Dens228

It works. It wasn't my idea, I read it somewhere. Plus it's incredibly light.

Rip a swim jig through the mats that are coming to the surface.

The tape thing you're thinking about is wrapped once around the spool to give braid something to dig into and not slip. I use teflon plumbers tape. Not layers of it to take up space.

You had my at "Final answer" lost me at "Shimano", ? It's Final answer, Lews!

Poppers would be one, regular poppers, not Whopper Ploppers. I'll use my cranking rod for those and other surface walkers with trebles, 5/8 oz and under

When I started in my kayak I took three rods, two MH/Fast, and one H/Fast.......... But now I take six...........lol

If you're patient you can find great deals. About a month ago I found a Wilderness Atak 120 with a depth finder on FB Marketplace for $1,100. I already own a Radar but jumped on this one.

I think without the weed guard you'll catch even less bass by the fact that you'll be dragging a clump of weeds along.

I fish from a kayak......mostly in waters restricted to electric motors and human power. I fished the Fox chain here in Illinois one time last summer and it I must have just come across the few boaters that take exception to kayak fisherman. As I was getting ready to launch from the ramp there was only one other boater on the other ramp, he looked at my kayak, then told me I had no business kayak fishing there and should stay close to the ramp. I fished this particular lake about 6 hours and during that time stayed relatively close to shore. But I also had THREE different fishing boats see me, change direction, and speed past me fairly close to make sure they rocked me pretty good with their wake. Now there were plenty that didn't but in my mind three a**es are three too many.

I use 3/8's for everything except punching. I use them down to about 20 feet but below 12-13 feet is rare once the thermocline sets in.

I fish in some choppy water......there are times where the rear of my kayak takes in and lets out water through the scupper holes. I guess I could raise my crate a bit but what I do works for me.

Fishing in a kayak I go the opposite route. If I used the boxes with the holes a lot would get wet, even what I don't use. Whatever I do use gets put in a separate 3700 box. When I get home I just open it up to let whatever is in there dry, then back in it's intended box.

Logan S hit the nail on the head. With a slower means of travel across the water you need to be proficient at eliminating water before you get there. I'm NOT saying kayak fisherman are better, I'm just stating how it can make you a better fisherman.

Jerkbaits, swimbaits, spinner or chatterbait.

I use two colors, Watermelon/red fleck, and black/blue fleck. One of those two work 99% of the time.

Mine are all between 7 foot and 7-03..........I'm 5-09 and in a 12 foot kayak. I don't have any issues with the length.

I caught a 48" musky on a $100 MH/Fast bass rod with a 5 inch Senko. A bass rod can handle it just fine!

That was the first reel I bought when I got back into fishing. I don't use it anymore but it's a great reel, especially for the price. FWIW I caught my PB largemouth on it and had no problems getting that big girl in..... 8-03.,

There's items list in this forum right now that are 100% of retail for used.........

1. M/Mod with 20 lb braid for cranks, small poppers 2. H/Fast with 50 lb braid for topwater in the slop, bigger swim baits, punching 3. MH/Fast with 20 or 30 lb braid for everything else such as jigs, jerks, spinnerbaits, plastics I fish in a kayak and use braid for everything. I've used leaders in some instances but saw no difference so don't anymore.

In that situation I like to cover water, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, squarebills. Once the water gets colder I go from squarebills to jerkbaits. There are a couple of flats in the place I fish quite frequently. Ultimately what I use is based on vegetation.

All my jigs are 3/8 oz..........although I did just buy a couple 1 1/4 oz punching jigs to try that technique this coming season. Bullet weights are all under 1/2 oz

4:00 pm, no clouds or wind, about 80 degrees, in 3 feet of water.......... 8 lbs 3 oz.

You say people in the community turn their nose up at low end gear...... My observations are that there are more posts across the boards and on social media of fisherman turning their nose up AT people with high end gear.......If I had a nickle for every one of those posts I have enough to buy all high end gear. LOL We've all seen the posts about how it's the fisherman and you can catch big fish on inexpensive gear and spending X amount is a waste of money.. That being said I'm strictly middle class with my gear...

This is so true.......... I use two types of jig,,,,,,,swim jig and a hybrid jig........ Black/Blue Natural browns White/Chartreuse with a hint of red or orange