Boomstick

The Pro Angler has a faster top speed, is more agile and might be a little quicker to get up to speed. It’s not a bad performing kayak for its size where the Titan is slow. The Titan is hands down more stable and also more reliable and definitely priced better. I’d wait to demo the TitanX too. I like the open layout of the Pro Angler better - the horizontal rod holders are usable if you use the tracks and even if you don’t those rod tip protectors on the Natives have sharp edges that will damage your line. I ended up deciding on the Old Town Sportsman Bigwater 132PDL because it was so quick and agile and standing in a decent current wasn’t too rickety - and solid reliability and it’s priced right. I won’t get the open layout but I will get one I am used to with a ton of speed.

I've had great luck with 14# and 17# Sufix Siege. Big Game is also an option, but Siege handles better.

I have demo’d the following models Hobie Pro Angler 14 - amazing storage and rigability, but also large, expensive, heavy and a prone to hull cracks and drive problems. I found it a little tough to stand in as it was a little rickety (they’re also not that hard to flip despite common misconception). Slow to get up to speed but a good top speed. Hobie Outback - I technically outweigh this one, but it’s very quick and nimble. They might be a little rickety in chop, but you’ll fall off before you flip. I would definitely go with an Outback over a Compass if you can if it’s the current model at least, the longer fins make it faster, better seat and better setup from front to back - although it is a little heavier (but still not too heavy) Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL - very good initial and secondary stability and solid reliability, all around a safe bet. The Native SlayerMax 12.5 or Bonafide P127 are supposed to behave similarly too but I felt I liked the Sportsman 120 PDL layout better if I added tracks to the back. I can actually use the rod holder grooves under the seat, where the Native and Bonafides plastic tip covers are sharp and may damage your line and if you use the tracks then you can’t use them anyway. Pedaling around 2mph is pretty effortless - going 2.5 is a bit more work and top obtainable speed is probably around 4.5. My youngest kid has the Topwater 120 paddle version and we added a Blackpak and anchor trolley and later a fish finder and it’s ready to fish, pretty easy to get a decent layout. Old Town Sportsman Bigwater 132 PDL. I’m probably getting one of these for myself and my kid. We both felt this was easily the best performing kayak we demo’d and turns much quicker than the 120 too. I would estimate I was going between 3.5 -4 mph at a speed I could sustain and I’m fairly sure I broke 6mph although that was tiring after a bit. It was definitely more rickety than the 120 (but what isn’t) but overall was not too bad to stand in a little current. I will note I know my boundaries well and I don’t stand that much due to a bad back and I’m a big guy with bad balance plus it’s hard to jog yourself in place so I am going into the purchase knowing well how I use it. As far as rigability goes it does not have the horizontal rod slots but does have a couple mounting plates in the back, one which I might add a fish finder on and the other I can mount a ketch board. The front facing rod holder is also useful to set your rod down quickly if you don’t have to paddle. The back is smaller than the 120 too but I am told it will fit the 16x16 Blackpak pro and you can get a flat ice chest that will fit behind the seat so I should be fine. I think the benefits of getting to places quickly outweighs the cons of not being the most stable on the market. Navarre kayak sells custom parts for old towns too including front tracks with plier and hook holders that are nice. I also looked at a Jackson Knarr but they didn’t have a demo model. But there are sure a lot of reports of hull cracks that has me concerned - especially for a less common model. I hear they are very fast and they have a Pro Angler like layout at s good price for what it is. I will also note that the Hobie drive is better in weeds. Most of our weeds are in spots and I can go around the outside but if you fish lakes full of weeds. I would take that into consideration. Also if you want an open layout look at the Kaku Zulu. My kid has the Voodoo and it’s great for sight fishing! Hope that helps.

Tatula 7'1" MH/XF is pretty good for jigs for around your price point.

I was trying to see the glass as being half full

I do most of my jig fishing in 16# fluorocarbon, and most of my T-Rigs on 12# fluorocarbon but occasionally 16# depending on cover

Broken hook keeper?

I have the medium and medium heavy Daiwa Tatula glass rods, they weigh about 5.5oz each and I never find them too heavy personally.

I have the Daiwa Tatula Elite 7'1" M/F Brent Ehrler dropshot rod and that would do nicely.

