schplurg

I may be in the minority here where I have determined that yak fishing is probably not for me. I'm 52, some tendinitis and a back issue I need to be careful with. This is a list of what I don't like - maybe these will help you find something that works for you: - Paddling far. Most places I launch are far from my fishing area. I have tendinitis which is bad enough, but besides that, managing a paddle, storing it while fishing, getting it out again, putting down your rod to do so, is a pain. If you can afford a pedal yak get one. If you can't afford one, get one anyways. That's PEDAL - I don't like twisting around to grab stuff behind my seat too often. Find one with some front storage, I mean like a drawer under the seat, or at least room under the seat for a Plano or two. - Weight. My Ride 115 is 75 pounds, not a beast at all, and I'm not crazy about dragging it up the ramp (any distance) and lifting it back into my truck after a day on the water. My bad back and tendinitis again. One wrong move and I'm screwed. I'd rather have a jon boat or small aluminum fishing boat. If I'm using a ramp, launching is way easier with a boat (or trailer). The kayak definitely is cool sometimes, but I'd rather have more comfort, room to move around, and a motor. I've considered adding a motor to the kayak, and I may since I may not be able to buy/store a boat in the near future. But putting a motor on a yak - I think you may as well get a boat. It's mainly about comfort for me. I have an awesome seat, but I'm talking about being stuck immobile in that seat for hours at a time. It's not the seat, I just need to move around a little I think. Stand, stretch, even lay on the deck. I'll keep the yak, especially now that it's the only way to get on the water around here during this Covid lockdown stuff. But a small boat is in my very near future. I prefer a boat by a wide margin.

I'd keep it simple. I have an EFK (Emergency Fishing Kit!!!) in my truck that is minimalist, though contains more than I'm going to mention here. It all fits in one backpack (including rod and reel!). Poppers (one or two). I caught my first dozen bass with a popper at my dads 2 summers ago (over many visits), it is an easy and fun bait to fish. Topwater is what made me say, "Ah so THAT's why so many people fish for bass!" Crankbaits - lipped. A few proper colors for your area. Say one white/shad, one dark, one chartreuse. Maybe a perch. I love cranks so I have a lot. Spinner baits - inline for sure. "Regular" full size spinners if they fit in the box. If not, forget 'em. Beetle Spins with some Yum 3 inch curly tail grubs. Get two. Plastics - few bags of stick baits, bag of white Super Flukes, some kind of ribbon tail or curly tail, or both. Some kind of craw for T-rigs and trailers. There's 6. Take some out of each bag and throw them into one. Maybe some Ned Rig stuff. Maybe not. Depends on how many techniques you want to throw at him all at once. My kit is small so you'll probably have extra space for it. Chatterbait maybe. For simplicity sake I'd say no for now. If you have room then throw one in. Terminal Texas Rig stuff, maybe forget about bobber stoppers and beads if you're trying to keep it simple. They take little space so if the guy understands what they're for then go for it. I went without for awhile. Hooks I carry many size hooks but I only use 4/0, 3/0 for most bass fishing I do. You don't need anything else with this kit anyways. I like to have a few smaller sized hooks for whatever, maybe non-bass fishing, you never know. Find a few worms on shore... Pack of jig heads for the flukes, maybe. I usually T-rig them though. Hooks for Wacky Rig. Various bullet weights (super cheap at Walmart, or total rip-off at Bass Pro). Some split shots. Quick way to add or reduce weight without retying. NOT: Frogs. I think I'd skip the frog unless you have a rod capable of setting those hooks. No jigs for now. Ned Rig is optional. Depends on the water body and if you want to learn another technique (though it is simple). Other items for the backpack: - scale - multitool (or pocket knife and pliers) - basic "1st aid" kit (Krazy Glue, bandages, some TP, a Cliffs Bar, lip balm, headlamp and maybe a lighter). - water Edit to add: - Reading glasses from the dollar store!

New pond new fish? Throw anything and have a blast.

Season starts when I catch my first fish, which I have yet to do! I've fished a lot but at poor local fisheries. I hate chasing that first fish of the year. I mean I LOVE it but gawd I feel like I'm in a nightmare sometimes where I've never actually caught a fish before, it was all just a crazy illusion. "Do I really know how to fish? Did I get lucky all those other times? Did I dream it all?" If I didn't have my entire last season on video I might believe I'd never actually caught a bass. My head is a strange place indeed.

