Smalls

In the $100 range, you’re looking at a fiberglass paddle. If you can spring a few extra bucks, go with carbon fiber.

Are you twitching your frogs on slack line? They won’t walk if you aren’t

You must’ve not looked very hard. Aftco, Huk and Simms all make a vented buff.

Think about it... you’re fishing the bank. Which means the bass you’re targeting are close to... the bank. They’re skittish creatures, 99% of the time they’re not gonna watch you throw something and then eat it.

Enigma is one of those companies that’ll pretty much let anyone and their grandma on the “pro staff”. They give you a discount on their products, and you run around telling everyone you’re a pro, spam every Facebook page with a couple pictures with 45 “#enigma, #enigmafishing, #enugmarodsarethebest” hashtags. They could be the best rods on the market, but I’d never buy one because of that.

I think you’re looking at this backwards. First look at whats available. If you see something that might interest you, then google the make/model and read reviews, watch YouTube reviews, etc. If you’re still interested, then go look at it. If you wait for certain models to pop to pop up on the used market, you might not get into a kayak... ever.

Save your pennies and look for used options. You’re gonna be severely disappointed in a $300 kayak.

I’d pick up more bluegill and craw colors, but I lived in Michigan almost my entire life until a half a year ago, they’ll definitely eat shad colors. Idk what the hell looks naturally bright chartreuse, but they eat eat, too. And smallies for some reason love pink.

I like a shorter rod (less than 7’) for square bills, because I’m usually making shorter, more precise casts with them. A 7’ MH moderate rod does duty for everything else. But I don’t really fish deep divers, 12-14ft is about as deep as I fish crankbaits.

I have one. Like I mentioned in another thread- this kayak was designed for one thing and one thing only, stability. Its heavy. I car topped it exactly once before I realized a trailer was mandatory. It’s a beast to paddle. But I don’t think twice about staying standing while a wake comes my way.

No problem. I’m still kinda learning about the state, myself. Hopefully someone with some more expertise can chime in.

I never really understood people’s issues with transporting longer rods, anyway. When I hit the banks, I recline the passenger seat in my car and have never had any problems sticking 7.5’-8’ rods. I’ve done it in a Kia Sol. Shouldn’t be an issue in 99% of whatever you guys drive. If OP just wants a shorter rod for another reason, then I say he’s gonna regret it. I can understand shorter rods for pitching, if you’re short, or shorebound, etc. but you need that distance for swimbaits. You need to be able to bomb them out there.

I’m not sure if you’ll find many lakes that have decent sized cities surrounding them. I’ve fished Elephant Butte, Santa Rosa, Brantley and Ute, and the surrounding cities all seem like ghost towns. So depending on where you live, good chance it’ll still be a drive to the lake. There’s definitely smaller lakes/ponds throughout the state, but they all seem to be stocked with trout/catfish. Trout is king in this state. The looks I get throwing swimbaits is priceless.

Yeah, both are about an hour from Los Alamos. As far as I know, that’s pretty much all you’ve got near. But I just moved down here late last year, and I’m still having trouble finding spots to fish that aren’t out east. Honestly I’ve spent more time traveling out east to fish than I have fishing anything near ABQ.

Storage and transport is an easy one to get around. There’s a couple of really good travel rods out there. Okuma makes a popular one.

Lost a Pizz to a pike a couple years ago. $125/$150 ish.

Neither of these statements make sense. The FG has been proven to be stronger and smaller than the Alberto knot.

Higher end gear doesn’t put you on the fish. But you also can’t be on the fish if you’re at home with a broken reel. I’m a firm believer in not buying “budget” gear, because I’d rather spend $150 on a reel once than spend $60 twice.

Any time I’ve seen a (correctly tied) FG knot break, it wasn’t actually at the knot, but just below it. I’ve never seen the actual knot break. So my guess is that your direct to bait knot will break first. Not scientific by any means, but I’m not a scientist.

Larger diameter braid

Kind of a good thing I have to wait on my reel, actually. Going through my swimbait stuff, I don’t have much left anymore. All my huds were beyond repair, and I’ve lost a fair amount of other stuff to snags or pike. Time to stock the arsenal.

Came in Wednesday. Not sure how how to describe it other than “elegant”. It’s definitely a slick lookin rod. Feels amazing in my hands. Reel is getting sent off for repairs this week, so idk when I’ll have a chance to chuck anything with it. I might just respool my pitchin reel and throw it on this for a couple of days.

Looks like they’re $180 on TW. So as long as it’s not beat up, good deal.

I love my Big Fish, but it’s not easy to control in current/wind. It does seem to want to position my bow into the wind naturally, which is nice. But it’s a beast to paddle, so I’m pretty worn out after a windy day. I haven’t had it in any super strong currents, but I imagine it’d act the same as it would in heavy winds.

You should be choosing your bait first, then pairing it with the appropriate size hook.