Dangerfield

In the net, foot on the handle and with rim of the net a little out of the water to avoid a surge. I've got a Zooka 2 on my left gear track, rotogrip holder for my net handle on my right and forceps on the right side of my seat attached by a retractable/boomerang. Everything in reach always.

I've been going barefoot when the weather permits it or watershoes. I've used my NRS boundary boots(last gen) a few times already this year and they're awesome for keeping you warm and dry.

They're allowed in tournaments up here too, just can't use pedal/trolling power for trolling.

Fished my first kayak bass tournament on Saturday and I echo some of your critical points. Prior commitments didn't allow me the opportunity to pre-fish and it was this was my first time on Ramsey lake (not the one you're thinking of), and I spent far too much time exploring for weedy bays. For the anglers that did pre-fish, one guy had 88 inches before 7am and I didn't catch my first until 9:45am. Pre-fishing is a must. We have tight regulations up here, but for this lake it's open year around because it's further north, and I need to bed fish. Well, I've never bed-fished ever, because the opportunity has never presented itself due to regulations. As I explored the lake for weedy areas, breaks and humps, things I'm used to on my homelake, I should have paid closer attention to the anglers around me. The further I explored the deeper side of the lake the less anglers I saw, while I thought this was an opportunity, it turned out to be a dead area/too deep for spawning smallmouth. Pay attention to your surroundings. Pack a lunch and TONS of water. Last one, some might call BS, but a fish finder probably would have help me understand the new lake a bit better. I did my research online, spent a ton of time on Navionics, and plotting points on Google Maps. But it was cumbersome, phone screen isn't ideal, the points were a shot in the dark and I didn't have sonar reading to confirm my research on the water.

Picked up a Wilderness Systems HD Kayak cart for self deploying my Recon 120 HD, added a YakAttack Zooka 2 rod holder, Multi-Mount cup holder and Rotogrip paddle holder for a net. Grabbed a 3/8oz black Booyah Buzzbait too. Looking for an underseat storage solution that's not $100+ and a BlackPak Pro 16x16.

I vote for the Crescent Lite or Bonafide rs117, if pedal drive isn't your thing. I think there will be a bigger community behind the Bonafide or Old Town for mods/diy/add-ons.

I've got some Big Bite Baits Shorty Gamakatsu EWG Head and Z-Man Texas eye jigs to test out first. Those outcast jigs look good, do they come weedless? --- Browsing the local classified I found this baby for sale ~$25 USD shipped. Probably going to spool it with some 10lb FC Sniper when the bite gets tough.

Native Falcon, Bonafide RS117, Oldtowns are good options. Also look up Crescent Kayaks, probably on the lighter side, the Light Tackle has flush mounted rod holders.

I just got a new kayak and cartopping is a process, doing it by yourself is doable in many ways. My boat is 95lbs with the seat and pedal drive removed, my concern is damaging the deployable rudder. There's a nice Cuban guy on YT from Miami, he's tested a ton of kayaks, motorized, pedal and paddle. I'd check Aliex out for further research. Regarding weight limits, I wouldn't consider the limit the actual amount of weight you can carry. From what I understand, the kayak will perform poorly and get worse as more weight is added. Regarding stability, that's a comfort level no one can determine for you. Test em out. If you can't, check out the features of the hull design and roll the dice. A kayak that's designed for fishing isn't for the kayak elitists. They're heavier, wider, track poorer, slower and don't keep speed. If you choose a paddle kayak, a rudder will help with tracking and positioning. Standing is another personal thing, I'm tallish but all my weight is in my belly, so my center of gravity sucks and I need to build up my confidence to stand and cast. One big thing that makes a huge difference is seat height, makes casting and twitch baits easier but with a narrower kayaks, they get a bit tippier because of the higher center of gravity. Schplurg's OT 106 PDL has good seat position, pretty wide at 34" and almost has gunnels to its design which lend to the center of gravity topic. It's sit on top with the stability benefits of sit inside kayaks. Native Titan is probably more robust, wider, higher wall and is known to be a tank on the water plus its super heavy. Native Slayer is a good option too. Wildy Recon 120 HD is a pontoon, 39“ wide, not a big wall but built for fishing and standing. I've seen it used as a SUP, it's so stable. Crescent makes since affordable kayaks and if you can spring for a bonafide rs117, that's what I would go with. I almost forgot, do some research on the kayak building process. The Pelican is thermolded vs everything I suggested is rotomolded. Weigh the benefits before you buy, thermo is lighter but it's 2 pcs fused together. Roto is tougher, thicker and 1 piece.

