MassYak85

I ended up shrinking my arsenal to the basics and switching to Tungsten this year in accordance with MA law. I definitely see (or should I say feel) the difference. However, I have used the steel and brass weights before and still have some. I think both are a decent alternative despite the larger size. I do find it strange that there aren't any (at least not that I've seen or found) brass jigs? They make weights out of the stuff but I've never heard of a brass bass jig being made.

Man they must have a ton of those they keep putting that sale back up.

I won't put it ahead of a frog but I will put it second. I had one tied on almost all of last summer and had some great days on it.

If it's not too windy I like a spinnerbait a lot. Topwater can also be very good. Last year I had some of my best days during the summer throwing a whopper plopper 130 in whitecaps. Lipless is another good option as you can still cast them a mile up wind and they are a good baitfish profile to fish wind blown banks. Usually I let the wind dictate where I fish more so than what I fish though. I still like bottom baits so long as I can keep in contact with them. Stuff like a dropshot I usually put away but I'll still fish a jig or t-rig in areas it seems like the wind may have blown some forage.

Are those the Tatula XT's? Still a killer price I would have snatched a couple too.

I think @Attila nailed it. I really like the 7'2" MHR for chatterbaits and spinnerbaits, swimjigs, topwaters and heavier cranks. It's definitely closer to a fast than a moderate. It would probably be a fast by some maker's standards. It's very versatile though. I don't have any true high end rods but the Tatula is my favorite that I have tried. I have a 7'2" HF for jigs and t-rigs as well and that one is probably my favorite of the two but I use it for mostly bottom contact and it's noticeably faster than the Regular rated rods.

For swim jigs and chatterbaits I use 30. For general jigs for casting/pitching to cover or dragging on the bottom I use 40lb. But I think depending on how thick your cover is 50 could be justified as well.

Well after hearing about them forever and getting a stupid good deal from dicks (20 bucks each)...I caved

Nah man that's great. Usually firsts posts are someone new just asking a bunch of questions, rarely do I see information being shared in a first post.

I'll have to try that, I'm sure the yummy juices from the bugs will be a nice scent attractant.

Personally I've had my best success by just breaking open a couple glow sticks into my spool and letting the braid soak it up. No way the fish can miss it.

@Janderson45 Oh man, they're STILL not on beds at Webster? Last time I was there in late April they definitely weren't close but the water temps around then were high enough I figured it would only be a couple more weeks.

I fish either yellow or green braid. If I'm going straight braid it's always green. I use yellow for line watching but always with a leader.

Yea definitely sit in them. If I had to do it all over I'd probably go the 12ft SOT route. It would suite the majority of my fishing better. I had my kayak before I got seriously into bass fishing so I've made it work, and it works well enough I can't justify a new one anytime soon. The only thing I think I'd truly miss is the little extra protection from the elements the sit-in gives me.

I'm in Virginia for the summer so my size odds are a little better than up north.

I can carry up to five but I usually have 3 or 4. The three that pretty much always come are a 7' MHF spinning setup with 15lb braid for stuff like weightless worms. A 7'2" HF baitcaster with 40lb braid for T-rigs, Jigs, frogs if I don't feel like bringing my frog rod. A 7'2" MHF baitcaster with 30lb braid for stuff like spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, topwaters.

I'll second this. You'll get a feel of what conditions you are comfortable in once you get the kayak, but make sure not to push the limits. I've been caught in 30MPH wind and whitecaps with and without outriggers, and let me tell you, without them I was seriously concerned enough to call it a day and carefully head for the ramp. Just know when it's time to call it a day. Same goes for inclement weather like thunder storms. On one occasion I had to ditch my kayak on the shore on the other side of the lake because of a thunderstorm. Make sure not to be in a situation that could turn south quick, like paddling to the middle of a big lake when you see a storm in the distance.

I caught a 5 lber that way after backlashing with a wiggle wart last year. Something about it just bobbing in the waves for 30 seconds and then quickly diving triggered it to bite.

Hearing that I probably will just stick with the 130 and hold off on the 110. If I get another it will probably be the 190 at some point.

x2, I have a real prey golden shiner and it's great. The way he paints them they won't peel like a hudd and they're the most durable soft plastic I've ever used.

I have never fished out of a sit-on-top but I do really like my sit in 10ft Ascend. I think it's nice I can store things in the cockpit and not worry about dropping them into the water if I need to move them around. I'm not sure where you're from but when I'm fishing in 30-40 degree temps I like to not have water splashing on me, which the sit-in helps with a little bit. But I'm not even sure if there is a sit-in made that you can comfortably stand from, which is where the fishing specific sit-on-tops shine. I definitely wouldn't go smaller than 10ft if I had to do it again, I'd probably opt for a 12ft one, but I'm not sure what your transport situation is. Yaks are nice because you can really modify them to suite your needs.

Yea I've done that too and it does a pretty good job.

Heh, good to know I'm not the only one struggling at Smith. I'm new to the area as well but have my kayak with me. I hear good things about smith, prince, western branch and some others but so far I have 2 bass to show for 3 trips. Definitely not what I'm used to back up north.

Only if you have a lure retriever

I have one and like it, I don't use poppers that much though, I probably should fish it more. It gives off a nice spit.