kdubracing

If you don’t mind, post what the lure rating says on the rod when you get it.

Specs on website show the 7'1 as 1/4-1 oz lures. I'm guessing that is the wrong info OP stated. What is the actual lure rating? I'm guessing it goes to at least 1 1/2 oz.

I'm looking at basically the same thing. My priorities would be 1. hollow body frogs 2. flipping jigs and beavers into brush and grass edges 3. light punching grass (1/2-3/4 oz. probably). My dilemma is while I would like to use it to fish mainly frogs, I think I will have a lot more opportunity to flip into brush. This will be my only heavy rod for a little while. Would you choose the 7'1" still? Then in a couple of years get a dedicated frog rod? Or would you go with the 7'4" first for all of it, then get a dedicated jig rod later? Interested since you have experience with both. I have the 6'10 MH in this line and absolutely love it for my main all around rod.

I do the same, but don’t carry them in anything. I just put the hooks in the hook keeper and wrap the line around the rod a couple of times. That helps a lot more than you would think it does.

I'm thinking about taking a trip with the wife and son for a long weekend. We would like to camp and kayak fish. Looking for something in the lower half of WI, maybe slightly north. We would like something smaller that probably has a HP limit or electric only for big boats. Don't really want a normal large lake unless there are a lot of little coves/etc. Any suggestions to look into?

My opinion: I can understand there being a difference between Yamamoto and Yum/Zoom on wacky rig and weightless t-rig. But as a swim jig trailer, I can’t see the difference being near what the price difference is.

I just got my first order of Siebert jigs in today. Wow, they look great. I can't wait to get them wet tomorrow. Very fast turnaround also. I'm pretty sure I know where all my future jigs will come from.

I know it isn't ideal for a frog rod, it's just what I have right now. I'm going to be getting a frog/pitching rod this winter. It works fine for the moment. As far as a jig rod, unless you're throwing something really heavy or super thick cover, I think it's a great rod for that purpose. A heavy would be better for thick cover though.

I tied a frog on my 6’10 MH-F last night. I caught a couple of decent fish and had to drag them through the grass in a kayak. The rod was great. I’ve used this rod for jigs 1/4-1/2, t-rig 1/4-1/2, crankbaits, jerkbaits, frogs, and even threw a wacky senko on it a time or two. I love this rod.

I play “how high up that tree can I cast my lure”.

This is going to be an individual thing. My back has no issues at all with my kayak. My butt gets sore after a while, but a $20 hunting cushion from Dick's helps that a lot. I'm also not trying to fish in any kayak tournaments either. I just want to get out on the water for a while and have some fun fishing. There will always be a "yeah, but if you spend $xxxx more you can get this". Each person has their own needs. Maybe OP doesn't have the money to spend on a $1500 kayak. Maybe he does, but doesn't want to. I personally could get a $1500 kayak if I really wanted to, but I don't. I want to spend my money on other things. I also have 2 other people that want to kayak fish with me. So that's 2 more of everything. OP, decide what you want out of it. Would you be content with fishing a little less time because you have an inexpensive kayak that won't allow you to comfortably spend 10 hours on the water? Will your budget only allow a $400 or less kayak? Do you want to entertain the thought of a more expensive kayak? I'd rather spend $400 and get out on the water and have some fun rather than not get anything because the more expensive kayaks are nicer.

I cut a pool noodle and attached it all the way around the bottom of the crate. It helped that problem a lot.

We have a couple of Lifetime Tamarak Anglers from Walmart, about $250. We also have a Bass Pro Ascend 10T that was like $450. I bought the Ascend for me and the others for my wife and son. I ended up giving the Ascend to my wife. My son and I use the Lifetimes. They are great for $250 or so. It comes with a decent rod holder and a crappy paddle, but the paddle will work fine for a little while. It's a great way to get off the bank for not much money. And getting off the bank has been much more fun. You can spend the rest of the $400 on a pfd and a better paddle. Make your own crate for cheap if you want more tackle room. I have a crate, a Garmin Striker 4, and I have a waterproof 3600 I velcro between my feet for an easy access box. It's a great starter setup, or an inexpensive setup for someone that just wants to have some fun.

