Junk Fisherman

Glad to see someone else say this. I too am more accurate casting my spinning rig. Granted, I throw a spinning rig considerably more than a baitcaster. I bet you change your mind in the future. I used a finesse baitcaster for the first time a couple weeks ago. I was surprised how much I liked it and I questioned why I'd want one a couple months back.

That makes sense.

Can someone post a list of the 10 things?

I had a Powerdrive on my last boat and it was great. Used and abused that thing for 15 years and it was still working when I sold the boat. I replaced the petal twice.

I thought I was the outlier in not liking kayak fishing as much as others. It took me a dozen or so trips to get to where I started feeling comfortable fishing out of my kayak. I had to change my expectations and the way I fish. Overall, it will never compare to fishing out of my boat but I do value it as an option to do something different and for those times when my boat is out of commission. And like others, I get sore in my kayak after several hours and doing simple things like retying is much more difficult compared to fishing out of a boat. When I look at some of these decked-out, high-end kayaks with trolling motors sitting on trailers, I wonder why they don't just get a 14'-16' jon boat and put a casting platform on it.

It all depends on the wind. People take kayaks out there on calm days on other days they'll be 5' waves.

Set the hook faster. I can't recall ever gut hooking a fish on a Ned rig.

I do a pretty good job of selling rods/reels I no longer use. I'm really at the point where I don't need anything in addition to what I already have but I will upgrade. Sell an older rod and buy a new high-end replacement. Plus, I don't really have room to carry more in my boat. I already keep great stuff at home that I know I won't be using that day. Tackle- I've definitely gotten better at that and only buy what I know I'll use. I know what works and am not fearful of a slightly different color or brand outproducing what I already use. Granted, I have been buying for years so I have a helluva stockpile I am working from.

Very nice. My Yamaha has been great. Very reliable.

I completely agree. I bought my boat because I love big water smallmouth on the Great Lakes and I bought a boat ideal for that kind of fishing. But the reality is if it is too windy to fish relatively comfortably, I don't go out on the big water. I don't fish tournaments on big water so I never really push it. 1 time in 5 years I have been much happier that I was in my deep V on Lake Michigan compared to a bass boat but I still would have made it in that day in a bassboat. But there have numerous times I was shallow water largemouth fishing and wish I was closer to the water. So my next boat is probably going to be another 19'er but a bassboat.

Agreed. This is how their marketing warps our concept of what we "need." I caught lots of fish 20 years ago without side-imaging, forward-imaging sonar, spot-lock trolling motors, and shallow water anchors. But we see the videos and what others have and naturally want these items and then complain when a fully equipped bass boat costs 70K. I do the same thing but I am fighting it. I have been looking hard at Panoptix or Active Target sonar but am having trouble justifying paying for it. But I will say that a spot-locking trolling motor has definitely resulted in me catching more fish.

I want a bass boat instead of a multi-species deep V.

These companies set the price based on their costs and what the market will support. From the sound of it, boats are heavily in demand and there is not much negotiating off their price. I read either here or on another site that a buyer tried to negotiate a new boat down and the salesman laughed and said if he didn't buy it someone else would within 2 weeks. I get what you're saying. I don't love my boat and would like to buy new but there is no way I am going to in this market. It is easier for me just to be happy with what I have. Fish don't care what kind of boat you have. I've got a couple guys in my club with newer Nitros and they are very satisfied. Good looking boats too. Saving 10-20K over a comparable Basscat or Phoenix is a strong incentive to check out the Nitros.

This goes without saying for me. I always use a 6-8 lb leader. LOL- I am not one of these guys that say it doesn't matter if you use a leader. I fish clear water and I know it makes a difference. Sure, if you are fishing heavily stained to muddy water I can see how it doesn't matter but I am never fishing that color water. Sorry if I caused any confusion. 20 lb braid + an 8 lb fluorocarbon leader

Sounds like you would be better off with the 662 Fury or the 702. Both MN Fisher and I like a 1 power for Ned rigs but many, many guys prefer a 2 power so you can definitely fish a Ned with the 662. The 2 power is much more versatile than a 1 power. On average, I'd say the 2 power covers 80% of a fella's bass fishing spinning needs with the 1 and 3 power each covering 10%. I only use a 1 power for Ned rigs, very light swimbaits, and hair jigs. I use a Ned rig a lot but the other two presentations I rarely use. The 3 power I only use for cracking heavy tubes for smallmouth, stupid tubes, and skipping docks which is something I don't do much of anymore. I'd rather use a light baitcaster than a 3 power spinning rod anyways. The 2 power is perfect for all the other stuff I didn't mention. So make it easy on yourself, get the 662, some 20 lb braid, and you'll be all set. If you become a diehard Ned rig guy you can specialize with a 701 later on.

If you want an all-around finesse rod from Dobyns, the 2 power is what you want. I agree with Spro that the 1 power is better for 1/16 and 1/32 but for wacky, DS, shakey head, and Neko, a 2 power is better.

Small 4" swimbait on a jighead. I'll throw this right in the wind without problem. I also will use a 3/8th oz sinker on a dropshot. I did this last weekend with the swimbait when I was faced with 30+ mi/hr winds and did as well as I could have expected. Had a big fish come unbuttoned late in the day which would have given me a top 3 finish if I could have landed it.

I've read that article a couple times before. It helped me realize that I was using too big of a hook on the first round of Ned jigs I made. I did try the #4 hooks like he suggested but I prefer a #2. In regards to our conversation, Ned speaks of feeling any resistance the lure encounters. Sure, as the lure is in the water column you're not "feeling it" but you feel it on the bottom, when it comes into contact with vegetation, rocks, or wood, or if it gets bit. I have a 763 Champion and would never use that rod for a Ned rig since I would not feel a 1/16th jig and a TRD. Sure, I could watch my line but I love the feel of the lure I get with my Steez and 741. And I won't categorize their 1, 2, and 3 powers compared to all other rods since I have only used 3 spinning rods brands over the last 10 years and the Daiwa I have used is an outlier with a 1/16 to 3/4 lure weight. Dobyns's 2 power is very similar to St Croix's medium light.

Yeap. I use my 741 or my Steez AGS for my 1/16th oz Neds and they are very, very sensitive. I only use the 742 for 1/10th oz Neds, big TRDs, or as a secondary Ned rig combo. 10-15 lb braid makes it more sensitive as well.

I feel my Ned rig on the bottom and I feel hits. Granted, I am using a 741 or a 742. A 3 power is too much rod for a Ned rig. Are you using a 703 for a Ned rig? If so, I understand why you think it's a "no feel"

This. One of my goals this year was to always wear my life jacket with the kill switch attached whenever running. Been better but still forget sometimes (like yesterday). But to the OP's question- I attach the kill switch clip to a small carabiner that I attach to my life jacket.

This is what I thought of as well. I don’t think it is a silly thought. Some Ned rig guys will say how a red or chartreuse jig head outproduced a black head on a certain day.

Yes but it doesn’t matter sometimes

Have you seen how KVD and other pros work a jerkbait? I have watched quite a few videos and tutorials on this because it is the biggest hole in my arsenal.

Jerkbait I just don't feel comfortable fishing it. I smack the side of my boat too often and have little confidence in my ability to fish it.