MassYak85

Try jigging them through the ice

I really like those 6th sense flat sides

Haha, I tried a higher number too just for laughs.

The difference in a 6.8:1 vs a 6.4:1 really isn't anything to get picky about, since the IPT between reels of the same gear ratio will also vary. One reels 6.8:1 might have the same IPT of another reels 6.4:1. Then it depends how much you fill up the reel too. If it was me I would just get a 7.1:1 for your jig setup, and a slower 5 or low 6 speed for your cranks.

I fish from a kayak the majority of the time and I usually make sure to have a rod for frogs (7' + HF), something for jigs and weighted plastics (7' MHF) and a versatile spinning rod (7' MF) for stuff like weightless plastics. I like to throw wacky rigs a lot.

Has anyone used either the HXF or the MHXF for frogs? Also if you use their discount code they have right now (HOLIDAY10) the price goes down to 72 with free shipping....veeerrry tempting

Question for any of you guys who use jigs. When the water gets this cold, do you go small or big with your jigs? Like a 3/32 kietech jig, or a 3/4 football? They are slow right now for sure so would a tiny one be more likely to draw a bite since it's so subtle, or should I use a bigger one since they will want to conserve energy and take advantage of a larger meal? Or should I just keep chucking my hudd 68 and crawling it on the bottom until it bounces off the ice?

7' MMF casting for smaller treble hook baits and cranks 7'3 MHF casting for jigs, rigged plastics, chatterbaits and spinnerbaits (not Ideal but I've done it and don't mind it too much), heavy topwaters, frogs etc. 6'10 MXF spinning for stuff like drop shots, ned rigs, shakeyheads 8'0 XH for swimbaits

Too much! I have a milk crate behind my seat in my FS10. I have PVC tubes tie-wrapped to it so I can have 3 rods behind me, and a net. Then I have the two stock rod holders that are recessed into the kayak. So I can bring 5 rods if I want to. The milk crate also is big enough for about 6 3700 boxes. As far as tipping and losing gear, I haven't ever tipped but I mounted those plastic eyelets to either side of the kayak where the rod holders are, and I have a short piece of bungee that I can wrap around the rod that's in the holder and then hook into a plastic hook I also mounted. For the tackle boxes in my milk crate. I also have a bungee that can hook over the top of the crate to keep them from falling out, and then I have a bungee on either side of the milk crate to keep the crate itself in. I have those same indentations on mine, two sets of them actually. They are nice but I have a rather light paddle and when the wind kicks up it can get thrown into my chest even if it's resting in the indents. I mounted some bungee and plastic hooks so I can strap it in there if I need. Can you tell I like bungee chord yet haha

From outdoor Pro Shop I got a shellcracker G2 and an Swaver 200. Threw in some safety caps too (more to avoid scratching than hooking myself).

I love braid but I use all 3. Fluoro (as a mainline anyways) gets the least use from me. Actually I rarely use straight mono either, it's usually copoly.

Some of the guys at my local BPS don't always seem too enthused to be there. Others are very knowledgeable if you get talking with them though.

My favorite part is how shallow you can get. Nothing is off limits.

Like others said I always have a PFD with or on me (I will admit I don't always wear it during the hot summer months, I need to start though). Besides that a water bottle and stuff to deal with a fish once I catch it (scale, pliers etc.) are the only other essentials besides at least some gear. Oh and a paddle obviously (duh). As far as techniques, I really don't eliminate any techniques just because I am in my kayak, but I do tend to fish shallower. So frogs and wacky rigs are my go to's.

I don't have dozens of rods or any really fancy ones so my experience is pretty limited but I have loved my 7'2" HF Diawa Tatula more than any rod I have used so far.

I have an FS10 sit in and really like it. I would personally prefer a sit-IN unless it is a large enough kayak to stand in, which the FS10 SOT is not. The reviews on BPS are littered with people saying how unstable it is, I haven't tried it and can't say first hand, but it's something to think about. I think in general people see sit on tops as better suited for fishing, but many of the SOT fishing kayaks are 12+ feet and made to be a stable standing platform. I can store stuff in the cockpit without worrying about knocking it overboard and can stay 100% dry no matter the conditions which is why I like the sit in. I also like having the "dashboard" the sit in provides in order to put things on while I am changing lures, or dealing with a fish. And with the modifications I made to mine, I get all that without sacrificing standing ability...

Since about 3 years old I think. Fishing didn't become my primary hobby until probably 4 or 5 years ago though.

- Gain confidence fishing deeper (anything over 15ft usually has me uncomfortable) - Get a new PB (and not end up tying it for the third time...hopefully one over 6lbs) - Continue to explore swimbait techniques - Focus more on the patterns of the fish and less on tackle specifics (saying no to that third color of the same lure at checkout)

Most people are going to tell you it's a very bad idea to use braid for swimbaits (non-topwaters) for the same reason you lost that Hudd 68. It has very low shock resistance due to having no stretch. I assume that is why you had the 1 foot leader? A 10 inch hudd getting launched and backlashing your reel is going to snap that short leader whether you have 50, 65, 80, 100...or 200 lb braid. That short of a leader is providing minimal, arguably negligible shock resistance. If you are dead set on a braid to fluoro leader set up, I suggest you tie a longer leader, and use a slim knot like an FG or Alberto knot. Matt Allen has a pretty good video on leaders, I think he mentions what he uses for swimbaits but I forget. If you are not dead set on braid for swimbaits as big as a 10inch hudd....25 or 30lb copoly will suit you well. P-Line CXX is tough as nails. Big game is also popular.

I have never had a wind knot on casting gear, using 20, 30, 40, 50 b braid, in winds from 0 to over 30mph. The only time I have had wind knots is on spinning gear with light braid (10, 15 lb), and even then it's been rare other than one specific type of line that I suspect was a dud spool. So you should be fine using 35lb. The only time I use 50lb is on frogs and punching. Otherwise it's 30 and 40 primarily. With 15 on spinning usually. As far as TW I wouldn't count on them having better deal than 20% off during their 25 days of Christmas.

Hey, what do some of you guys use for gloves? Are there any good options for waterproof semi-warm gloves that can be used when fishing and paddling? I've heard some say thin neoprene diving gloves?

I usually use a keitech 3.8 on most of my swimjigs. I also use 4 and 5 inch grubs. I generally am using 3/8 and 1/2 heads though.

With the Black Friday deals I got a Shellcracker G2 for 20 bucks and an S-Waver 200 for 28.

I fish whatever I think is necessary to catch fish, but I enjoy power fishing the most.

Went to A1 on what was probably my last fishing trip of the year. Got there and it was like glass, not even a ripple. It was just me and another guy in a kayak with his son. I saw them catch something but couldn't tell what it was, didn't look big. Better than I did though, I spent the few hours I was there throwing a hudd 68. Didn't even get a nibble. It was still nice to get out though. Hopefully we can start making ice soon.