the reel ess

Check your rod guides. Sounds like one, probably the tip, had either something abrasive stuck on it or the eye itself is damaged.

The real answer is 5. But I usually pack 6-7, 8 when I think I might want to catch panfish. Truth told, I could usually only take 3 combos and catch the same quantity of fish. But which 3? Since I'm in a kayak, having a rod for each technique is helpful. I have a reel getting worked on right now. When it comes back, I won't have the correct rod for whatever technique I want to use it for. Thus, I will need another rod soon.

Catch one on a worm, then cut it open. Eat it of course so you aren't just wasting a bass. Craws are almost certainly on the menu. That said, I catch a lot of fish on things that don't resemble the natural forage. And a lot on things that do.

The first shaky head worms I got (a coworker just handed me a pack) were some version of purple. They worked well. In the Trick Worm I like bubblegum, limetreuse, pumpkins and watermelons. I'm not a firm believer that color matters a whole lot. The first time I tried the shaky head I caught a 6 pounder. You can use all kinds of thin worms on a shaky head. I've used the Zoom Ultravibe Speed Worm with success. A Zoom UV Craw works well in one too. Just have to size the hook for the bait.

Granted, this is not an ideal fishing kayak. Your dislike for kayaks is well documented. Show me on this doll where the kayak hurt you.

My advice with this kayak is either change out the seat or pad the one in it. After a couple of hours it will torture you. I'd remove one of the seats and center the other one if possible. A couple of flush mount rod holders would be a must. I don't have one but I understand sit in kayaks are not easy to enter and exit. So whatever you can do to stow a couple of rods would help a lot. Good luck.

After buying mine I watched a YouTube video of a big bass destroying the bait. That would suck. With shipping and tax it cost over $35. I haven't used mine yet.

Split shot above a small finesse worm will get you bit. My buddy caught a 9 lb that he has on his wall with a Zebco 33, split shot rig with a "do-nothing" worm, the kind with the 2 open hooks. That was the 90s. All these years and dollars later, he has yet to improve on that PB.

I like your boat. As I age I'm starting to desire a jon boat. As for the question...I used to have a fish and ski boat. When my dad still had his place on Lake Wateree, SC I would take the boat over on a Thursday or Friday evening. I'd launch it and make sure it ran fine. I'd get up with the chickens and go out only to find someone was almost always already at the spots I wanted to fish. I could throw a dart at a map and try that spot it and someone would likely be there. There was a time when you could go on a Monday or Friday and have the lake to yourself. That was the 80s. And the people you encounter on the lake have very little manners anymore. So I tired of the rat race of the big lake and the boat ramp and the maintenance on a boat and competing with fleets of bass boats for 2 lb bass. It really seemed to be a bad fish per dollar investment. I bought myself a $500 kayak and started fishing smaller and private bodies of water. I started catching many bigger bass and I was hooked, all puns intended. I've owned 4 kayaks, total. I sold my boat as I live in town and don't really have room for a bass boat. Now I get exercise while enjoying my favorite passtime. I get a real thrill from a 6-7-8 pounder dragging my kayak around. And you're down there on the level with the water. It's like hand-to-hand combat. I don't think I caught a bass larger than 5 lbs. when I fished Wateree and I fished it since I was old enough to hold a pole. I don't miss it now that my parents are gone. I would still go with someone else. But it's not my bag. I have one fishing buddy with a Bass Tracker that I will occasionally fish with. But I am my favorite fishing partner. Solitude is priceless these days. I sold a boat because I enjoy the kayak more. I mean you can spend a lot on a kayak, electronics, rigging etc. As much or more than a jon boat.

Thanks and yes, I do.

Thanks for the advice. Looks like I need another frog rod.

LOL. All righty.

I just received this lure today in crappie pattern. It was more than I'd ever spent on any lure, but I treated myself for my birthday. I bought it because my buddy, who crappie fishes, said twice lately he has had a big bass attack a crappie he was reeling in. I have it tied on my rog rod with 50# braid and a 20# mono leader. It's a 2 oz. lure. I think this is probably sufficient, though not ideal, but at some point I'll want to throw the frog. Give me some suggestions for a $100-150 rod for this technique. Also, any other advice on the soft swimbait would be helpful. Thanks.

I too travel light. 57 lb. kayak, free crate with rod holders zip tied in, 5 or so rods, paddle, phone for pics, a few bags of soft plastics, pliers, scissors and scale, and a Plano box of topwaters.

I would think someone had the property surveyed because I've seen people doing this. A C-rig, FB jig and a blade bait are my electronics (kayak).

Yeah, seems like the big ones just slurp a topwater unless it's moving fast.

I have hardly used any GYCB Senkos. I've used Big Bites Trick Sticks, Yum Dingers and SK Ochos with pretty good results. I have some Hula Grubs, but even they tear too easily.

Bitters has them $35/100 count and the colors are not limited. According to what I've seen on YT, you can't tell the difference. https://www.bittersbaitandtackle.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=179_176&product_id=335 They probably all work. I like lighter, brighter colors for wacky and darker ones like black/blue and junebug for flipping/pitching. But that's just me. I could probably swap them and do just as well.

Even if I caught a limit and you can't cull fish, I want to C&R them until time's up.

I wouldn't say that. But you can get a feel for how hard a guide is working if the bite gets slow and he's rigging up two more rods for you to try different things. That was the experience I had with a So FL guide. I invited him to fish with me because I was alone. But instead, he spent most of his time going through his arsenal to keep me catching. And it worked. I tipped well. My dad and I fished with a striper guide who wanted us to limit out so he could go home. The bite was on the down rods and he would grab the rod, set the hook and hand it to us. So I set up shop next to the down rods and started catching my own. We caught 13, including a big bass. But it didn't feel like it was worth the cost. We went 2 places and he said he was out of locations. I can't remember what we tipped. It was 30 years ago.

When fishing early, I forego the coffee and drink about 1/3 of a 5 Hour Energy. I take water with me and sip until it's gone. When I'm finished I head home and hydrate.

I use a 7'3" XH-XF Cabela's Tournament XT frog-specific model rod and I don't have any trouble launching the Pad Crasher. It's the standard size frog. In fact, it's my favorite frog. It is a little more difficult to sidearm under things because the tip is so stiff. In the cooler months I use it as a second jig rod, mostly for deep fishing. Maybe try adjusting your reel's cast control a bit looser.

The latter will get more bites. But big ones will still bite it. The way I choose what to tie on my pitching stick is, if they aren't biting the jig, try a T-rigged craw. If they won't bite that, rig it with a worm of some kind. If they don't want that, they probably are not present in that cover. Lately I've been considering a toad on a plain Arky weedless jighead. Show 'em something they aren't used to seeing.

I have a 60 and a bunch of 90s and 110s. The bigger you go the less they spin. As mentioned, make sure there is no vegetation wrapped at the tail. If it's spinning freely, you can limit the spin by keeping your rod tip as high as possible when you start the retrieve on a long cast and by making shorter casts. I find the spinning stops when the line is off the water. The way I usually deal with it is to just use the 110 size.

This is true. The number of bites goes down. The quality goes up. I believe the jig intimidates most smaller bass, but big ones are not intimidated easily. The trick is to drop it in their mouth. They'll suck it in on instinct. For that to work, they have to be in the cover you're fishing. So there will be days you get no jig bites. You can mitigate the intimidation factor by pitching a T-rig. Lately, I haven't been able to buy a bite on a jig. But I have done well pitching a Tirigged Senko. I even caught an 8 on it.