Crow Horse

My goal for 2026 and beyond is to wake up every morning that I plan to be out fishing and be on the right side of the dirt.

How flexible is Knot Sense? Does it sit on the spool well?

I believe they are AKRO-MILS Straight Wall Tote: 13.3 gal, 23 3/4 in x 15 3/4 in x 8 1/4 in, Stacking Capable, Gray Item 5YN16, Mfr. Model 37688GREY. Pretty pricey if purchased new. Prices range from $35-$45 each. I got lucky and found them used at $5 each. I bought 10.

I tried the Walmart/Sterlite crates and although the 3700's fit well, the overall build is pretty weak. I really can't stack them without them bowing and flexing out. I did find on Marketplace some crates that were used and are really strong. 3700 fit but it's tight. I'll post the manufacturer and model # when I find it. What I need to do now is to fab up some support rails so a single case can be removed without removing the ones that sit on top of it. I'm thinking of 1" x 2" x 1/8" aluminum angle.

I think the Rizzuto finish resolves that issue.

One thing I learned from videoing myself is that it allowed me to make a more accurate assessment of a season when reviewing the videos. Humans are plagued with the inherent inability to not be able to recall past events perfectly. Things get dropped, other things get layered in, and still others things get embellished. Case in point- My initial assessment of this past season would be that it was lackluster. I wasn't able to get out on the water as often as I normally do largely in part due to a family medical issue and then weather tanked a number of trips. When I went through the videos I'd have to say it was a pretty good season and I did catch some nice fish. The videos tell the true tale. They also document some doozy goof ups on my part, which I work to correct. I suspect there will never be a shortage of them to improve upon.

Many have said that the Alberto knot doesn't go through the guides as well as the FG knot. Is that true? That would make a difference for the guys (and gals) using long leaders.

I'm using 25'-30' 10# mono to 10# braid.

I'm with @Jig Man on this. I watched the videos and knew immediately that I wouldn't be able to tie it without the Knot Assist 2.0. I spent an entire off season practicing it to develop muscle memory. I carry the tool in my tackle bag and have another one I keep with my tackle tools at home. The FG knot has never failed me but if I had to retie it would not be a problem at all while in my yak.

This video goes into more detail & testing..... https://www.3brpowersports.com/cdn/shop/videos/c/vp/cb0415fb2a054d55969bc416555e8c5d/cb0415fb2a054d55969bc416555e8c5d.HD-720p-4.5Mbps-36860386.mp4?v=0

Another external battery setup is from 3BR Powersports which remotely positions an external battery. The one advantage to this setup is that it's not top heavy if that is a consideration. 3BR Powersports They also offer a sun shield with a fan for GP Hero 9 and up. https://www.3brpowersports.com/products/sun-shield-with-fan-fits-gopro-hero9-10-11-12-13-copy

I've been fortunate that I haven't experienced heat related shutdowns in my Hero 8's. I'll video all day at 1080 (about 8 hours). Now that I've said that, I know what will happen next time out......

Are they the wire racks?

For reasons unknown, none of my search results on the Bass Pro site will display. I cleared my cache & history but still no joy.....

I like some of the options available..... but they are beyond my budget for the amount of cases I'll need to stow. It looks like I'll be making my own using wood and Simpson Strong Ties.

Are there any commercially made storage racks available to stow 3700 cases? Other than making one from wood I was hoping to find one made from aluminum extrusion. I have dozens of 3700's and 3600's that I use not only for tackle but auto parts, hardware, and tools. I did find one made specifically for the HF storage bins but nothing I found for the Plano 3700's or equivalent.

A huge void has been left that will never be filled with Tom's passing. I have no other words that hasn't already been shared. Our world is a little dimmer now and our mission is to shine brighter. Safe journey Tom.........

90% of the time I'm on the pond I fish alone and it is quiet, very quiet. I do my best to fit in with the natural silence. I try to muffle any movement or noise I might make. My yak is camo (grey/black) and I'm wearing the camo dejour. Not so much to disguise myself from the bass but more so that people who drive by don't see me. I don't want to attract any attention. By habit, I make long casts, sometimes into the next area code. I'll cover as much water as possible and the long casts force me to be more accurate. Stealth isn't only a physical state. It''s also a mental state where I release all the day to day life baggage that we normally carry with us. This allows me to focus better and to be able to hear what the water is telling me.

This is why I love the kayak experience.....

I respectfully disagree. Choices are being shared and the reasons for them that suit their needs and life situation. There is no right or wrong answer here. Just answers, with explanations.

Mine do.....😀

This x2. Beautiful!

For the majority of my fishing life I was shore bound (or beach bound). More times than I can count I've seen baitfish boiling on the surface just outside of casting range. Terribly frustrating. When I finally got a kayak, it was a budget one that I built on to suit my needs. Just this year I upgraded to a 12' sit in (used) and I'm over the moon about it. It suits my needs and my style of fishing perfectly. If I was given a bass boat for free, I would flip it. I have no time nor the inclination to go down that rabbit hole. The majority of my "free" time is devoted to a cat rescue/sanctuary that my wife and I have that "specializes" in special needs cats. I'm not impugning bass boats, but it's just not for me for many of the reasons previously mentioned. Every time I launch I feel so thankful/grateful for having the ability to move anywhere I want to on the water and think of the times that I couldn't do this. That's just how I roll.

Having a "knowing" is an absolute yet in this context it depends on how one defines knowing. I believe that would be in direct correlation with an individuals level of awareness. I know that I sometimes fall prey to getting a tunnel vision where I become so focused on my retrieve and line that I'll miss things that lean towards my periphery. I have to catch myself and "switch" to a "wide angle vision" that allows me to observe more things that I would normally miss. Generally speaking most folks tend to rely on a name of something and then believe they know it. I disagree. That is only the start of knowing something. My point is that I believe that I or we need to look far closer to everything to begin to know anything. When we finally see something that has always been there but we never recognized it, that's where the magic really happens.

It's been said that it would take a lifetime (or more) to truly know one square acre of land. Knowing means every nuance, every detail, literally everything about it. I fish a small 12 acre pond and every trip out I learn something new about it's structure and personality. Do you really KNOW the body of water you fish?