kayaking_kev

Nothing special besides being my first fish of 2021. Jerkbait fish.

Starting from bottom to top. (Click on the picture and it will make it bigger) NFC X-Ray SJ-736 - H/F, cut down to 7'0" / NFC Carbontex Grips / G2 Razor Carbon Reel Seat / G2 Carbon Insert / G2 Carbon Foregrip Sleeve / Fuji SiC Guides / Cagey Hook Spiral Wrapped Guides / Decal from Decal Connection / Shimano Metanium MGL NFC X-Ray MB-736 - MH/F / G2 Carbon Grips / G2 Blade Carbon Reel Seat / G2 Carbon Foregrip Sleeve / Fuji Titanium Torzite Guides / Simple Spiral Wrapped Guides / Carbon Fiber Rod Skin / Decal from Mudhole / Daiwa Tatula SV ( First rod that I built ) NFC X-Ray MB 7109 - Mag Heavy/MF, cut down to 7'6" / CFX Carbon Composite Grips / G2 Vibe Reel Seat / G2 Carbon Insert / G2 Carbon Foregrip Sleeve / Fuji Black Alconite Guides / Simple Spiral Wrapped Guides / Diamond Wrap / Decal from Decal Connection / Daiwa Tatula CT Type-R Phenix X-10 Composite - M/MF / Winn Grips / G2 Razor Carbon Reel Seat / G2 Carbon Insert / G2 Carbon Foregrip Sleeve / Fuji SiC Guides / Marbling / Decal from Decal Connection / Shimano SLX MGL 70 NFC X-Ray MB-733 - ML/F / G2 Carbon Split Grips / American Tackle AERO Carbon Spinning Reel Seat / Fuji Sic Guides / Marbling / Decal from Decal Connection / Shimano Vanford 2500 ----------------------------------------------------- I will upload more pictures when I'm able to and also talk about some things regarding the building process, such as where I had the most difficulty. I have been able to catch fish on 4 of the 5 rods in only the few times I have been able to fish this Spring, but I haven't fished with the other one yet.

I have a MB-733 that I built for finesse with a Vanford reel. I'm right down I-75 from you, do you have any really good fishing holes that might tempt me to come there and let you handle my MB-733, haha.

I've had a 6'3", 6'6", (6) x 7'0", 7'2", (3) x 7'3", 7'4", & 7'5" Dobyns, and my favorite length is the 7'0". Outside of the Xtasys my favorites are the DX 702c, FR 703c, DC 704cb Glass. The DC 734c wasn't really for me. My least favorite Dobyns though was probably the DC 736cb Glass, it was heavy and didn't have the balance to make up for it.

I don't think I cast very far. Being a former QB and knowing how far I could throw a football and seeing how far I can cast, it doesn't seem like I cast but maybe 40 yards on a good day and that's with a good casting lure like a lipless or dark sleeper. But, I'm also used to fishing for accuracy on skinny rivers more so than bomb casting on open waters, and only have 3 seasons of using a bait caster under my belt. I also don't loosen the spool tension a lot or have mastered the thumbing needed to do that yet. My settings are usually set to where I cast every BC with only needing to use my thumb to stop the lure when it hits the water. I'm also a side caster and also seem to get better distance when casting backhanded for some reason, probably something to do with my mechanics. Hopefully with time and practice I will get better.

I went to a small pond the other day, one that two years ago nobody knew about. There were 6 other people there on a 50 degree day with 20+ mph winds, and I was there less than 2 hours. It got bad last year, and this year looks like it's going to be even worse. I thought with 20+ mph+ winds that there wouldn't be anyone out there, but I was clearly wrong. What's worse is some of them keep any bass they catch and in one year have pretty much destroyed it. I used to catch double digits every time, sometimes 20, now it's tough going. There was only a handful of 3 and 4 lbers in there, but people have took most of them. I also hate when I see an angler catch a big bass out of there, and some noob comes up to them and ask them if they can have it and the angler just gives it to the noob. And, never let them hold it when they ask, because they won't want to give it back. I conceal carry for a reason around here. I'm no great angler, but these people flat out suck and can't catch fish on their own and most of the time they are low character people. But, then you have someone who comes along who at least knows how to fish a little and what baits to throw get their attention and gladly tell them all what to do. Then all of a sudden they go from bobber & worm fishing to bass fishing and you start seeing them at other fishing holes, then they tell all their friends and suddenly every is fishing for bass and a lot of them keep them. I hope to spend a lot of time kayaking the rivers in solitude this season.

I always keep a couple of them around to throw while bank fishing when it's too risky to throw more expensive spinner baits. They have always caught me fish, but the skirts do like to come loose and always need readjusting.

I was in your position in 2018 and now have owned 20+ baitcasters, but I still have my Black Max & Pro Max. Listen to those that are saying not to try to cast to hard. I'm not sure if your coming from fishing with spinning gear, but around here most people still use it and they whip their cast so hard and fast that you can hear the sound across a nice sized pond. Trying to cast a baitcaster like that will get you a birds nest and if your knot isn't good, lose you a lure. Even my DC reel will birds nest trying to cast like that. Practice, like others have mentioned, use some cheap line. Three seasons later with a BC and I still need to practice certain things. If you want to increase distance, loosen the spool tension little by little and practice thumb control.

