ThatFishingGuy

I have one, it's honestly one of my favorite rods. I use it for texas rigs and jigs from 1/4 to 3/8 or 1/2oz, great sensitivity and I find it balances fairly well with my Shimano SLX.

Not something I have a lot of experience with but maybe check out the Megabass Flap Slap

Going to be upgrading to an Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL and using the Navarre scupper mount for my transducer (Garmin Striker 4), but I also want to be able to take it out to float on creeks and rivers and such. With the scupper mount it sits very close to the hull of the boat but I'm a little worried about stray rocks or boulders that might damage the unit if I get too shallow. Is this something I should be worried about or am I overthinking it? Does anyone remove their transducer if they know they'll be potentially getting very shallow?

I'm looking for a simple, fairly cheap solution for putting my kayak on a trailer. I will likely be going with the Harbor Freight 4x8 folding trailer, but I'm struggling to come up with a simple solution to mount the kayak to the trailer. Would adding something like the Malone Seawings, Thule Dock Glide, or any other similar contraption straight to the crossbars on the trailer work well enough? I'm currently paddling an Old Town Topwater 120, though have plans to eventually upgrade to a Sportsman PDL 120 (so similar hull shape), does anyone have experience putting these on a trailer with a similar setup? I'd love some advice! Thanks!

Question for y'all, if you're car topping or keeping your kayak on a trailer for long periods of time do you put a cover on it to protect it from the sun? Like if you keep it out for a week or a couple

Just heard about this boat, only available for pre-order at the moment. $1600 for a pedal fishing kayak that weighs only 55-77 pounds? Sounds like a nice option, just wish it was longer than 10'. The video on their youtube has footage of people standing and fishing in it too, 33" wide doesn't seem too bad. Thoughts/opinions? https://vibekayaks.com/products/makana-100?variant=42576982671538 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUZp1HGiIQs&ab_channel=VibeKayaks

This thread has me feeling lucky! In Delaware a fishing license will run you $8.50 and a trout stamp $4.20. Less than $15 for a year of all your fishing (for residents. Non-residents are $20 and $6.20 respectively).

Agreed, look around on craigslist or Facebook marketplace for a used one. I got lucky and found an Old Town Topwater 120 barely used for $700, super stable and for a great price I couldn't pass it up. Keep an eye out and you should be able to find something

Anyone tried the Mustang Inflatable Fisherman Vest? Looks like a good balance between having storage options as well as less bulky then your typical PFD's like the chinook (which I also currently own). I find it can be a little bulky for me as a smaller guy, so I'm considering picking one of these up. Not auto inflate, but does have a pull switch which I might prefer as to avoid accidentally setting it off.

Bait monkey got me good this time ?

I was looking at shoes recently for the exact same reason and decided on these. So far I'm loving them! https://smile.amazon.com/Columbia-Summertide-Water-Black-Stone/dp/B08BBY6KCM?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1

I'd say around $200, $250 absolute max. That Daiwa Tatula Elite P/F looks really nice as well, even though it's at the higher end of my budget.

That is a very nice looking reel, you have piqued my interest!

Just picked up a new frogging and flipping stick, now I'm trying to figure out what to pair it up with. I was thinking an SLX (either XT or DC) since the colors would match so well. Any other suggestions? Also what line? I'm torn between 50 and 65lb braid. Thanks!

Do you think the extra fast vs fast tips make that much of a difference? In addition to how different the blanks are for the fury and champion

Which would you prefer?

I have a Fury 734c that I use for frogging and its been great. Even in the thickest lily pads around, I was able to drag a 10lb snapping turtle on 30lb braid up to the bank to get it unhooked.

The Teckel Kicknocker I believe is essentially the same bait, but RI stopped making them.

3/8oz green pumpkin chatterbait, 5.8lbs. The swagger jig I believe, used to be made by Buddha Baits but not any more. Shame too, they were some of my favorites

There was this neighborhood pond that I swore didn't have anything like crawfish in it. Just a big basin with no structure, some bluegills and bass. One day it was very low, and there's a rock pile that forms an arc around a large pipe the connects to the pond. I was walking along the rocks when I noticed two thin lines sticking out from underneath a rock - I lifted the rock, and lo and behold a craw with super long, thin antennae swam away. The more I looked, the more little brown crayfish with long, thin antennae I saw. Moral of the story: never assume what's living in a body of water. I guarantee you, you could find some craws somewhere on that body of water, and there are some bass munching on them.

Been lurking and looking at the responses, really appreciate the input and that I've been able to open up a discussion about mental health. I haven't been fishing yet, the new job has me stressed and beat so by the time I get off all I want is to go home and relax. Honestly, once I get home I don't have the energy to do much more than fixing up dinner, putting on some TV and going to bed. I think that'll change this weekend though, I plan on getting at least a little fishing in and just get out of the house for a while (assuming my motivation carries through). I've been trying to stay off social media as well, like a bunch of people suggested. I didn't realize how often I had been "doom scrolling" and stressing myself out about headlines that I can't change. I am on a prescription, but I think it's time I consider talking things out with a professional and try to get to the bottom of some issues. I'll be honest, too, I strayed from faith in recent years, but in the past it really did help me to feel better and more positive about the things I couldn't control and to recognize the good in life. I'll work on getting more in touch with that side of me as well. Thanks again for the outpouring of support, it means more than you know

I can't be the only one on this site that suffers from mental health issues. I currently take medicine to manage my depression and anxiety, and for the most part they really work, but sometimes the low days hang around longer than I'd wish. Lately I've been feeling very disinterested in my hobbies, including fishing - the weather has been beautiful and I feel like I should want to go fish and take my kayak out, but I just can't find the motivation. It seems like too much effort to be worth it. For those that sometimes feel similarly, do you have any tips? I did recently start a new job, which might explain the stress and worsening mental health, but I'd be very glad to hear what some of the people here do when they're feeling this way. Do you have any fixes that work for you? Ways to change your mindset and overcome these feelings?

I use a 693 Dobyns Sierra for all of the things you listed and it works great, I'd have no concerns with a Fury 3 power

I have one, I recommend if you're gonna use it get a spare phone to pair it with as it will kill your battery (and potentially overheat your phone as well). Recently bit the bullet and bought a Garmin Striker 4cv and can already tell I'm going to like it much better, having a dedicated power source and display.

Not quite sure if this belongs here or in the "Bass Boats, Canoes, Kayaks and more" forum, but here goes. I recently picked up a Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv to mount on my Old Town Topwater 120 (the standard paddle version). I plan on using Navarre's scupper mount to mount the transducer and then using a through hull wiring system and ram ball mount for the receiver. Only question is, do I put it on the left or right track? I'm right handed, all my reels are lefty and I generally side cast from the right, so does it make sense to mount it on the left so it's less in the way? Or I could put it on the right since I tend to land fish from the left (keeping my dominant hand on my rod and landing or using a net with my left). I have plenty of time to think it over as I won't be able to get it on the water for at least another month, but I just don't want to drill holes into my kayak and then end up thinking it'll go better on the opposite side. I would appreciate some input!