Alex from GA

Last weekend I finished an ultra light rod a person on another site bragged about. It's a Mudhole SC72UL blank. I used an Okuma reel with 4 lb mono and Monday I tied a 1/32 oz Beetle Spin on it and went out for bluegill. It casts great and catches bluegill. Tuesday I put a TR worm with a 1/16 oz bullet weight and a finesse worm to try for bass. I caught 1 small bass and couldn't set the hook on a couple more bass. This morning I was determined to catch a decent bass so changed to a lighter wire hook and bent the barb down and caught a small bass and a 2.18 Alabama bass. I couldn't set the hook on a couple more fish. It boils down to don't use a rod that's too soft if you're bass fishing with a worm.

Amazon has the Onyx/Basspro pills for under $10 and complete arming kits for $23.

Great fish. I've been in FL for a bunch of winters and haven't caught a bass that big. I was in Maine a few years ago fishing for smallmouth in my kayak but never thought of a LM near that size. In one afternoon on a lake I caught a 3 lb LM, a smaller smallmouth and my first northern pike. Great state with lots of fishing.

I wear an Onyx every time I'm in my boat, in the dock or on the lake. I don't wear an inflatable in the kayak because I tipped over a few years ago and it inflated. It was a PIA. I wear a vest with pockets that hold all my fishing gear in the kayak.

My reaction time is like a high 30s person and I'm 82 also. I find myself less steady in the boat and need to sit to fish and run the trolling motor. I also kayak fish in rivers and creeks and rarely fall out. I still rode dirt trails, on my CR250, @ 75 but no more. I did miss a fish once.

I tie an overhand knot in my line and try to break it (under 10 lb test). This is with mono or fluorocarbon. If it breaks I'll take 10' off and try again. If it breaks I'll replace all of it.

Email the picture to yourself, save it on your desktop and choose it to post.

I had the same problem with the same engine and a friend had a starter and the mounting stuff. I drilled the lower case and put a button there. No it doesn't charge the battery but lasts for several days with a group 27 battery that I also use to run the trolling motor. It was hard for me to pull. Starter, solenoid, mounting and button switch. $200 is worth it.

I use a 2' piece of broken fishing rod under my knees. Put as much pressure as you want.

I have a friend that built an electric only lake boat. He mounted 2 trolling motor heads on an outboard lower unit for go and a regular front mounted for fishing. He's built a couple of these for a local lake. I don't know any details but have seen the boats. I can give you his name and number with a PM.

I replace when the hook breaks off.

I only fish small rivers/creeks in a kayak. I usually fish with bottom baits and feeling the bite is the hardest thing for me. Every laydown, rock, change of current is fished.

When you can't walk you do something about it. '84 bone spurs in the spine; chiseled them off. Problem fixed. 2020 pain in casting/pitching shoulder, shots don't help anymore; arthritis. Replaced shoulder; fishing in about 2 months. Balance after 80 is not like it used to be; don't go near water without PFD. Still fish several times a week.

Trebles I pinch the barbs. Worm hooks I pinch down just enough to hold the worm without slipping out. Other single hook lures I'll leave the barbs.

Back in the very back of a cove where the water was 2' deep I saw stripers had bait cornered and told my partner to throw his bucktail back there. It's too shallow was the reply so I caught a 15 lb striper and still he said it's too shallow. It boiled down to I caught another good one and hooked up with another that I handed off to him. To this day that place was still too shallow. He's 92 and can't fish much unless his SIL or a guide takes him now.

FG at home and 3 turn surgeons knot on the boat.

I have an old, 70s, Shimano Bantam 100 that I use for 8 lb fluorocarbon. I usually use a 1/16th or 1/8th oz bullet weight and a Zoom finesse worm. Throws fine but a 4.7:1 gear ratio is kinda slow.

Don't know what they cost but a friend has an Avid 20XB and loves it.

Quantum Accurist 7:1 with 60 lb Amazon something line. 7 1/2' heavy rod I was given with a broken handle.

Use the darn thing. Most of the parts are the same as the Stradic. I have 2 that I use the heck out of.

Secure the anchor line anywhere with one of these... Easy peasy. Be sure to use 3/16 rivets.

If you have front and rear seats a rain/snow shedding cover is easy to make. I built a frame, out of 1 1/2" pvc, that fits over the seat posts and the middle rests on the deck. The ridge pole is about 3 or 4' above the deck. I put curved, electrical pvc, on the ends. I use a heavy duty silver tarp and many bungees to hold it on the trailer or use gallon water bottles. It's easier to put on with 2 people but I can do it alone if necessary. The pvc lasts forever and the tarp lasts for a couple or 3 years if left out all the time.

Like most of you I avoid docks with people on or near them. I've talked to people on them and never had a bad conversation.

I pretty well know all the hot spots in my neck of the woods but don't fish them 2 days in a row. The weather and wind are the main things I go by if my favorite places don't pan out.

40 or so years ago I found a BBQ spit motor @ a garage sale and adapted it for a dryer. 3 RPM.