River2Sea S-Waver 168 - Lite Trout or Bone

Sold almost all of my rigs last month except a couple of gems that are staying in the arsenal. It was sad to see my Fury 735c go, caught my PBs on that rig but 8.3.1 was too fast for me in almost every occasion and I didn't need a dedicated frog rod, although it's plenty stout for jig duties, I prefer the slower action on the Lew's. and it manages bigger swimbaits better and it's lighter and more sensitive AND I paid less than half price for it. This lead me to get a shorter version, a little faster action AND another steal of a deal. It will be way more versatile than the AG Ike Delay. Which was too much of a wet noodle, and I was thrilled to get it off my hands. Don't get me wrong, it's a great shallow cranking or a jerkbait rod, but terrible for everything else. Out with the sold: Fury 735c + Fuego CT 8.3.1 AG Ike Delay 7 MM + Tatula CT 5.5.1 Fury 703sf + Shimano Sedona In with the new (L-R): Lew's Custom Lite Speed Stick Magnum Jig 7'3" MHMF (old) + Tatula 100 7.3.1 + 65lb PP Maxcuatro Lew's Custom Lite Speed Stick Spinnerbait 6'11" MHF + Tatula 100 7.3.1 + 40lb PP Maxcuatro Daiwa Aridto TR 7' MF + Fuego LT 2500 (old) + 14lb Sufix Nanobraid Shimano Zodias 7' MHF (old) + Fuego LT 3000D I've put in an order on another Ardito TR MF this time I'll be looking to get a casting rod and I'll have the perfect travel set. Probably pair that with a Fuego CT 6.3.1 for reaction baits because I need one back in my arsenal, rock solid reel.

I live in Barrie, and I've yet to fish it for bass from a boat/kayak, but I've seen the photos online from charters, crushing 7-8lbs smallmouth. I'm working on getting a pedal kayak and to explore Simcoe.. but you should come up to Georgian Bay and catch massive pike, small/largemouth, crappie, rainbows, walleye, you friggin name it - it's here. PB SM 6.1lb PB LM 5.6lb

I saw that pattern at BPS, when I picked up the Bahama Milk Pearl. A few years back, you could swing some deals from overseas on Amazon. I picked up this beauty for ~$15 USD shipped, took several weeks to arrive along with a Dog X Cayou. I thought it would crush smallies but I've only caught largemouth with it.

It's pretty beefy, thicker than a Dirty Jigs California swimjig. I've used them with the magdraft freestyle. I got a 1/2oz bottle of Mend-it and x2 packs of Owner Beast hooks on the way from a tackle shop north of me. I'll be using a Lew's Custom Lite Magnum Jig rod(MHMF) which is an absolute workhorse for me, anything from a 3/8oz jig+ to mid-size swimbaits. It put my Fury 735 outta commission, it's lighter, more sensitive, has plenty backbone and a softer tip.

I didn't know there's a homebrew option, I'll do some research tonight. We used to catch a ton of pike but season over season the water levels in my fisheries have risen or drop upwards of 2.5' making some seasons way more productive. My wife caught her PB on a dirty jigs 1/4oz guppy head with a 4" river2sea D-Walker, came in around 13lbs, can't remember the length. Honestly, I'd give those D-walkers a shot too, they're very durable compared traditional plastisol baits. And came be purchased prerigged. My brother in law will only use spark shads because they produce quality fish, pike largemouth and smallmouth but I can justify it for anything other than bassin. That Zillion looks awesome, I hope I don't regret selling my fuego and tatula CT for the Tatula 100. It's feels a bit lighter, smaller and rigid than the CT, especially the Tatula. The newer handle knobs feel nicer and are almost identical to the knobs on the Feugo LT.

I've had trouble sourcing Mend-it north of the border, but I may try to find an alternative. I checked my terminal tray and I've got Trokar 7/0 3/8oz hooks+Owner large centerpin, they seem to fit the belly slot. I'm hoping that's not too heavy for my jig rod. I do have some Gama superline keel weighted worm hooks that look to fit but will be a challenge to rig... and here I thought I could lock the bait monkey away until July. Post some pics of the gator, I'm glad that rig worked out for you - I got some tail spin add on from zman to add some flash. Pike love that stuff, it's my value-friendly options when I know the smallies aren't biting.

I'll be using those for Pike opener, which comes faster than Bass. Got some trokar beefy swimbait hooks for those left over from the magdraft freestyle. How do they hold up?

Will it handle a 1/4oz jighead and 4" swimbait?

I've never had luck with the 130 and I caught a double on my 110 (You Know It), but I never use em.. cause that d**n 90 Bone is soo good.

I get it, you tell me your go-to and it might not even be in my arsenal, but where I fish, smallmouth, largemouth, pike, they hate hate that 90WP with a passion. Especially pike.

also if I can add, the River2Sea version has been good to me. The BPS version is garbage and way too heavy for its size. To get the plop going right after the drop takes 2 full rotations to surface. 75 size is 3/4oz.. wth? The Choppo is close, I've caught a couple, but does not draw out fish like the real thing.

The WP is a fish producer, but I find the 90 to be the best of the bunch in Bone. Smallies, Largies and big ol pike hate that little plopper with a passion. 130 has not been good to me either, I do have a 75 for the kayak but the 90 outproduces it also.

Hit up Cabela's for their spring sale, took a flyer on the AG Revo Beast X baitcaster over the Tatula 150. It's a beauty little sleeper reel, need to secure some 65lb maxcuatro for big baits. Grabbed a couple of the new crosseyez chatterbait, 3/8oz in pearl ghost.

Activate ninja mode.

The ned wacky rig is still putting in work but this geecrack bellows gill is the real deal. 3.8 paired with a 3/8oz dirty jigs California swimjig. Skeeters ended the night.