michaelb

I have been trying fat senkos. Not sure they catch more fish, but they cast farther and better in wind. And they are significantly more durable and last longer. I use heavy #4 screw lock hooks and so may be a better match to those hooks too.

I have done this fairly regularly if i am sliding out on my kayak for an hour or paddling along with others. I use a paddletail on a swim jig hook, since i can fish that fast or slow and at all depths. I have had to paddle back if some little perch chomps the tail off though.

I also have the werner camano; it was expensive but well worth it. I loan out my kayaks all the time but never my paddle. I have the adjustable 240-260 which is also key. I generally use 252 or so, but that is because any longer gets in my way when stored for fishing. But if i had a long slog home vs wind and waves going out to 260 does help. Check your paddle style with those drips: are you bringing your hand up so the paddle stroke is vertical? While that can work for a surf launch or sprint or river, keeping your hands down and using a low angle stroke is more efficient and less work over long distances.

I don’t like the uni knot and find it hard to tie; you have to loop back twice and then wrap inside. I do use it to tie my main line to the backing but thats on a bench. The sd jam is easier and i use that or the palomer depending on the setup.

Not sure why you need a double hook on the rear. I find a single hooks up just fine on the tail. Are you catching fish on the upside down hook? I worry about missing fish on the front more that the rear. Those front hits are often the big hits say a top water and its a bummer to have tgat and then miss the fish. That can happen with trebles too.

Cool boat. I want a solo canoe. Do you use a single or double paddle?

I hate trebles; on my kayak I can’t be dealing with hooks flailing around. I avoid buying stuff with 3 sets. I replace the tail with an inline single. But you can leave on the front treble since most hookups are there and if you do hookup with the rear single you can control the lure still and release is easy.

How heavy is your flouro? Is this on a leader? I have been using the sd jam knot because i can tie that pretty well in 20-40lb flouro + as a jam knot it wastes much less leader vs the palomer knot. i have never seen this knot before but it seems complicated and for light lines.

I swap trebles for inline singles. I’m on a kayak and dont want to deal with trebles swinging around. I often leave the front treble on and just swap the rear; I avoid buying hard baits with 3 trebles but if i do I would remove the middle too.

I also use screwlocks and do think they hold better.

On lighter lines like this, try the lefty kreh leader knot. Very easy to tie, something you can do on the boat if you break off. I use the FG knot for heavier flouro (40-50 lb).

I carefully melt the tag end of the braid with a lighter. That seems easier and better than glue or tying a fancy finish. Seems to work some of my leader knots have lasted months

Yes look at capacity but there is no standard. More important is the size and shape. So 12’ long and 35+ wide. Nucanoe does have excellent options. Its 11.5 long but the perception outlaw should be / is the benchmark big guy kayak. You can spend lots more too. Any dealers around that would have demos? The jackson bite is also reasonably priced.

One of the best choices. Probably not going to win races but for fishing should be great.

I fish for pike on my kayak and there is a chance for musky. I switch trebles for inline singles (i may leave the front treble). I bring gloves and lots of release tools. for the net practice the technique of putting the handle under your leg so you can unhook the fish on the side in the water. I find long handles get in the way and decided to get an xl sized net. Ego nets lets you buy the parts separately so i have a floating 18” handle on the xl net head. the muskyfool site looks interesting and now i am worried i am going to spend some money.

Why pick that one over the all terrain version with a skirt? I love paddletails and spinnerbaits and this is an interesting combo

I think the jackson bite is the best beginner kayak out there and all most folks may need for a long time. Excellent compromise of design/ quality / stability/ price.

I think it looks pretty cool. If you paddle moving water with drops and rifts. There may not be many other river boats. Jackson has one at least but i like the yupik. I would want space for camping gear and float trips and prefer the seat to really be able to move back and forth.

My paddleboards are large and stable but not enough for fishing. Paddleboards do paddle pretty well sitting with a kayak paddle. I paddle my kayak frequently standing up too. in addition to crescent sup+, look at kaku’s voodoo or even better the zulu. I want one.

I like crosskix. To me they are definitely more comfortable than crocs and more protective. I like the 2.0s better because i can slip them on and off and they fit much wider. But the apx are a water ready sneaker if they fit and you want laces. https://crosskix.com/collections/shop

I was gifted a sims hoody with bug protection and yes i think it is very nice

Not sure i have all the answers but i have tried and use several flouro options. i make leaders with 80 abrazx using crimps. Those have a coastlock snap on one end and a swivel on the other. I haven’t had one fail and they hold up well; i worry about hooking a musky since most folks go heavier there. I really like being able to grab the heavy leader when landing a fish. This is my pike rig for trolling and spinnerbaits; i have caught tons of bass too. i also have 40 sunline leader with an fg knot (it took lots of practice). That is 4-5’ long and i connect with a sd jam knot. The sunline handles much softer then seagar blue and ties nicely. This my main rig for bass and pike and haven’t had a pike go through this yet. I retie after each pike because i can feel nicks in the line. i also have seagar blue in 40 and now 50. I could never tie it reliably and so use crimps. I will add a 10” leader section to a hook, like for a paddle tail and then tie that to my main line. Mastering the fg makes this less useful but it works too.

Not sure if i am spending more time picking or fishing this week.

Yes a 10 foot kayak can fit in some suvs particularly if can also put the passenger front seat down or leave the rear open. I have an element that does work. the most important thing about putting a kayak inside, is after you have everything packed, don’t push on the back of the kayak to squeeze it in. Because that extra inch you got in the back may now be sticking through your windshield.

Others have mentioned this, but a paddle tail on a weighted swimbait hook may be better than a senko in terms of ripping through weeds. For the senko, trigged weight less and the key will be that initial drop (so casting into spots). You can swim the senko back.