Riazuli

ya, I was saying in my first post that I made my decision based off of using braid. I think with fluoro and added stretch, you could get away with using a MH and not run the risk of ripping the lure out too quickly.

See above comment on tuning. Heck, just about anything will wobble if you want it to I'm a dinger guy - I'll find em on sale for 1.99 a pack and then buy in bulk. Would much rather do that than spend three to four times as much on senkos when dingers catch bass for me just fine. That cost difference widens even more when you consider the durability of dingers vs senkos. I should add, that I also try my best to avoid using plastics altogether, because I enjoy using hard baits/spinners/chatterbaits/frogs, etc. more; although, it inevitably will happen during an outing especially if the bite is tough.

I just say I'm going fishing. Taking time to yourself is healthy for you and your marriage. Early on, I communicated fishing as more of a necessity than leisure - it helps me refresh for work and school and keeps me in a better mood, which is good for our relationship. With everything, there should be a balance too - so, as long as you're spending time with her and the kids, there is no reason you shouldn't spend time for yourself. To rephrase that - you should spend some time for yourself for the sake of harmony in yourself, obligations, home, and things in general.

I feel lucky - my wife has never gotten too upset over tackle... And I have enough tackle to last me a decade (apart from hard baits that I might consistently lose). She knows I love fishing and that it helps refresh me for work and school, and it keeps me more relaxed around her too. I also compared my tackle to her makeup and shoes, etc., and she gets it. I also mentioned, in regard to stocking up so much since this last winter that I was taking advantage of sales and coupons, which is true. For the stuff I bought, I can't see prices going lower than what I got most of my stuff for, so I bought a lot of stuff in bulk (apart from rods/reels/fish finder - just referring to lures and terminal tackle).

I've had senkos pretty much completely dissolve when mixed with KVD dream shots - there may have also been yum dinger residue in there.

I love my Curado K with M/F Curado rod combo. I can cast lighter stuff (weightless fluke) just fine. If you want to go much lighter, a spinning rod/reel might be better suited for that.

Yep, pretty sure it was just senkos and kvd dream shots. It is possible that some yum dinger residue was in there.

I wait until they have sales or I have a coupon for them that makes it worth my while, compared to other places online. I'll either order from bps online or go to the store if I need to. During their spring sale, I must have saved at least a couple hundred bucks on rods and reels with trade-ins. No other places could beat it. Whenever I want something, I'll compare between the likes of bps, cabelas (the two run sales separately of each other probably to maximize sales between the two), academy, tackle warehouse, eBay, and anywhere else that beats the others. As far as lure selection, I've rarely had issues with finding what I want and in the color and size I want it in. As far as finding lures, nothing a little walking and looking around can't handle.

I've mixed kvd dream shots with senkos and the senkos basically dissolved.

Nothing much, just your typical ritual sacrifice to the bass gods. If you go, don't forget to wear your hooded cape and make sure you smear the chartreuse dip under just the left eye. Also, the bluegill necklaces have 3 bluegill on them, no more no less.

Are you using wacky rings? The rings could be too tight, or if you're not using rings, the hook could be creating a weak point in the middle for anything really to rip it in half.

You've made some good points - I'm going to point back to someone who mentioned that the manufacturer would also probably like to know about things like this. Could point them to a faulty line in the process or something of that nature. Also, it seems like z-man and other "brand-name" companies make a decent profit over their products when considering the price of a homemade jig and pre-made blades, which you can buy in bulk for around the same price as a single chatterbait. If this were a homemade jig, I wouldn't consider it that big of a deal, and definitely not big enough to have them send me a new one, when they're already struggling to make a profit in comparison to a brand name company. Also, out of principle, if the jig is going to have a large portion of chipped paint, I'd rather it be me/rocks/fish doing the chipping and not that way fresh out of the box - just doesn't sit right, again when you're already likely paying more than a few bucks over what the actual cost of making the item is.

So, if you pay more for a product for its said quality and then don't receive that level of quality, you just let it go? What's to keep you buying that product in the future? Most people like to get their money's worth - it's not just about a sub $10 lure - it's about buying 100 of those lures over time and having confidence in your purchase.

You pay a premium for what is supposed to be a quality product, so it is reasonable to complain when it doesn't meet that standard.

Second on a telescopic lure retriever. There are many options available. A lure retriever that uses a weight and line can also work (I carry both on my kayak just in case I happen to get one stuck too deep for the pole).

The roof rack I have by Yakima is solid. No vibration or shaking - I take this on the highway at speed limit at least and have no worries about it. When I strap it down, I can move my whole car by moving my kayak. That's how you know it's stable. I'm able to get it on there and off by myself with the boat loader bar attachment. It's a extendable bar that comes out of the front roof rack bar, where I lift the nose of the kayak on to and then I can manage the kayak on to the car by lifting up the back end. Only way I'd be able to manage this. For the Lure 11.5 I have an interesting process where I have to get under it to get the kayak over the Yakima Jaylow ramp system - after that I can push the kayak into the j bars - it's not the easiest thing to do after a day on the water, but I'm able to manage it alone without straining myself too much, which is all that matters. The video is low quality, and this looks easier than managing the Lure, but you get the idea:

That seat is standard on the lure models and I think some others. It is said to be one of the best seats on the market. I can fish all day comfortably with it.