So it's okay to use barbed hooks when you're doing it for money? Did you ask the fish if they're cool with that convenient loophole? Seems like it should be the other way around really... Do pro baseball players use aluminum bats? Do pro golfers get mulligans and little carts to drive around in? You ditch the barbs. I have to use them at one of my favorite local spots, caught my PB barbless. And I don't bother re-rigging if I have a barbless still tied at another fishery. I think about using barbless cranks sometimes, but not top of the list. Mainly for my own fingers though, not the fish. And not because I was told to by someone who only kinda practices what they preach.

Never heard of a swing sport. I don't believe there is such a thing. But if you made it up then I guess it's a thing now eh? Your term your rules. I say no still. In football the QB swings his arm. Hockey you swing a stick or a fist, baseball you get a chance to swing every few innings and stand in the field most of the time. So not really enough swinging going on even in baseball. A team could win bunting, I wonder if that is a swing? Swimming has lottsa swinging, or it looks like swinging. I think every sport may be a swing sport. Nah, tennis seems like a running and grunting sport. Dude I need to catch a fish really bad My posts suck these days I'm sorry.

My closest small lake has had more people pounding the banks than I've ever seen. Hard to find a spot to park along shore. Still looking for my first bass. I'm just fishing whatever water is available to me for now and I'm grateful to have it. I'm going to look into the Delta. Marinas might be closed but I can launch a yak anywhere I can drag it to. I hope.

I'd never heard of a paper graph before. Very cool, thanks! https://www.google.com/search?q=lowrance+paper+graph&sxsrf=ALeKk03TyUf5tnREZZKxG0i4afCwKsorHg:1585459906532&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi596K0-r7oAhUIip4KHRkaDKAQ_AUoAnoECAsQBA&biw=1220&bih=602&dpr=1.25#imgrc=U-UCm0phQrlYpM

LOL but there's always a bigger one! I believe you said almost the exact same thing in one of the older Striker 4 threads I just read, or some other graph thread! It's what got me looking at them again instead of settling on the Striker I think. I don't know if I should thank you yet but the bait monkey does! Problem is I have to justify the $139 for the cheapest one as it is, to myself I mean. It IS the apocalypse after all and I'm already buying beer with my survival cash. I don't know if I can fool myself into justifying one twice as expensive (5 inch), at least not right now. I mean I can get a 6 or 7 inch for $499 I can twist my arm and get the ClearVu one for $179. Looks purty anyways. I wonder if the vertical display of the 4s is easier to read than the horizontal 5 inch? I mean it's $120 for an extra .7 inches. If I'm spending that much more I may as well...sigh. It seems like ClearVu could help me identify structure better or easier than the normal view, which is important. I tried an experiment. I found a few screenshots from the units and viewed them on my phone so they were about the size of the Garmin screen. Then I viewed it from different distances to see how blurry my eyes made it look. I could do the small screen I think. Maybe if I used an adjustable arm for a mount. I guess I could put on a Tyvek suit and go to Bass Pro and look at them. They must have all of them on display.

I'm wondering if the extra $40 for the ClearVu is worth it, especially on a 4.3 inch screen. I have used a fish finder one time, sort of, so no real experience. I've done a lot of reading and Youtubing of various models, but I just can't tell if ClearVu will help me. Most of my fishing will be from a kayak in water anywhere from 3 - 50 feet. Mainly 20 or less though. What I'd really like is a bigger screen. Not sure the 5 inch model is worth $300 to me though. I think I can get away with the 4.3 inch screen without reading glasses. Is ClearVu better for seeing structure or fish or both? I can't see fish in any CV images I've seen, which are admittedly very few (and I'm no expert).

I broke off a 4/0 EWG on a Striper from shore. Caught it again later and got my hook back. San Joaquin River near the Delta.

I have medium size. I have it on 14 pound mono (.014 " / .36 mm). It's nice and snug after one day of use, I just felt it on my rod. I got them for 10 pound line but haven't tried that but my guess is medium would work. I think they have a chart you can reference. So far they hold their position well. I've only used 1/4 oz weight at the most. My Amazon order says "100 Pack" but they are 100 bundles of 6 stoppers, so 600 haha. I've had them awhile but just started using them. Edit: It's amazing/scary that 1,200 of anything that is manufactured, marketed, packaged, sold and shipped from a far off land (to me) can be bought for less than $10.

