schplurg

Stability is important even if you don't stand. I feel way more comfortable in my newer yak then my old one, even sitting. I felt shaky in my old yak when I turned around to access my crate. I had to think about it at least a little. In my Sportsman I can move around as if I were in my living room. Twist, crouch, stand, turn around to grab something that went way under my seat. I don't really even think about it. Koz is correct above. Well for me, I went the cheap route with a paddle and didn't like it. Almost gave it up entirely, until I bought my new yak. World of difference. The paddle was the deal breaker, but that's just me. I couldn't stand having to grab it all the time, drop the rod just to move a few feet. Plus it hurt my tendinitis. Try one first if you can. Any kayak. Heck fish out of an inner tube even and get an feel for it all.

My pedal drive floats supposedly. Hard to believe. I've never tested it.

I like my bottoms with a little cushion, not too firm, not too soft, but juuuust right.

I have the toothpick still and I use it all the time. Knife is on my desk for whatever reason. I don't use it for fishing much because of the lack of pliers, hence the multi-tool. After all these years though the swiss knife works perfectly, scissors and all.

Try attaching a hand grenade or perhaps a nice thick floating net to the buoys (for their prop). I have a hard time watching people screw with me and keeping calm. I do not advocate, in fact I hate it when guys say "Oh I'll just toss a crankbait at them". Sure, forum-tough guy. Someone did that to us once and the guy who owned the boat I was on almost kicked his butt. You do not do that. Ever. And the guys who say they have flashed guns at people? Wow. Real mental giants. I do want revenge don't get me wrong but it usually can't be had. The only people who have ever deliberately messed with me are guys in bass boats. Pleasure boaters are just largely clueless. People in bass boats have casted right on top of my popper before. My revenge was catching the fish and them not. Once.

I'm waiting to see your cartoon version of this

Currently, aside from General Bass Fishing I like the Boating forum. It's kind of slow but I'm interested in people's yak setups mainly. Tackle - I skim through it. Like others have said it's often the same stuff over and over. I'm just not excited by every new lure that comes out either. Everyone wants my money but my sticks, cranks and other lures do me fine. And I am a very skeptical and cynical person. When I see "New and Improved" I actually read it as "Same ol' junk we think you're dumb enough to buy" I think the fishing industry is heavy into BS. My BS detector goes off all the time with some of these products. By the way, what's y'alls favorite lure? Best thing about this forum is the members!

Learned a valuable lesson 2 days ago I wanted to do a quick 3 mile hike up maybe 700 feet. A hike I do regularly. Same hike as the map in the previous post. All I had to eat that day was an apple (hours earlier) and half a turkey sandwich (one thick turkey slice on one piece of folded bread, mustard). Not much at all. Ya. So I get to the top of the big hill and I'm feeling more tired than usual. I was also pushing it a little ...had no backpack so made it all the way up without stopping or resting. Wasn't easy. Suddenly: Legs to brain "We need more energy" Brain "I see, how shall I let Mike know?" Stomach "I got this" My stomach suddenly gets this cavernous feeling, I recognize that warning sign, then BOOM! I'm out of energy, like right now. Done. I'm sweating which is good, I have water with me. It's not hot out. But my head was just a little light headed, not even sure I'd say that, but I felt "weird". Might even be trying to get a headache. I figure it's from lack of food. Duh. A guy and his wife that I had passed earlier asked if I was okay as I stood there hunched over. "Yes, thank you very much for asking" and I told him my situation. This was also evening, not hot. So I let them pass on ahead. I rested then started walking again. The uphills were almost done. Turning around would have been no easier. When I started going downhill I decided dude you need to eat right now. I didn't feel well. I had a half a peanut butter sandwich and some trail mix with me. Was smart enough to bring food, I always do. I ate some of the sandwich and felt a bit better. I slowly followed the family all the way down and thanked them again at the bottom. Seemed like they looked back checking on me every now and then. I was fine really, no danger of passing out or anything, but I looked like crap (I often do). So that's it. I had water and food and was safe (I always bring some kind of food), but I will never forget that. When I do my first overnighter I plan to bring an extra days food just in case. Might need it. I have my meals planned in advance so I get the right protein, carbs, electrolytes and stuff. Did my research there. Last practice hike I did I had a full pack. I could have survived three days or so if I had to even though I was only a mile from civilization. Always have food with you!

They really really need the money! If those guys were all wearing their USCG approved lightning protectors and if the boat had installed a proper lightning rod we wouldn't be having this conversation. Wear your lightning protectors guys!

I have a Swiss Army Knife my Dad got me while he was in Switzerland. I've had it about 40 years, has my name on it. Lost the tweezers! I use a cheap multitool though mainly. I don't see the need for an expensive one for fishing.