I got them shipped from their site and they had a lot of colors available, I got 9 different colors and there was at least 15 available at that time. I got enough of them and a few other things to put me over $50 to qualify for the free express shipping. Edit: Still (29) 1/2 oz. different colors available online at the time of this post.

I picked up a bunch of 1/2 oz. Red Eyed Shad from BPS for $3.99, lots left for now. The 1/2 oz. are cheaper than the 1/4 oz. for some reason.

I grab the line whenever flipping a fish is risky and I don't want to break my rod. It's usually when I'm bank fishing and the drop off is steep and I lift straight up quickly. The only problem I've had grabbing the line was while trying to pull a big catfish closer to the kayak on 6# line because it wouldn't fit in my net and I got inpatient after fighting it for 45 minutes on a UL setup at night. It seemed gassed out, but as soon as I grabbed the line it started kicking and easily broke the line. Lesson Learned!

I would also say those would be two different rods. Maybe a Dobyns Colt 703c for squarebills or a used Fury 703c if you can find one for around $75. All of the Dobyns Colt Series rods have 15% Glass in them, so they make good moving bait rods. Then for the 5xd, I would look into the 13 Defy Black Crankbait rod, or something that handles heavier lures that's within your budget.

I've had the 705 & 736 Glass rods, and I personally didn't care much for the 736 as I thought it was a bit heavy at 6.0 oz, but if you don't mind the weight that's probably the rod for you. Keep in mind their crankbaits rods, at least their glass, are not perfectly balanced like a regular Dobyns because as a tip down technique, it doesn't have to be. So unlike other Dobyns, that 6.0 oz. is going to feel like 6 oz. rod due to the imbalance. I loved throwing 3/8-1/2 oz. lipless on the 705, but I think I always threw 3/8 oz. bladed jigs + trailer on it and can't remember if I ever threw 1/2 oz. The 736 was more of a heavier bladed jig rod, but I would think you could get away with a 1/2 oz. + a small trailer on the 705. I've never tried the 705 Glass MF, but I heard it's whippy and if it's any where near as whippy as the 704 Glass, it wouldn't be good.

Finally got a pair of good sunglasses and picked up another Tatula Type-R to match a recent custom build.

I just bought my first one recently, I'm guessing it's a newer version? I thought they were more of a shallow diving lure, but the one I got dives 7-11 ft, but maybe I just got a different series.

I have the Perch pattern WP size 60, but haven't been able to use it yet here. It's a weird Perch pattern, to me it looks like a frog on top and a bass on the side. I have every size, but the 190, but I normally like to throw the size 90. Occasionally, I will throw the 75 or 110, but I haven't even thrown my 130 yet. I only use them on the small, shallow rivers that I kayak and the smallmouth & rock bass tear them up. And, on those shallow skinny rivers they will bite them almost all season long, even if it's Sunny in the middle of the day.

I own or have owned several brands and I will basically only buy Shimano or Daiwa anymore. For me personally, Shimano is #1, I just think they feel better in my hand and feel more refined than Daiwa's. While all the Daiwa's I have owned have been nice reels, I really only love the Tatula SV, but I admit there's a lot I haven't tried on the higher end, but a lot of them seem big or heavy. I do like the look of Daiwa's better though. Lew's and Abu Garcia's probably feel the best in the hand to me, but not once you start reeling with a fish on the line and IMO, they don't compare with Shimano or Daiwa in durability or longevity. 13 Fishing reels are kind of hit and miss for me, some are decent and some are junk, so I just stay away now. I've had Penn Pursuit III spinning reel for 3 years now that had been good to me, but I think it's better suited for salt water.

I have a Dobyns Champion XP 704cb Glass rod and a Custom Phenix Composite X-10 that work great with them, both are paired with SLX MGL 70's. The Champion is probably slightly better for lighter cranks, but not by much, but the Phenix weighs a lot less overall though.

I picked up a few things lately.

I've had the Fury 663c and 703c and to me it seems the 703c had slightly more of a tip, and the 663c reached the backbone a little faster making it feel a little more powerful, but the differences are very small. Shorter rods are going to be more accurate casting and longer rods are going to give you more leverage on hooks sets.

I love the Fury 703c for jerkbaits, squarebills, and shallow divers, but I wouldn't throw medium divers on it unless their light enough and the trebles aren't too big. Not the best power for bladed jigs though.

Tatula 7'0" Medium Power/Regular Action did a good job for those baits for me. I'm selling mine in like new condition/less than a year old for $95+shipping.

I ordered my Kaden prototype last year through email because the phone lines were so backed up and they didn't accept any orders online at that time.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lifetime-Tamarack-Angler-10-ft-Fishing-Kayak-Paddle-Included-90508/28912499?selected=true Add a stadium seat for $10-$15 and a few other small mods and a good paddle. There's a lot of videos of mods done for this kayak on youtube. I don't have one, but if I was looking for one in that price range I would seriously consider it.

I would personally go with the 733 being a Northern guy and fishing for smallies also. Guys down South would probably prefer the 734 as they usually deal with bigger fish and usually don't have any smallies down there. I've had the Fury 703 and Champion 734 and found the 3 power more versatile for my style of fishing and being a Northern guy. If you're going to use to it mostly for bottom baits though, I would consider waiting for a sale or saving more money and getting a Kaden, Sierra, Champion, something with a bit more sensitivity.