Caught my PB with a White Pearl Fluke, T-rigged with a quarter oz bullet, but fished it like a jerk bait with very quick pauses. Unpegged. A foot or two beneath the surface in maybe 6 feet of water, from shore. Caught a lot that way last year. Edit: Three years ago those first few sentences would have been complete gibberish to me

Got 600 for $7 on Amazon. Yep - they came in a 600 pack (I just looked and they are now 1200 for $8 what the...?). I give them away any chance I get.

If he chased a bluegill I'd definitely try some 'gill colored baits! You almost had him with a live one so I agree with the poster above, all of em actually

Talked to a Ranger an hour ago (I typed this yesterday but didn't submit) while fishing from the bank. Not sure who he was with didn't get that close. He checked my license from a distance, sun in my eyes. This is in Santa Clara County - he said it's fine to bank fish now as it's an outdoor activity. There were many people fishing today as well as yesterday. More than normal I'd say, which isn't a lot. You can park anywhere along the road and fish. I walked across the dam. He's more concerned about the parks in the city where he feels people are abusing the exercise rule. Too many people touching too many surfaces, especially kids who will pick their nose any chance they can. I saw some carp jump. No bites for me. 55 degree water. This was at Chesbro Lake. Things can change any time of course. I forgot all about this virus stuff for three hours or so today while fishing. I needed that. Tomorrow I have to work and think a lot about it.

Well lakes are now closing all around it seems, disregard my earlier post. Calero, Lexington, Don Pedro, Camanche, all closed. I bank fished the lake 2 miles from my house today and there were a lot of people there. The lake sucks for fishing, but it's water so what the heck. I'd imagine I can still get a kayak onto the delta any time, so that will have to be it. My Dad lives on Tulloch, but how can I visit him when he's almost 78 years old and I have no way of knowing if I'm infected with the virus?

Me either! Not that you're asking and I hope you don't mind me saying, but I'd pitch in $30 or so for repairs to help keep those happy kids happy, and Dad too. Seriously. You have earned points, at least here. No offense intended we all have our pride, but just throwing that out there. #@&% those guys That's a messed up thing to happen and I don't want to see those idiots get the last word in. They're probably the same people who leave all the trash around.

There's info on this page about SF Bay Area parks staying open, including lakes. Info is hard to find. I have found no mention of lake closures in Northern CA, but there may be some, or many. My Dad lives on Tulloch but it's too late to call him. One of the reasons the parks are open is because getting exercise is apparently part of Newsom's "okay to do" list. https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/03/18/bay-area-parks-and-beaches-whats-open-during-coronavirus-shutdown/ Anderson will be drained this year, not sure about Coyote. If I wasn't able to work I'd be at Tulloch fishing my heart away.

The Earth doesn't need saving, we do. The Earth seems to be taking care of itself just fine right now with this here virus thingy. One day it may nail us real good. Meantime, I'm going fishing PS: I hate littering too.

My next action camera will probably be a CraigsList GoPro 6 for $150 or so. I'd get that over the 7 even for the same price. Look into the differences if interested. I have a GoPro clone and it's good but they don't make that particular one anymore. My boss just got a GoPro 360 that I get to play with. Shoots 360 degrees. Seems like a pain really.

I don't have confidence until I see that something actually works. I'm a skeptic by nature and there's a lot of snake oil in fishing I read several other threads on this topic yesterday. Many anglers say they don't think it makes a difference but they use it anyways. The manufacturers are fine with that! I thought I had the magic color crankbait at one lake last summer - was catching fish very well. Then I lost the bait and tied on a completely different color. Caught fish. Then I lost that bait and tried a chartreuse crank. Caught fish. So...? My magic color wasn't magic at all apparently. I must admit that it is hard to know if something is working when fishing - it's difficult to do a controlled experiment with fish! I haven't tried attractant yet, but I will. Seems like it could keep a fish from letting go as quickly. Then again if that fish doesn't like that particular flavor it may do the opposite! Heck I don't know if anything works! Hmmmm

I hardly ever deflect my cranks off of anything and they are my best producing bait as of now. I fish from shore mainly these days so I just fish them that way a lot. Between the rattles and the action of the bait there's plenty for fish to notice.

I've yet to be able to catch a spawning bass. I find it very difficult.

Sure many people would like one. I'd like a Ferrari too but the price point keeps me in my Toyota truck (rather have the truck really). Toyota's net income blows away Ferrari, so if Hobie wants to be elite and make less money like them, they've made the right choice. I see no way to justify a 5k price tag for that kayak. What's the drive worth, a thousand or so? The seat maybe $400. The rest is plastic. They must charge by the pound.