Grey for better protection against a bright sun Amber is better for being able to see into the water Yellow for low light/cloudy conditions

I started kayak fishing with a sit in kayak and loved it. It was great to be out on the water and having just started then, I was just happy to be out on the water - but I began to notice where things became difficult...managing rods, paddle, etc...they do have paddle clips (easy to use ones that clip on and don't require drilling, etc.: https://www.amazon.com/Cascade-Creek-YAKCLIP-Paddle-Holder/dp/B000TQB7VG/ref=sr_1_19_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1527459417&sr=8-19-spons&keywords=yak+gear+paddle+clip&psc=1&smid=A2SI41RLEE9XR9) I started with one rod, then moved to 2...had to keep the second in my lap if I wanted to have easy access to it - or I could just fold it up and keep inside my front bungie straps...well, eventually I wanted to use more rods...and I wanted to be more comfortable and having more freedom and mobility for casting...and I wanted something more stable and secure for my added investments of rods and such...so, it only made sense for me to upgrade. The main feature I was looking for was stability - and ability to stand up comfortably and fish while standing. I also did not want to spend over 3k on a Hobie (although they look like great kayaks and are probably some of the best, if not the best on the market for kayak fishing, and I might look to get one one day when it seems feasible in terms of transportation, storage, etc...I drive a coupe vehicle (scion Tc), so a Hobie would be a bit tough to manage...and I don't want to burden my wife by using her suv.) I ended up with a Feel Free Lure 11.5 - I am so happy with this kayak. It really allows me to comfortably fish and enjoy my outings so much more than before. I am grateful I was able to start out with something, but the difference between this stable sit on kayak is incredible compared to my old sit-in kayak, in terms of casting, mobility, room for gear instead of having stuff on me, between my legs, or stuffed around my legs and in the way... I see this as in investment into something I love that helps me recharge for work and school, and keeps me in a better mood for my wife, family, and others. The cost is completely justified when I think of it like that - and completely true for me. The center console (feel free sonar pod) has a fish finder mounted to it now, with plans to upgrade to a pedal drive, and then a motor module in the future.

Yeah it's not a big deal, unless you happened to do something else major. If not, the qtip should do the trick. Compressed air can get the extra stuff out pretty well too. Just close your eyes if you do that

It might just have too much oil in there...not a big deal. Just take the bearings out and dry them on something soft. You can use a qtip in the bearing sockets to clean out excess oil too. When there's too much oil, things get cramped in there. That can cause the noise you're talking about. For future reference, those bearings just need a tiny drop of oil for optimal performance. If you're not familiar with how to take the bearings out, you can probably just dry them with the qtip while they are still seated (you have to remove a hexagonal pin that is holding them in place in order to take them out). If you're not familiar with how to do that, you can either learn how via Google, or just use the qtip as is. Whatever you do, don't bend the pin if you do take them out (there's a special tool for it, but tweezers work fine for me). If you do bend the pin, it's only like 5 bucks or less to replace it.

Columbia pfg boat shoes. Super comfy and they have different styles to fit your needs. Shop around online to find something within your budget.

Contrary to many of the answers given, yes, there is a difference: "Inexpensive polarized sunglasses differ from more expensive lenses in significant ways. Cheaper sunglasses may only have a thin chemical laminate on one side of the lens. The thin layer may only provide minimal benefit and the thin layer can be rubbed or scratched off easily. You may also notice aberrations in your lenses, as these are usually mass produced stamped out lenses that are lower quality. Higher quality options have film laminated between two layers of lens material. Encasing the laminate protects it from being scratched and provides additional benefits. The thicker the polarizing film, the more protective the lens is against glare. A note about lens color: darker lenses are not a sign of better protection. Ask your eyeglass retailer or optometrist how the polarized laminate is applied to the eyewear before you purchase it. As far as other options go, polarized glasses are available in a wide variety of colors, materials and lens designs."

Hey everyone, I'm already going with shad, craw, and chartreuse - I'm mainly wondering if a bluegill pattern and other natural, darker, colors are worth having in water that isn't clear (Potomac river and creek water mainly). Will the natural patterns be visible enough to justify at that depth (10 ft +) if the water isn't super clear?

I have a few approaches here: Throw everything at em but the kitchen sink, and try to see what others are using and is working or just throw something different than what others are using. Also, go super early - early bird gets the worm, or early worm gets the fish? My thought here is that the bass haven't wised up to all the lures thrown at em like they probably have by the end of the day vs the beginning. With clear water, go natural colors and finesse, but with heavy pressure, don't be shy to throw on something bright, big, and loud either - Chances are that others aren't trying stuff like that.