LadiMopar

Placement has been an issue with the Deeper Pro+, not the sonar itself, which just clamps to the side of my kayak [Feelfree Dorado 125] with a flex arm, but the screen. I'm using an 8" tablet mounted on the Unitrac with a RAM mount. It took me a bit to get it positioned just right so the peddle drive didn't graze it. This spring I'll be adding a piece of track to the hatch in front of the peddle drive so I can 1. see the screen better and 2. get it out of the way of the peddles. If you want/need a neat and tidy system that you don't need to run wires all through your yak, or carry extra battery power for, you might want to look at the Deeper Pro+, or their newest CHIRP model. They are $239 and $299 respectively. They are charged in advance, and hold a charge for between 6-8 hours. The transducer is in the unit so no need to figure out how or where to run the arm.There are also quite a few comparison videos at YT which test the Deeper against the bigger brands/units. If you are interested: https://deepersonar.com/us/en_us Best of luck~ LM

A lot of guys on my kayak tournament trail seem to really like the Lowrance products. I was also thinking about upgrading from my Deeper Pro+ to a Lowrance but the waters here in Bassachusetts aren't exactly huge, or deep, so for me it was a matter of simplicity to stay with the Deeper. I did my due diligence before coming to this decision, and was fortunate enough to get a personal "seminar" on the pros and cons of all three major brands (Humminbird, Garmin and Lowrance) from a seasoned tournament angler, who just happens to work at Cabelas. His overall recommendation was for Lowrance. Apparently, Garmin has had issues with their products and this individual shared with me his frustration at needing to send 3 brand new Garmins back because the company couldn't fix the problem with the transducer. No such issues with Humminbird, but according to this person the Lowrance units work better, and have exceptional customer support. What are you upgrading from? Hope some of this info was helpful.

As one of those who managed a few of those little shops...I say thank you for remembering us. I have found a few smaller, more personal online shops and give them as much of my business as I can. There are also a few small tackle manufacturers here in New England who get my business...but to be truthful, it's just not the same as getting a coffee, pulling up a stool and swapping stories...I sure miss that.

Oh the agony of it all...I'm of an age where we were expected to be outside the better part of the day, schools encouraged physical fitness (my grandsons are in middle school and have gym class only half the year, one day a week....ugh) and as mentioned, we had pick up games in our neighborhood. My oldest grandson plays dek hockey, which I happily pay for, but the "rules" about how many minutes they can play makes me nuts. No player is allowed to be on the dek over 6 minutes. Poor things are tired, and must have a mandatory rest. Really?? Tired after 6 minutes? I can't ever remember feeling tired at 12-13 years old, except maybe by bedtime (another idea that appears to have faded into history) after being on the run all day out in the sun, rain, snow, heat, cold....you name it. Anyway, I have a rule when the kids come fishing with me...no devices of any kind are allowed once the rods come out of the truck and in the truck, they can only use their phone if it rings. As for the longevity of places like DSG, it's anybody's guess. I never find anything I want in their tiny in-store fishing department, their prices are a bit high (although they will price match, begrudgingly if you ask) and their staff (at least in my local DSG) are not very knowledgeable, nor are they very interested in helping folks. Okay, off my soapbox...sorry for the rant.

I don't shop at that Blue Place either...and that's all I'll say about that ...but as for the issue about M&P tackle shops surviving in MA, they are all over the place. Of course I imagine the ones doing the best are those strategically located either on the coast line for salt, or near a major body of water such as Wachusett Reservoir. Here is a link for you to check out...maybe you can find a local one you like. https://www.fishingnortheast.net/choose-your-state/massachusetts/massachusetts-bait-and-tackle-shops/ No guarantee all the ones listed are still in business.

I have a family member who works at our local DSG here in MA so will try to get the skinny on what's going to happen here. If they are doing away with their fishing dept in store maybe I'll think about getting back into the tackle.biz...the last Mom/Pop shop that I managed closed its doors when Wally World rolled into town....ugh.

Well, guess I missed you in the crowd yesterday. On a trip out to the the truck to put stuff away I thought for a quick second that you were parked next to me, but alas it was an orange Tacoma. ? Find anything exciting to add to the tackle stash? I'm thinking about a new custom rod from the guys at the Rodgeeks booth. ?

Hope you have really good rain gear....If the plan changes. ??

Hopefully will be able to find you in the crowd tomorrow, but I'll be parked in HC parking, Brown RAM with a giant BR sticker in the back window....Daiwa hat, with a long ponytail...and either a Daiwa shirt, or NEBassin hoodie.

Got a few things on my list as well. Just hope I have enough room in the rolling tackle box (6'4" bed of my RAM) to squeeze in a little more gear! ?

I've been a member of PETA my whole life....People Eating Tasty Animals ? ?

Greetings from N. Central Bassachusetts! Welcome to BR and congrats on getting back into fishing. I figure most of us have been in your shoes at one time, it absolutely gets better and easier as you go. I swore off baitcasters for 50 years, didn't want the hassle of all those back lashes, but the new reels make the learning curve so much easier. Bought my first baitcaster four years ago, and now I hardly use spinning gear, even with finesse techniques. If you haven't tried it yet (practice in your yard or an empty lot) put out a bunch of different size bowls/containers at various distances and cast into them. It's okay to start with bigger targets, and as you gain skill and confidence go to smaller targets. You'll probably be happily surprised at how fast you improve.

