HookInMouth

Maybe that's why I like my kayak and shallow river so much.

Small shallow rivers I almost always have the best luck with a whopper plopper.

Kayak or bank fish. I take two. A MH/F for bottom contact (Texas-Rig) and a MH/M for reaction (Chatterbait or Whopper Plopper). It's really all i need and I like to keep things simple.

I have mine attached to my pod and a spare pod that doesn't have one. When in shallow rivers I use the blank pod. Honestly, the Garmin has been a waste of money since I mostly fish shallow rivers. Probably should sell it I guess.

I've been a mission since 2018 to destroy my SS127. I've been known to "scoot" a half mile or more in shallow rocky water before dragging it across pavement at the boat ramp (I've tries scooting there too but unsuccessfully). I figure if I screw it up enough I'll just have to buy a new one. Oh. Darn.

If it's just me I leave the trailer at home and toss me SS127 (12'7") in the back of my Ram 1500 shortbed. No issues.

The Yough is another one I haven't fished and it's in my backyard, about a 30 minute drive. I usually just end up at the Kiski River. Yeah they just had a Hobie BOS yak tournament on the Susky and everyone was walking their boats. I was planning on Sandy River but the second day of our trip got canceled and I never made it there.

It's about a 3 hour drive for me. Being a yak angler it's almost absurd that I've never fished the Susky. Was thinking about it recently. Toying with a Marysville-West Fairview float. I have to find something calm enough for the wife and kids since they'll want to go to. You're a VA guy... fished Briary Creek last year. Beautiful lake.

Had a boat and sold it. Thought about getting another one and just didn't want to deal with the maintenance. I also prefer shallow rivers. I guess cost is a factor but it's a distant one well below my intended use and maintenance. I keep looking at boats and just can't justify it because I don't think I would use it as much as my kayak.

I've fished it before and it catches fish but I've always avoided it in the river. Mainly because my shallow river is rocky and fast and they just get hung up every other cast. I also really, really, don't like spinning gear because my accuracy is terrible.

For some weird reason I never thought to do this lol. Good idea.

I don't know if I regret anything I've bought. I think if I did I would stop doing it. Really don't use that much though. Honestly, if I have some 3/0 hooks, 1/4oz tungsten, and some menace grubs I'm pretty good 90% of the time on lakes. And in my shallow river it's 90% Berkley Choppo (shallow water + rock = smallie nirvana).

There's also the yakgadget YakWell Direct. It's like $50 and offers a place to use your net as a livewell.

I've never had an issue. I've heard of issues with the donkey leash back a few years ago but they changed something a while ago and I haven't heard of any complaints since. Some insist on using a good high quality pair of grips though. I get you though. If the fish was big enough I might be nervous. Just because you are putting them back in the water.

Cal Coast Donkey Leash or a pair of grips leashed to your yak. Clip onto the fish's mouth and put him back in the water while you get organized.

It sounds similar the Cashion Multi-purpose rod. Same ratings. I think you get a wider range with a moderate fast action as opposed to a fast action. I can vouch for the Cashion in that range but I can't really help other than to compare the ratings between the two.

I kayak but transport in a hungry Ram 1500. At $6.00 a gallon I'll probably skip the 2 hour road trips to Presque Isle this year.

For most topwaters I pretty much go black or white. Sometimes a chrome for a walking bait.

What I currently use? Probably about $5K.

I'm a river rat. I like em shallow for the most part but any will do. Lakes are easier for me. I always seem to do better on those but it's the moving water that calls to me.

I've made it work with the guides on the Exprides. I get the ticking though and it does affect casting distance. Eventually I just went with straight braid for most things.

40lb Suffix 832 no leader. But I rarely fish a senko.

I put a Garmin Echomap UHD 7" on my SS127 last year. No complaints. Side scan works well paddling as slow as I am.

I predominantly fish shallow rivers for smallies and I just can't get used to spinning gear. Went and bought a nice one (Expride 7' MF with a Stradic) and just hated using it. Gave it to my wife. Just don't feel like I have enough control over a spinning setup.

Hey Josh. I don't fish tournaments but I am a supporting member of Kayak Anglers of Western PA. That's where I would start. I would join the facebook group and ask questions there. But these are the guys you want to be involved with. KAYAK ANGLERS Their tournament schedule this year: 4/30 Bass On the Bay - Presque Isle Erie, PA 5/21 Shriner’s Team Challenge (non AOY) Erie, PA 6/11 Battle at the Border - Pymatuning Linesville, PA 7/23 No Electronics/Paddle only (non AOY) TBA 8/6 Clarion River Throwdown Clarion, PA 8/27 KAWPA Classic - Lake Arthur Portersville, PA 9/17 River’s Edge Steel City Classic Leechburg, PA