Dye99

NED for me.... When I first tried them a few years ago I wasnt impressed but lately its become my favorite smallie bait. Love the ElaZtech trd... Im finding myself using the ned more than anything else..

caroline rig with paca craw...

I tie direct. In truth I didnt know using a swivel was still a thing. Hell Ive been fishing in tourneys, and alot of friends for many years and never seen anyone use a swivel outside of trout fisherman. Maybe Im missing something and should try it... Learn something everyday.

I am a kayak angler at heart. It just makes sense to me. in 2004 I was fishing in a canoe in Austin Texas and saw my first yak coming down the lake towards me. I stopped and spoke with the guy for a few minutes and he showed me his boat and told me he bought it in town at a little store called Austin Canoe and Kayak. I left that afternoon and went directly there and bought a Ocean Kayak Trident. Fished the hell out of that boat. Now its years later, countless tournaments, and thousands of hours in the cockpit. Ive gone through 5-6 different boats and these days I just stick with my Wilderness systems ATAK. But I fell in love with the freedom, the exercise, the low cost and just the simplicity of it. As a 50 year old bass fishing fanatic I really cant see my self fishing any other way. Once you learn to understand how the weather effects you, you will find that there is a true freedom that is good fo the soul in a kayak.

Im a big fan of the abu Revo Rocket...thing is super fast...Paired with a Cashion frog elite rod it will ski fish to the boat.

Yup, Yesterday. Frog fishing a local lake and as soon as the wind kicked up and the rain started they started smashing my frog. 7 fish within 45 minutes...All very nice largemouth...Then the storm hammered us. I dont think the fish mind since they are already wet but I got soaked. Worth it though..

Lake Pend Oreille. Its massive. Its full of fish and its dangerous. Twice this week I went out chasing smallies on blue skies and glassy water. Small clouds get closer and boom. Literally within 3 minutes you are in 4-5 ft breakers and violent winds. Both times this week I really was wondering if I was going to make it back to the launch. And BOTH times all my weather apps said I was good to go. Yesterday I even had a rod blow off the deck while I was trying to stow em... But the fishing is awesome.

I primarily throw live target, and Megabass 0neten's. I managed to find a orachi megabass ronin in 6"8 that Im about to pull the trigger on as well. Thanks for the help guys. I do enjoy learning about new tackle, great advice so far.

I use a dark sleeper for deep pools in my North Idaho lakes. Works really well. 3/4 ounce.

So Ive been using casting gear for jerkbaits for years with largemouth but lately Ive been fishing for smallies alot more. I tried a my senco finesse rod ( dobyns 703 with Abu garcia MGX ) and I was amazed at the amount of bites Ive been missing running bait casters with heavy braid and a leader. Completely different action. So Im running a Shimano vanford 2000 with 6-8 flouro but Im having a hard time finding a jerk bait spinning rod.. Anyone able to point me in the right direction? Thanks everyone.

Hey East Texas. Message me. Another Texas boy here, all about the LM till I got here a few years back. Been killing it with smallies so far this year. Ton of fun.

Dark sleeper has been killing it for me for the past week.

There is a freedom in a yak. I started bass fishing in Texas in a canoe. One year I was in Austin fishing and I spied a weird looking plastic boat with rods sticking up in the back. I paddled over and checked out his fishing kayak. Never seen before at that point. I immediately headed to Austin canoe and kayak and put some money down on a Ocean Kayak trident. That was 16 years ago. Ive owned 5 kayaks since that one. All but one purchased from ACK. Ive fished Arizona, Texas, California and now Idaho on a regular basis. The freedom, the peace, and the ability to sneak up on fish is my thing. Well that and now Im finding my son really enjoys it too and he is hooked. Bass boats are AWESOME machines but for me, I just feel more comfortable in a kayak.

Depends on the water Im fishing but usually 6 in the crate ( 3 bait casters, 3 spinning rods ) and a back up bait caster and a drop shot rig in the hull.

I use a ATAK so standing is a breeze. The thing is a barge. But Ive had a few other yaks over the years that were not so forgiving. Practice practice.

covid, everyone got free money, and the freeze in Texas hit the plastics manufacturing hard.

When Im in over fished areas, or the bite just drops off, I go to a 1/4 shakey head with a zoom 4 inch worm then fish nice and slow.

Another ATAK owner here. Awesome boats, wouldnt trade mine for anything.

I love the whopper plopper....Silent works best for me..

I would suggest something bigger than a 10ft.... Having owned a few lil yaks I can attest that they are really only good for ponds when compared to my Ride, OK or ATAK... Its easier to use a 14 ft boat in a pond than it is to use a 10ft on larger water.

Its all about personal preference. Which makes it hard to try out different rod makers since most shops only carry a few different brands so internet ordering is often the case. For me, I really like G loomis for my shakey head( 6'10" Mag-Med SHR822S ) drop shot ( 6'10" Med DSR822S ) and weightless finesse stuff ( Med Lt 801S JWR) Great backbone, and real sensitive.. But St Croix and Dobbyns are great choices as well as a plethora of others. The trick is to find what works best for you.

Zoom bluegill flash....My go to fluke....

Good hit? CRUSHED. Sneaky hit? Telegraphed.

Curado without a doubt.. I have a few quantums I use as loaners. Started our really nice and solid, now have become more rattle traps.

Ive got two, and love them. I think I paid retail for one, the other one I got a deal, but for me, they are well worth the money.