Hey guys! Hope all of you are doing well this winter. It's nice to see a few of you are still able to wet a line south and east. The Cape is a two hour run from here, and not usually on my go to list of places, but if you all keep teasing us more northerly bass-a-holics with your amazing pics...well I might just have to reconsider The NE Fishing Expo [Boxborough] is coming up quick, anyone planning on being there on Saturday the 25th? It would be nice to finally meet up with some of you.

Guess I should chime in here and say greetings from North Central Bassachusetts!

Glad you found this useful @J.Bass 3 Waters Big FIsh kayaks are a branch of Feelfree kayak, and it just happens to be the brand I decided on. My first was a FF Lure 10 (paddle only) and this year I did a major upgrade to the FF Dorado 125 with peddle and motor drive. I've seen quite a few of the Big Fish yaks on my local waters and they are essentially FF Lure yaks with different hardware, seating options, and slightly different keels. A 12.5 Big Fish I saw up close this year had the same type of cathedral hull as my Dorado. The FF line is incredibly well built, well designed, and super stable (I'm a disabled kayak angler with serious balance issues and I stand in mine if the wind isn't bad) and easy to set up with their track system and from what I see of the Big Fish line it would be just as user friendly. Shoot me a PM if you have specific questions about the Feelfree or 3 Waters yaks. Always happy to help.

It's always good to educate yourself before buying a fishing kayak. I did my own homework for about a year before deciding what was best for me. So, seeing as you're not committed to a particular brand just yet, if you haven't taken advantage of dealer demo days (and dealers always have top quality used boats for sale) you might want to do that. Fit and feel are important out there. Also, you may want to go to Kayak Angler magazine and read the reviews, see the specs etc. on different brands. I don't usually recommend You Tube videos , but in this case Headwaters kayak has a great series on fishing kayaks under $1000, and one for yaks under $500. Best of luck in your search, and don't forget to save a little extra cash for a good PFD. The most important "accessory" you'll hopefully never need. LM

Hi guys! Been a busy summer and I haven't gotten out nearly as much as I wanted to, my tournament season is now over and am looking forward to the hunt for big fall LMB. Been reading the posts in here and just thought I might add that some of the "better bites" I've been getting have been real early in fairly shallow water (2-5 ft) around docks and grass beds on Savage Gear paddletails, color doesn't seem to make a big difference; and in slightly deeper water (8-12 ft) on a Neko rig using 5" Daiwa Yamamoto Neko Fat Soft Bait, in grn/wht combo. Figure any senko type bait would work just as well. Most of the water I fish doesn't get much more than 15-20 ft deep but maybe I'll scout out some of those deeper spots and see if I can scare up something bigger. ?

Too bad we're so many miles and states apart or I'd be happy to join up with you. I'm a weekday angler as well, and although I don't mind fishing alone all my "buddies" are still working the 9-5 so unless they're on vacation...well I'm sure you understand. If you ever find yourself up here in Bassachusetts give a holler...we have some pretty nice kayaking bass water. Hope you find someone in your neighborhood. ????

Until I can't get the yak on the water, and then I fish from the bank until there isn't a hole big enough in the hard water to get a fish through. I reverse this process in the spring...

I was up there in early August and the "hot" bait was a "green" paddletail in the lakes. Buddy of mine who lives there is still hitting them pretty good on these paddletails...so you might want to have a few of those in the tackle bag. I'm going back up in October, and will certainly have a few with me...just in case. Enjoy!

Glad you were able to avert disaster, that crap is scary. Many years ago I got behind a pickup truck carrying saw horses in the bed that were, to my horrified surprise, not tied down. After work high volume traffic, three lanes, rain, and no where to go.... Those things came flying out of that bed like rockets, (I was maybe 2 car lengths behind) and all I can say is, how no one got hit by these things is still a mystery and a miracle. All I can figure is everyone behind and to either side of this guy were really on their A- game, or there was some form of "divine intervention" . IMHO, there is no such thing as being too safe.

Hey nice going @DogBone_384 Can You guestimate length and girth of that fish? Under the tools section here at BR there is a weight calculator.

I use a similar rig for locking my FF Dorado to the trailer at the winchstand, so far so good...never bothered with that with my Lure 10 because it was never out of my sight...house to ramp, ramp to house sort of thing, but did [and still do] have a 12 ft steel cable system that I wrap around a tree and through the trailer and yak at home.

I trailer mine exclusively also, but have always used a good quality ratcheting tie down. So far have not had issues with the hull, or loosening of tie downs even on highway trips of several hours. But will certainly give the cam straps a look see, if I can improve on safety I'd be happy to reconsider my current choice. Thanks for the advice!

So sorry to hear about cooked limbs/feet. I wear jeans no matter what, and the toes are covered too...got seriously sun burned way back in the day and since then...well I'd rather be a little warm in the short run than fried for the long haul. Anyway, so happy to know you are enjoying the new yak. I have a Lure 10 which I paddled for a couple seasons, it's now the "loaner" yak for my daughter and grandkids. I loved that thing, but due to physical limitations I upgraded this season to the FF Dorado....which I also love, but there are days when it would be nice to be back in the Lure. May it bring you many, many years of fishing happiness!