Hook2Jaw

Red wigglers on the bottom or under a bobber were what I started with for bream and catfish with my grandmother in 1991. I was four. My older cousin set me up with a Zebco spinning reel with a 1/4oz bullet, 3/0 straight shank, and the legendary(around here, anyway) Culprit 7.5" Ribbontail in Red Shad. I was probably 7 when I started using artificial lures for bass, after that he introduced me to the Spinnerbait.

I think it's a great, frugal idea. I'll probably give it a try in the near future and report back with what I think.

I know, but one of my big reasons for switching from a boat to a kayak was the ease of using it in the fresh and salt, and the challenge associated with both. It's a good little water craft.

I've used Pflueger Trions and Presidents. Great reels in the lower price ranges, and I don't see where they wouldn't shakeyhead or Ned just fine. I've also had hands on time with Shimano Stradics, and those are excellent reels. I put my Daiwa Fuego LTs in the same performance and comfort range as the aforementioned Stradics. They don't let me down fishing light Neds, shakeyheads, weightless plastics, or my inshore jigs. The Daiwa Fuego LT2500D-XH gets my vote for finesse applications at the 100 dollar price point.

I'm not a fan of the thermoformed hull, and that rudder is a nightmare. I've sheared the rudder pins on a 2010 Outback twice, but that was surf landing in waves. The Passport features the exact same rudder. That said, I've sat in the seat for a few seconds and it seems comfortable enough. I think the 10 1/2' hull would make for an able slow river craft, or inshore boat that doesn't feature 9' tide swings like I have in Georgia. It would also be an excellent pick for ponds and electric only lakes. I think it's also an excellent pick for shorter adults and children. I just wouldn't aim this thing into swift water or large water. It's a much better choice than the Perception Pilot and Pelican Catch 130HD, simply because of the proven drive. I've seen tons of problems out of the competitors boats in this price range.

Caught my first spot, and can't wait to catch more. This little thing fought like a wildcat in a croaker sack. I guess this is my smallmouth.

I checked out that forum. The only thing they focus on is striped bass.

Caught my first striped bass from the kayak, and two more behind her.

Dredgers?

I've been a river and pond fisherman my entire life, with around 5 trips to a lake under my belt in my entire 32 years. I decided to change that this past weekend. While I've caught bass in a lake before, I decided to focus on the lake closest to me; Lake Juliette near Macon, GA. It was awesome. The water was beautiful, the striped bass were willing, I caught three. The green bass whipped me, I caught one spotted bass and lost a really good largemouth up shallow in the early hours of the morning. I know nothing of lakes, but I'll give you all the information I have, a Google Earth overview image, and a link to a contour map. I'm hoping you guys can help me out, I'm trying to fish the KBF Southeast Trail next year and if I can't at least do well on my local water I know I'm going to get smoked on Guntersville and Kentucky lake. Anyway, this water was completely clear. I'm talking 8' of visibility. There is very little flow, lending to the water clarity. The water was 89 degrees this past Friday. There is LARGE rock, hard and soft bottom, and a decent bit of grass in spots. I'm not sure of the species. I had a few followers on my crankbait, which indicated to me that I needed to change color, but I don't remember many repeat followers and was wondering if some of you guys might point me towards where you would fish in accordance with the time of year, the clarity, and the techniques you would use to do so. I'm mostly launching on the East end of the lake and my Hobie PA14 only cruises at 4mph, but I can be tempted to switch launch locations. Here's a link to the contour map: http://fishing-app.gpsnauticalcharts.com/i-boating-fishing-web-app/fishing-marine-charts-navigation.html?title=Lake+Juliette+boating+app#13.27/33.0382/-83.8109 And here's a google Earth overview. What do I need to be slinging and where, bassresource.com?

A football jig is designed to deflect off rock, and wiggle when it does so to present it's trailer with great effect. I, personally, would not tie a football on for a bottom without hard bottom and at least some structure for the head to roll off of. A casting jig is a very all purpose jig and works decently for most everything, and the head is designed to stand the trailer up to present it. It requires no roll. In short, hard cover to deflect off of with rock being the primary target, use a football for that enticing wobble. Otherwise, use the casting jig for that enticing defensive position.

Eh?

The YUM Craw Chunk is by far my most productive jig trailer. I'm probably partial because it caught my PB, but it's a very effective bait with great action at 3 bucks a pack.

Two entirely different baits for me, so one cannot replace the other. If I was going to replace one, it would be the fluke. I fish YUM Dingers the same as anyone else fishes a stickbait, but they're my last option not because of their lack of effectiveness, but because I find sink, jerk, sink very boring. I use ZOOM Flukes to follow up missed topwater bites and will often stick them on my dinger rod as a more finesse topwater when I can't get them to eat a Choppo or Berkley Drift Walker. Flukes walk excellently, and their fall and tail shimmy on the pause almost always gets the eat if one misses it on top. If you haven't tried walking a fluke, give it a go!

I would advise against South East Georgia. I gotta drive two hours to get to a lake.

I love the way that boat handles. I think they did an excellent job with the Kraken 13.5. The flex drive, not so much.

Have you been in a Jackson Kraken?

I kid you not when I say an Ascend Kayak seat I modded onto a 2010 Hobie Outback was more comfortable than the PA seat. I'm not that big of a fan, and don't need a super comfortable seat to be okay. I'm really looking forward to accessing reverse quicker.

I'm moving from a Hobie PA14 to an Old Town Predator PDL 2020 off word of mouth and reports like the one @CountryboyinDC just posted. Ain't paying no tariff fees, Hobie. Thanks, though.

I agree about the Old Town. One thing I do like about the boat is they're reported to be speed machines and with my top end at 7 in the PA14 in short bursts, I believe I can hit 8 in the Predator from all the reports I see. The cruising speed is supposed to be phenomenal. As for the new Hobie Pro Angler 14 360, I think it'll be an amazing boat for exactly what you said. I have an addiction to banging squarebills off cover at the moment, so I'm hoping the foot only access to reverse with the Predator will up my game in that regard. Hands free reverse is still something firmly in the realm of propellers, and I think Old Town has the premier propeller driven kayak. Five thousand dollars is too rich for my blood, I plan to put myself in the Predator, grab a Topwater 120 for the future wife, and a Topwater 106 for the son as soon as he can walk. I just wish Old Town would release a pedal drive tandem.

I need rod and reel recommendations for a dedicating spidering rod.

Mmm, Texas rigged worming was my first bass fishing bread and butter technique, learning in my grandfather's farm ponds. They were muddy, gunky, and grassy, and back when my older cousin taught me we had straight shank worm hooks, 7.5" culprit worms, and 1/4oz bullet weights. We never texposed, and we caught loads of bass casting out, allowing it to fall, lifting up before reeling slack and repeating. Almost 25 years later I still lift and drop, but I'll dead stick, shake, drag, and in the case of craws, even swim my Texas rig back until I figure out what the bass are in the mood for.

Had a boat, got a Hobie, sold the boat, upgraded to another Hobie. Then, Hobie decided to hump prices for tariffs so I've decided I'm getting myself into an Old Town Predator PDL.

Great, now I have to buy a combo to somehow throw this light, wind resistant spider on 65# braid in the salad. I already have enough trouble hucking my half ounce frogs on a 7'4" HF. d**n you for changing the game, Lunkerhunt.

I hate boiling tails. I've narrowed down my selection to about 40 bags that I want on me after selecting my least favorite, least productive baits and cutting them. I think I'll just keep a KVD Worm File unzipped between my seat and kayak crate. Thanks, @ww2farmer, you've always got some good suggestions for a budget minded angler like myself.