Dye99

There used to be a company that made a rubber net that hooks wouldnt get tangled in, that actually flipped out when you grab it. I saw it on Kayak bassin' but the company no longer makes them. I have since just gone to a fish grip...It just seems easier for me to deal with than a net that ALWAYS gets snagged and in the way.

Yea I get lazy, and stop paying attention. A good hit, or fish changes the game, but afterwards I have to remind myself to slow my retrieve as I tend to get pumped up anticipating the next one!

TW accepts paypal. And its hooked to my business acct. Divorce diverted!

Of course I could. But Im busy lately beating Michael Jordan at basketball to even come close to having the time.

So many great boats out there, to the point where there really isn't a definitive answer to your question that doesn't base itself on personal preference. Start doing some research based on price, your size, your fishing, and customization needs. You should be able to narrow it down a little from there. Everyone will have a choice, so its like asking whats better ford or chevy. Personally, Im a Ford, Wilderness systems type of guy!

I use 30b braid with no backer. I just tie the line through one of the spool holes so there is no slippage. Been doing it that way for years and years, never had an issue.

Yea Im with the longer rod crowd in my yak....The only time I use anything under 6'6 is if Im trout fishing streams that I have to hike in, or Im taking my kids out...

I fish twice a week usually, sometimes 3 times, usually catching a 3-5 pounder a week among all the other smaller ones. Now even with the 1-2 tournaments I do a year and a bank fishing days during the season I usually keep, Nothing. Catch and release helps keep our lakes filled with large fish. Besides, when I decide to eat fish, I go throw the meps around for trout.

Here in Cal, its starting to get cooler so the shad are showing themselves, so for me its Crankbaits, jerk baits and spinner baits.. Lucky craft 100 Strike king 5 and 6 series deep divers War eagle spinner baits with trailer hook

I live here. And the laws that are passed are a joke. I don't pay attention to many of them now, so Cali can go to hell, Im not going to start listening to them in the future.

Yup. Ive flipped my sit in's a few time screwing around, and had to jump off of my OK trident while standing in the wind, but my Wilderness boats are solid. Haven't even come close on the atak.....

Fish it. Dumping it isn't if but when. Just get out and use it. There is no other real guide to learning this sport outside of tie anything you don't want to lose to the boat and just have fun.

I live in Cali, and my main lake is in the sierra's and I fish year round in my yaks... My wet ass yaks stay in the garage though. Only the seated ones go out... Better fishing, less people.

Tourniquet for me is a belt. I take a small little kit in my pfd that has a band aid or two, aspirin, bacitracin, and the cheap little plastic tweezers. I fish a lot on my own, but really don't see the purpose of rolling with a 7 lb trauma bag for fishing... Gerber, knife, one MRE... The comment of "if you can think of it, bring it " just doesn't fly in a kayak. And the vet comment was even worse, if you knew anything about the hi tech, modern world of combat medicine, you would know anything from severed limb or gun shot would all the way to a sunburn can be solved with taking two ibuprofen and lots of water!!!

I too fish a ATAK....Love my boat...Seat in the high position and when Im standing does sail though! Ive got an anchor trolley on both sides of the yak but for me, I fish deep water in my local lake, so having an anchor at 60ft is not conducive to pin point positioning. I use a fish grip through the trolley far more to hook onto semi submerged trees. But with that said, I would humbly suggest that when it comes to wind fishing, to get a pattern of movement down rather than all the gadgets. I find my fish with electronics, then paddle into the wind past my spot in a way that lets me cast into the strike zone a dozen times as the wind moves me passed it. You can use the wind in your favor if you get it down and it will make you a better kayaker in general. The last tournament I did was two weeks ago, and I went against great fisherman who spent more time playing with their anchor trolleys, anchors and lines than throwing baits. And none of those guys did very well. It was pretty strong winds. Those of us who just kept it simple, used the wind to our advantage, and spent more time with lines in the water had better odds.. Not even mentioning without all that gear in your boat, you are lighter and can move farther and faster.

Ive owned a few nice bass boats, a few fun jon boats, and started fishing bass as a kid in a canoe... But Kayak fishing is for me, the best way to get deep down and personal. Got my first one in 06, and haven't tired of it yet. Im sure you are going to have a blast. Make sure to wear a pfd as already mentioned, take a few rods and reels, make sure everything is attached to the boat or is in arms reach for when ya dump it in the drink! But with that said there is only one real safety tip that hasn't been mentioned yet in this thread. Make sure after your first trip to hide your wallet, as it not only is addictive its expensive! Have fun!

I have one, and Im selling it on eBay at the moment...Not really impressed sadly. I really love their energy bait casters, so I naturally figured that if I went with the tour it would be far better due to its price. In my experience it was not so. Maybe I just got a bad one.

Yea my topwater bite with the whopper didn't last that long...Fun while it lasted though!

White or yellow on cloudy days. Black at sunset or darkness, and bluegill every other time... Blades switch up a lot, but I try to use a spinner with both willow and colorado , and both brass and silver, except for my night time then I just want thumpers, and black.

I agree with every water being different...For me, my main lake is rock, with a ton of timber...So fall means one thing, deep diving crank baits... Strike king 5x and 6x in shad patterns are my go to.

It changes throughout each season for me. Summer Im a evening guy. Fall I love to hit the water around 2pm, Winter are all day trips, and spring spawn its nice and early!

Im a yak guy, but I usually pick up a new kayak every few years to keep up with the industry.... I don't sell them off though, Ive found that owning a grip of boats comes in handy when you want to take friends out yak fishing... Its good to be an admiral in a plastic navy!

Ive done a few experiments with my local favorite lakes, and in the end, I caught the same amount of fish basically with a straight 30b braid and with a tied on leader. But the funny thing was, although I caught the same amount roughly, I didn't lose anything on the braid, I lost at least 10% when using a leader. So for me, I just run straight braid, and have no issues at all except my drop shot rigs and a spin cast rig, then I run a leader for sure.

Good luck! Keep us posted! Wish I was fishing it as well....Im a Parker county / Weatherford guy myself, miss those Texas fish!

Im packed and ready to do some big water tonight. Ill be out for the blood moon.