Dye99

I pretty much ONLY fish out of kayak. I use a YakAttack black pack box in the rear of my Wilderness boat. Inside I take smaller plano boxes with Terminal, Jerkbaits, jigs, spinner baits, cranks and topwater. Throw in whatever bags of soft plastics I think Ill be using and Im off. Also mounted 6 of their rod holder tubes to the box as well, so it works as its own rod storage while on the water.

Agreed. The standing is awesome in the ATAK...And Im sure its different for everyone, but the amount of fish I get a proper hook set on is so much higher when standing.

I fished my ATAK two seasons now. The seat is the selling point for me. I went out the last two mornings at 4 am till noon, and the ability to stand, and even better sit comfortably is a blessing. Having owned a handful of boats over the years Ive learned that all the other aspects of the yak can be dealt with. Its a giant plastic boat so in the end there are going to be things I don't like.

I don't keep bass. I fish for the sport, so everything goes back. But if I was to one day decide to eat bass, I would not eat the old fat scared up ones, Id want the younger ones. As long as its legal then its not my business.

NRS...

Drift socks do help...I like them because I fish for BASS, so using an anchor just doesnt make sense to me, Im out there to HUNT fish, so that means moving constantly. They will let you drag in the wind, but for me, I fish a lot of wood, so they are problematic.. The drift sock slows you down, but in the end, us Cen Cal guys are having a tough year. My main lake has been so windy its been hard to get any finesse or jig action without using really heavy baits. All these storms are calming down finally though, so hopefully we see more calm days..

If I did what your doing I would have broken my neck by now!! I fish year round here in Cali, three times a week during the warmer months. I fish three different lakes. What Ive found is every day when I come home and put my kayak in the shop, I write what I caught, where, and with what on my calendar. The cool thing is I put them on the wall next to each other, and its really amazing how every lake has the same patterns year after year....

Everyone is different. I prefer to use straight 10 pound braid. But for my water conditions its perfect. I find my best results are throwing a wacky rigged net bait/yamamato into the weeds, and toolies..So I broke off too many times with a leader...

Yup, another huge Abu fan here....I have a few of their reels, and love em...

I have 12 lucky fishing rods, does that count?

Depends on the person. I know a guy who runs a guide service as well as counter work at the local bait shop. He is awesome. Another just wants to sell stuff to people who don't know better. Him not so much. But I still stop in and put a few bucks into something, hooks, bag of plastics, braid, whatever because no matter how much I laugh at some of the counter jockeys, we have to support our small stores...God help us when its only bass pro, and cabela's....

I either have, or have owned all of the above. I started downsizing years ago, and ended up fishing a canoe. Thankfully the new style fishing yaks started coming out as fishing out of a canoe on big lakes is like herding cats with a lazer pointer and a blindfold on. I chose a kayak just for the ease of use. I want to fish, and kayaks can just be thrown in the water at any time, are stainable, and can rig all the same electronics easily.

I use a keitech swimbait trailer on my chatter baits...Works really well for me.

For me, bass fishing is about movement, and since I don't fish any rivers, I don't use anchors.. I do although use a fish grip with paracord tied to it to grab a tree in high winds..

So many different situations for braid and leaders... You can't say one is right or wrong, only what works for you. For ME, Ive used a leader for dropshot, and to prove my point, cut it, and ran 15 pound straight braid, and still out caught those with me. There are no set rules in bass fishing, thats what makes it so interesting.

I use braid on every rod and reel I own. On my dropshot and shakey head I do use a leader on occasion, but every other style gets braid from 10-30lb.

http://www.austinkayak.com/products/16311/T-Reign-Retractable-6&quot-Fishing-Pliers-with-Track-Mount.html

I go home, watch youtube videos, order more stuff from tackle warehouse, and plan my next attack...And complain. A lot of complaining.

Very cool.

All my regrets have to do with Women, Whiskey, and air strikes... I don't keep bass, but have no regrets about the trout that met their demise with my cornmeal and frying pan.

I grew up in Texas bass fishing. I gave it up for a few years while away, and when I came home I was diagnosed with PTSD. By accident I found that something Id been doing most of my life was actually a form of therapy. Calming, quiet, a challenge, and just downright fun. I spend 1-3 days a week in a kayak, chasing these d**n fish by myself and it has an amazing calming effect with every other aspect of my life. Now Im getting my oldest son involved, and I thank God for what bass fishing has done for my family and I. Tight lines!

Good luck hat

In my local lakes, the large splashes are carp...But like posted above, Ive thrown a topwater bait and its paid off...

Funny you say that. As I basically used one for a day, fell in love, then picked one up... Next thing you know, I have 4 of them! Awesome rods!

I would humbly suggest that instead of listening to multiple people on the internet, who are all in different places Id go out and see what your lake and fish tell you. I constantly see yak fisherman come to my local lakes, with ten poles, boats rigged to the hilt and every type of gear that can fit on a boat yet rarely catch anything. It seems that hard work, covering water, throwing baits and researching time of year, and the waters has been surpassed by getting the best, or most gear on the yak. Your lake will tell you what to haul. Take a topwater/cranking rig, and a finesse rig. Then decide what works and what doesnt, adjust accordingly, tight lines!