it now. But how else am I going to get into a 2 acre backyard pond for $800? A tube, maybe??? As I get older, I think more and more I want a jon boat with a casting deck, but we live in town and I'm already short on space. Honestly, standing up all day doesn't feel much better to me than kayaking.

Just my $.02 here. That kayak looks to be in fine condition. But that seat will wear you out after a couple hours. You'll be lifting your butt off the seat to get some blood in it and your legs. And your lower back will be sore through the next day. Find one with a stadium style seat, preferably one that sits up a bit. Go to a kayak shop and sit in different models. You'll be glad you did. And adjustable foot pegs are a bonus. Now, if you only fish a couple of hours it will suffice. I'd offer le$$ though. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=kayak+stadium+seat&atb=v314-1&iax=images&ia=images&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.shopify.com%2Fs%2Ffiles%2F1%2F1778%2F5045%2Fproducts%2FStadium_Seat_for_BigGame_Pro_and_Pedal_Pro_front_other_angle_2048x2048.jpg%3Fv%3D1576109347

Scrape off the numbers. Or better yet, put a sponsor sticker over them. I'm all about the cheap fix. ?

Probably felt it with the lateral line

The bass heard all that bass.

I bought a 1981 Z28 back in September. It has a detachable face radio. The face has stayed in the dash since I bought it. I took a cruise with the wife today. She said I need to get that radio going. I told her to listen to "the music of my people" coming from the car. As for fishing, I never listen to music. I'm out there to find some peace. I might miss the sound of a fish chasing bait.

I've owned 3 MBs. One finally gave up the ghost. I sent it to BPS to be repaired. They called and said they didn't have parts for it. They offered me a refurbished Johnny Morris Carbonlite less than half a new reel cost and I said sure. Other than color and cosmetic differences, it could be the same reel. I also bought 2 Lew's LFS reels. I love them. One is my jig reel because I got an 8.1:1 model.

I don't usually bring it up to someone who I know doesn't care. If someone asks me I'll gladly engage them. Sometimes people will ask a complicated question and I'll try to answer without them getting the 100 yard stare. You know when you're getting too technical.

If only I could catch them often enough to callous. I fished 6 hours, two days in So FL with a guide for bass and peacocks. They turned my hands to hamburger. I told the guide he needed to keep some golf gloves in the boat. I discovered a good remedy: Chap Stick. But yeah, I love coming home with an excruciating case of bass thumb.

Aside from being a good husband and father yet again this last year I caught an 8 lb. even bass pitching a junebug Ocho stick worm.