PAbasser927

Couldn’t agree more!

Thanks!!

Thanks! The motor actually ran good without having to tinker with it. It just needed a paint job for cosmetics. LOL! My wife and I just had our first child two weeks ago, so no time for these types of projects for a while!

Ran into this one time fishing up in Maine as well. In the lake I was fishing, smallmouth was considered an invasive species that inhibited the native land locked salmon that most of the locals were after. I heard the locals were even known to throw them on the bank if they were caught. A shame to think since the lake is actually a great smallmouth fishery producing an abundance of 5lb+ smallies.

I had to make this same decision when I got my Ultimate except the difference was between 12ft and 14.5ft. I went with the 14.5ft and couldn’t be happier I did. The only time it feels too long is when I paddle so far up the creeks that I wouldn’t be able to turn around with a 10 footer either lol

Came across this pic on social media. Apparently a musky got caught in a tree (either jumping to feed or trapped in the shallows after flooding conditions) and a bird nested in its mouth. Pretty wild!

I have a boat and a kayak. The boat is great if I am going out with the family or someone else, but when fishing solo I take the kayak 100% of the time. I will actually bank fish/wade my local river before going out solo in the boat. I enjoy the minimalist approach to the sport.

Ned rig and small poppers (<2in) are pretty universal fish catching lures for me. *edit: Ned rig might be a bit big for a gill but the rock bass and crappies sure like them.

I mainline 50lb braid and have used up to a 15lb fluoro leader with no issues when casting. However, when flipping you will want to make sure your leader is short enough that your knot is outside of the guides. That is the only scenario where I have had it hang.

Mine was on the second cast of the day and the very first time I ever tried fishing a fluke. On top of that, it was a day that I wasn’t at the lake to fish; I was there to paddle with my wife and brought a rod just to toy with. After searching for my first five pounder for a year and a half, I had finally made the mark a week before with a 5-4. Then I happened to hook into my 6-6 a few days later while I was barely even fishing. Just goes to show that you never know when it’s going to happen!

In my state (PA) it is only a requirement to have a PFD in the vessel. The amount of kayak fishermen I see with their PFD on the deck still amazes me. Outside of the obvious safety benefits, it seems foolish to me (from a fishing standpoint) to have a PFD taking up space on the deck. I have spent so much time figuring out how to maximize working space in the yak that even a pair of pliers has its proper place. Having a PFD to store some of my gear on my person has been a huge win in space management for me.

From the boat I throw them on a 7’2 MH moderate. On the bank when I only have one rod with me, I use a 6’8 MXF spinning. It does just fine as well.

I am a relative newbie having switched from crappie fishing to bass fishing in 2017. That being said, I feel like paying attention on this site has earned me more knowledge of bass fishing than I would have been able to acquire on my own in a decade. No substitute for time on the water, but in the “getting started” phase, this site is invaluable.

Thanks! Yeah you never know when that lake is going to shut off. That one pictured is 5lb 4oz. A week later I caught a 6lb 6oz. Those are the two biggest I have pulled from that lake. Since then it has been 2 lbers, and in the last week or two the bite has slowed down considerably.

Hahaha yeah that would keep me out too! I don’t even know if I would have the guts to be out in the kayak with those around!

The stifling hot days are the days I leave the boat and kayak behind in favor of wet wading for river smallies. The Columbia PFG gear is about the best way I have found to beat the heat out on the lake, but nothing comes close to being chest deep in the river.

Just caught my PB this weekend while fishing a fluke for the very first time. I had mine rigged texposed with a 3/0 EWG. 15 lb braid to 12 lb fluoro leader since there was cover everywhere. Caught my 6 lber on the 2nd cast of the day and two 3 lbers in the next 10 minutes or so. This bait has immediately become one of my confidence baits.

Thanks! Yeah I am in the same boat here in Southeast PA. This was actually the biggest bass I have seen in person. I had the same thought about where I go from here, but I actually have my first baby due in August so I am just happy to get these catches in before my fishing time gets severely limited lol

Just 1 week after catching my first 5+ lb bass (that took me a year and a half to catch), I crushed my PB again by over a full pound! This toad tipped the scales at 6.35lbs... and gave me one heck of a sleigh ride in the kayak!

Another vote for the Keitech Noisy Flapper. Up until a few days ago, this was the bait that caught my PB.

Pulled this big girl out of Beltzville this weekend. Had about 9-10 others as well before my brother and I wrapped it up around noon. Many other bites too, it was an active morning!

I have a 6’9 MHXF Kistler H3. This is one of my go to rods for bank fishing due to its short length. This is also my preferred length for fishing out of my kayak. I use it primarily for jigs, but it is a versatile rod so it does triple duty when I use it for senkos and any single hook moving bait.

I usually go as light as possible for increased casting distance. I have a 6’8 M rod that I use leaders between 8# and 12# and run 15# braid as a mainline. That way if I have to break off I know it will be my leader that breaks and I won’t be losing tons of mainline.

New PB!! I set a goal in 2018 to catch my first bass over 5lbs. Unfortunately, I was not able to accomplish that last year. I FINALLY made the mark with this tank at 5lbs 3oz. I do 90% of my fishing from a kayak, but I was lucky enough to catch this one from our bass boat where my brother was able to get a great picture (pictures always seem lacking from a kayak). Super pumped!

Very nice. I also switch between a bass boat and a kayak and I use a very similar strategy. I like to keep my tackle indoors (not in my hot/humid garage). Using this method along with a Cal Coast Fishing “Rod Mule” for my rods, I can be packed up and on the road in less than 15 minutes whether going out on either vessel.