This particular rod will work well for small topwaters like poppers and makes a fantastic jerkbait rod as well. You can also use it for finesse jigs, crankbaits, weightless soft plastics and tubes as well. It doesn't have a lot of tip, but it does have a lot of bend throughout as it's a medium power that does not run on the heavier side.

So I demo’d an Old Town Sportsman 132 Bigwater PDL today. I absolutely loved the boat’s performance. It was very fast, turns on a dime and I could stand and it wasn’t very rickety at all - maybe a little more so than the 120 (which is the gold standard for remaining stable in chop imo) but less than my current Bonafide or even the Pro Angler. Not as great of a layout as the Jackson Knarr or Hobie Pro Angler, but I should be able to fit a good amount of gear and up to a dozen rods easily. And Old Town dependability, I know it will hold up for me.

No reason to not upgrade really. From what I understand the new Mojo Bass is the same as the old with an updated look where the Victory is straight up a better rod.

The Mojo Bass Spinnerbait rod is a happy middle ground for both.

Yeah I know. My SS127 would work well with a motor too and everyone says this. I like the idea of getting some exercise so I refuse to put a motor on mine. Tell me to go exercise and I’m like meh but tell me to exercise to get to the next fishing spot and I’m gone! You know the second that motor goes on it, I’ll be using it to go around the lake until the battery dies. Yeah the PA14 definitely handles like a larger kayak. If I followed the same path I did on the Outback I would have to pedal backwards to not hot the shore. On the other hand all the rough days I’ve been out with a paddle it’s nothing I can’t handle. That said a boat came by and said that thing really flies, so eventually it gets up there in speed too. I’d love to demo a SlayerMax and Sportsman 120 too. I know the Sportsman is quite stable. But I’ll never get the same kind of setup either.

I demo’d a couple Hobies today, an Outback which was more for my kid and to try the 180 drive and a Pro Angler 14. The Hobie drive definitely does have a lot of power to it. The Outback is super quick and nimble, if I was smaller I’d buy one and never look back. The Pro Angler 14 also had a good top speed but took longer to get there and definitely took more room to turn but it was a 360 drive so I could go in any direction.

If i get it before then that would be great. Will be camping a week on a lake, leaving 8/12

I looked at the Slayer Max, nice kayak. The nee features in the TitanX Propel look great but I don’t think there is any way 40” will for on my trailer with two other kayaks

I have the Yakima rack and roll trailer with the wider bars. Add in the upgraded shocks for upgraded capacity, a big catch mount and two j racks and it was not cheap. The only reason I did not go with a DIY harbor freight trailer was the cheapest utility trailer I could get in 2020 was over $1300. But it serves like a hand cart and I can go up to 75mph so thank you Covid.

The Pro Angler 14 360 drive is no longer the most expensive.

I got my kid the mojo bass version of this rod for his bday for frogs. Haven’t used it yet but it seems pretty powerful.

I called them today and they completed my claim. Unfortunately this model is backordered until 8/12 and it doesn’t make sense to get him another model because he has the 7’3 M/XF too. Oh well at least they’ll replace it. And I can keep the broken one to make a shrine of broken rods!

My kid has a 7’2 Mojo Glass M/M rod. I never used it but he loves the rod because of how far it can cast and he has no problem landing fish on crankbaits and jerkbaits. Probably not much help.

I would probably buy the 7’1 Mojo Bass. They are solid rods for the price, and unless you have no trees nearby and no low hanging telephone wires the 7’1” is much more manageable.

The only thing I can say is try the line on the other reel on the problematic SLX and then try the same lures on the same rod. 50# braid should cast well so I think it will still be problematic but I’m at a loss

I have a Steez MH-H and I’d use that to throw a T-Rig with a 1/4 to 3/8oz weight (or even 1/2 in open water). It’s rated for 1/4-1 but a little stiffer than most medium heavy rods of the same weight rating Most of my T-Rigs are 1/8 or 1/4oz and if the cover isn’t too heavy I will throw them on my Tatula Elite M-MH/Xf rod. It also throws them well weightless. I will second this. A solid all around medium heavy that runs a little on the heavy side. If it’s just for T/Rigs and maybe jogs, the 7’3” H/XF full contact finesse would also be a solid option.