See the "Do you carry a gun in your boat" thread. You never know what kind of idiot you are throwing a baseball at.

Everything you said is awesome. I remember you mentioning this last year or so. That is a really cool thing to do! I think I want a job at your hotel! Every time you mention it it sounds so cool. Edit: Maybe I can buy that restaurant next door and solve that issue for ya LOL. Edit 2: Glad you mentioned resisting the "fire a lure at 'em" thing, even if you were half kidding. I'm thinking more along the lines of a projectile I can fire with the rod that is not attached to any line. Maybe feed an old lawn dart through the first 2 guides of a heavy rod and fling that sucker!!! Yes, I'm kidding! I hate that tough guy talk. And can you believe lawn darts actually existed? Man I grew up in a fun time!

Sounds good to me! Few weeks ago I saw a bunch of bluegill and very small bass off my Dad's dock. They'd follow my bait but not commit. Just curious I guess. I love how they follow the bait until it stops, then they just stare at it, like 3 or four of them. Frickin BITE you little #^%$!!!!!!! They're always there in the summer. Kinda wish I had some worms that day. I'd get 'em every cast. It's like you gotta take a step back and look around. "Hey, there's trout in this lake, bluegill, smallies, they're all fun. and who says I have to use fake lures?" One of my most fun days fishing was surf fishing with bass gear for Perch. Me and a friend had a contest and he beat me 13 - 12. That was a blast. I'd never done it before, we ran around, talkin smack to each other, made a video. Great day. No bass.

Heck ya it's addictive! Caught my first LMB on a popper and was hooked (as bad as the fish!). Before that I fished mainly for Delta and river stripers. Was a BPS brand popper I think. I'm cheap.

Consider the news source....some are a lot worse than others. All I'm sayin.

At least you only had to pee!

I used cow manure one year and it stunk too bad so I used something else afterward. Just a thought.

Thanks for reminding me why I like the solitude of fishing and hiking. I sorta work for a retail store but I don't deal with the public. I hear the horror stories though. Sounds like you're on solid ground with these clowns.

Suggestion - I think there should be a better security question then "what is your favorite lure company?" Is this the only question available? Then again you can always make your answer something like "blfgdpl1@#t^" instead of Strike King. I worked for a motorcycle shop and needed to get into the USPS account. It asked for a password but I didn't know it. It then asked me a security question. "What is your favorite sport?" I typed "racing" and got in with one try. True but nobody is going to steal your credit info from most message forums.

Nice review, Koz! Has the rudder cable thing been an issue? I'm guessing not except that you had to loosen it a little? Funny, even with my storage hatches (PDL 106) I put the FF battery in my crate. The hatch just isn't convenient, especially for smaller batteries. The rear storage hatch in mine is useless I think (small opening), except as a hull access, which is not useless but I haven't needed it yet for anything. My front storage hatch, the opening is too narrow. I think it's a bad design. Hard to squeeze anything useful through it, but I do keep the cart and tools, extra prop and pins in there, and a lunch bag thing. I also don't use the transducer mount because I'm afraid I'd smash the unit in certain occasions, like dragging it off the end of a dock. I made a rail-mount. I kind of agree that the lay down rod "holders" can be a nuisance. No matter how you do it there's going to be a rod on the floor. But sometimes that's okay. I guess I can't think of a better solution. In fact now that I think about it I'd lay rods right on the floor in my old yak, so the rod supports are an improvement. I also agree about instant reverse being necessary. It is for me. I think I may get a trailer and install a hitch on my mini-van. That would make launching it about 30 times easier. Great write up! Very happy you are enjoying it!

Yes. Sometimes I feel smaller fish trying to hit a worm and I'll tear the head off and make it smaller. One time I was targeting a smaller fish and after about 6 misses I un-buried the hook (T-rig) and nailed it on the next cast. I bit the end off a plastic worm once.....gross! Musta had salt or other scent in it. Never again!

Good video, and not what I expected!

I know. A bit of hyperbole I guess

I'm pretty sure but not positive that I judge my casting distance better when I have my polarized sunglasses off. I use cheap glasses first off. Maybe they just aren't that clear, and ya I'm using reading glasses more and more, but my distance vision is okay. I don't know if the polarization removes details my eyes would like to use to check the distance or if I'm just imagining it. I've casted 10 feet into reeds before, and sometimes way shorter than I expected. Been experimenting with this for awhile. Anyone else ever wonder about this? Maybe I'm just trippin'

I may have responded early in the thread, but the more I think about it I don't think I'd want to fish every day.