I use it for a LOT of things. But that is mainly due to not having many rods. At the moment, my arsenal consists of a M Ugly Stick, a ML Fury spinning, and this rod. I will be slowly expanding over the next few years, but I'm just now getting back into fishing a lot. I've thrown jigs, squarebills, T rig, jerkbaits, wacky senko, medium diving cranks, and probably a few other things on it. I bought it to be my main workhorse, and so far I love it for everything above. It's a good mix of sensitivity and enough backbone for everything I need.

I got this rod in MH this winter. I love it.

@AJH just FYI, Lake Storey is now closed to recreational fishing. I'm down to one place to kayak fish now.

I would sub some Yum Dingers instead of the Senkos. You’ll save $5 and there isn’t much difference, especially on a budget. You can get some 4” BPS worms for like $3 and a pack of BPS 1/0 offset hood for another couple. Some probably 1/4 bullet weights for the 4” worms. Maybe some Ned rig stuff since you have light spinning tackle. If you stick to the simple things, like Texas rig worms or stickbaits, weightless or wacky stickbaits, maybe Ned rig, maybe some inline spinners (you can get some cheap ones), $50 will go a long way.

I have a Legalis 2500 on a 7’ Fury. It’s a great smaller set up. The 1000 would be pretty small, not in a bad way.

Thanks for the heads up. Hopefully we can get back to fishing everywhere soon.

I've been to Heidecke once maybe? The cooling lake near Morris. I have never been to LaSalle though. I'm planning on going to Shabbona sometime after it opens back up. There's quite a few places I want to go with the kayaks when everything opens. And a lot more after I get the boat. We fish for bass only, and sometimes hook something else. My wife is the definition of casual angler. She throws whatever is on her spinning rod. Mainly t-rigs worms. Sometimes will take a fish off her hook, sometimes won't. Will take plenty of breaks. She mainly just likes being outside.

Thanks. My son went to St. Bede and they took some homecoming or prom photos at Baker Lake a couple of years ago. It looked like it might get pressured just due to the location. I just fished Lake Storey for the first time a few weeks ago. It's not bad. It'll be interesting to see how it fishes when the water warms a bit. It seems like it has some good spots and is very accessible with a kayak. I hooked a good musky on a crankbait that broke off right at the shore a few weeks ago. I've caught a couple of crappie and a bass or two. My son has caught a couple of bass and hooked a decent pike that broke off as it got to the kayak too. We've started fishing a lot more the last couple of years, and just got us all (wife, son, me) kayaks. Now I'm ready to hit some more spots but they're all closed! The last couple of years have fished a lot from the bank at Mautino and Snakeden Hollow. My son is in college now, although he's home the rest of this term. Fishing is my empty nest hobby and my wife will actually go too. Gonna get a boat next year so we'll be able to hit a lot more spots. Where do you usually go when things are open?

I'm guessing you're going to Mendota or Baker Lake? I have never fished either one, probably should sometime. Are those usually halfway decent? I've been going to Galesburg mostly. And yes, the few fish we've caught have still been pretty cold. I'm out of town working this week, but will hopefully get a line wet this weekend sometime. Not sure where, or off the bank or in a kayak yet. I haven't found much that is still open.

I've liked the Berkeley Fusion dropshot hooks. Simple, inexpensive, good quality and work well.

Have you been fishing anywhere public? Just curious since all the state parks are closed. I'm not far from you in Marshall County. We've been having to drive a ways to find a place to fish. Hasn't been great for me yet either. Water temp last I fishing a week or so ago was right at 50. Just before it cooled off again. Hopefully it starts warming up soon.

Somewhat related question. When you are fishing a buzzbait not from a boat (bank, kayak) where you can’t cover water as quickly, what is your method to fish the buzzbait? Do you throw it over and over? Or do you throw it a few times, throw something else for a bit, then go back to the buzzbait?