XF15-Loader

Well, I pulled the trigger on the hedgehog. Hopefully that's the ticket. I've read some less than stellar reviews so I'm hoping they've upped their game. Thanks again for the input!! -J

My Super Duty got dunked a few times last year and I wasn't pleased with it's operation. I sent it and my MB back to Lew's for a once over. I'm not sure what all they did on their clean and lube but, it wasn't much better when I got it back. So, I ordered some spool speed bearings thinking it was a cake job. ??. Should've just sent it to you. Guess hind site is 20/20. I still think I can do it but I'm gonna have to get the tool. LMAO @DomQ Thank you all for the input. And thank you @Delaware Valley Tackle for taking care of my Abus. I should've just sent em all to you but I feel like I need to learn how to do some things eventually or I'll be broke every fall...lol. Tight lines to you all! Stay healthy! -J

So, I've purchased a new set of bearings for my Lew's Super Duty. Then, I watched a video on how to R2 em...?. Any suggestions on how to remove a spool pin without the special pliers or pin remover tool? Thanks!! -J

I'm hoping I can just hang my grips on the unit, tare it, catch a fish, lip grip it and hang it on the unit. If I'm thinking correctly, that would subtract the weight of the fish grip from the net weight. That would be awesome! I bought that scale 2-3 yrs ago and I've used it maybe a dozen times. I'll have to check it out. Thanks!! -J

@WRB you're saying that all I have to do is zero it out once, hit tare and I shouldn't have to worry about it? That, is a game changer...if that's the way it works. Do I have to keep the scale on or can I turn it off? Sorry if I sound like a daily but the scale came with 0 instruction. -J

Thanks for the input @A-Jay. The spot I'm fishing is in the Sandusky Bay. It's called East Harbor. There's a channel that runs between the harbor and Lake Erie so I'm hoping some smallies have worked there way into that area. I've never fished it but my buddy says the water is Crystal clear. I'm looking forward to actually using my graph and fishing some contours. I think it'll be a blast. Thanks, again. Good luck tomorrow and may you have nothing but tight lines!! ?

Used to fish solo but then talked my buddy into going. Fished with him for a season and he just quit. Now, I can't stand to fish alone...lol. I'll do it, because I enjoy fishing but, I think I enjoy having a buddy to witness that linker or the one that got away. -J

I'm loading up the kayak and hitting some new water on Tuesday. The area I'm heading to is a harbor off of lake Erie. Im limited to 3 poles and was considering giving drop shotting a try but don't know if it will be worth it to sacrifice a rod. Anyway, I have 3 questions. First, I've seen the drop shot hooks that are built on a swivel. Are they worth it or should I just stick with a regular drop shot hook? Secondly, weight...Ive read loads about what size and type of weight to use and I still don't know what to go with. The water I'm fishing is mostly 8-10 feet with pockets dropping to 20 or more. Finally, I won't be hitting the water till late...10a.m or so and plan on fishing til sundown. I read the drop shot post by @A-Jay and he's clear that smallies have distinct feeding times. Yet, another reason to consider whether or not to take a DS combo. I was going to add a chart image of the water I'll be fishing but can't get it small enough so here's a link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/UhmmWsxMb2V6JSSFA Hopefully someone can help me out here...lol. Thanks, -J

I purchased a Samson similar to that used on MLF and it's a love hate relationship. Supposedly it is accurate beyond compare but, it's a pita to use by yourself when you're holding a fish and trying to zero it out. They say it has a .4% variance, I couldn't imagine finding a hand held scale with a .1%. Any suggestions, @WRB ? -J

The problem is, the xducer is actually mounted to the cover. The xducer port on the Vibe isn't large enough for the Total Scan so Berley Pro came up with a cover that mounts to the bolt pattern on the hull where the original xducer cover went. It's pretty slick and has received great reviews from users. Ive resorted to leaving the unit at home when I know I'll be fishing grass. I took it out the other night and got beautiful readings on it. Depth was good, return was good. I'm hoping it's a grass issue since I don't want to deal with a RMA on the xducer. Thanks for the input, and tight lines to you!! ? -J

@scotty918 I've got the Total Scan xducer mounted below the hull in a Berley Pro xducer cover. It was reading fine through the channel and into the main lake. Just appeared to lose bottom when I got shallow in grass...say 4-5 ffw with submerged grass just inches below the surface. I figured the grass may have been covering the transducer and stifling the return.

The overlay goes to double dashes and the display loses the bottom ie...the red or yellow return is not on the screen. Basically, it turns into a yellow or orange screen. Just added a pic that shows where I'm talking. However, you can't see the depth reading.

@markedman DM sent. Sorry, it's a little long winded...lol.

Picked up an Elite Ti unit last fall and mounted it on my Vibe 110 using a Berley Pro xducer cover. I've gotten it wet a coupla times this year but the last time I took it out I was having issues with a blocky return and loss of bottom/depth readings. Prior to that I was happy with the unit but the grass hadn't really emerged. With that said, I'm assuming the issue was the grass I was fishing over but, I'm wondering if maybe settings need to be tweaked. Does anyone have settings to share that's works well for them while kayak fishing? If so, I'd love to see your configuration. Thanks, -J

Love my Lew's Tourney MB.

Wow, who knew this topic would generate so.much conversation. Anyway, I do pitch from a seated position....and it looks a lot like the video. It may not be the proper technique but it works for me. I pull plenty of bass off of cover but, often times I'll smack the boat or water as I'm pitching. I've come to the decision that I'll just keep working my technique and try to refine things a bit. More money for tackle and less headache from the wife...lol. Thanks!! -J

@basshtx, I understand how he does it from the bow of a bass boat. What I can't seem to grasp is how you'd do it from a seated position with an 8' pole as @J FranchoFrancho has suggested. I realize its a tip up presentation but getting tip speed while trying to keep the line up is where I have a problem. Does that make sense? All in all, I agree it's probably an issue of practice but, I need a reason to buy a new rod and dammit, this is my reason...lol. Don't tell my wife! -J

I feel like I'd have better control with the shorter rod.

@Brad Reid, Im not convinced I'd want a rod that short. I'm pretty accurate and get decent distance roll casting from the seated position. 5'5" is pretty short, what all do you use that rod for? @FishTank I've seen the SC Yak line but haven't really heard anything about em. Are they somehow different than the other comparably priced SC lines? Thank you all for your input!! -J

@kschultz76 mostly 3/8 to 1/2 jigs and some t-rig plastics in the same weight range.

@jbrew73 I've got a Bucoo and it seems to fish a little light (ie MH fishes like a M). Are the Caras rated heavy as well?

I did some pitching from my kayak last summer and had a blast. However, I think I might benefit from a shorter rod...shorter than the 7'1" Mojo Bass I was using, anyway. Any suggestions for a 6'8" - 6'10" rod for pitching? Thanks! -J

Thanks for the replies @-nick- & @iabass8!!

I picked up a Lowrance Elite-9 Ti at a great price last week and now I'm looking at mounting options for my kayak. I cannot, for the life of me, find a mount that specifies the Elite 9. I've seen 5 and 7 but none say 9. At any rate, I'd like to track mount it on the right side of my kayak. I mostly roll cast off the right so I'd like it to articulate so that it's sitting off the gunwale, almost over my legs. Any suggestions on a good track mounted ff mount that will fit the bill? Thanks! -J

Did you get one @Fishguy? My BPS had 30+ when we did the recon on Sunday.