Michigander

There are a lot of kayak tournaments, but that only helps if they are happening in the OP's area. There's a few one offs around here but I would be out of luck if I was looking for a regular club.

Someday, hopefully slightly sooner than fifty years, I hope to be a good jig fisherman. I just figured out the basics last year after years of struggle. However, now it's always on my deck and I believe in them now. I try to "unlock" a lure or technique for myself every year. Looking back on my years of jig failure, my technique was bad and my gear was mismatched. Gear isn't everything, skill trumps it almost every time, but it sure helps.

I'm planning two builds for my new X-ray blanks Hopefully they arrive early in the new year. With NFCs reputation regarding speed and holiday postal overload, I am buckled in to be patient. That being said, I have plenty of time to deep dive on components. So I am trying to figure out what the functional differences are between the carbon fiber grips (like the G2s, CFX, or NFC soft touches) and Winn Grips. So other than: -Price -Weight, with a Winn Grips setup being on average ten grams heavier (roughly two US nickels) -Generally smooth and rigid carbon vs soft and grippy Winn What are the performance differences?

If you're trying to get into local tournaments, you'll need a livewell which is prohibitive on a kayak. Honestly, I would just do some mods on your current setup and save the extra cash for a bass boat down payment. Also helps to have rainy day cash.

The Bait Monkey would advise you to buy more hooks in various sizes to compare them. Then maybe add a nice new tackle tray to keep them organized.

Ok, so yours does not have that weave pattern on it? It's just a solid color throughout?

@Teal What do the G2 grips feel like? Smooth, textured, grippy?

Looks like you found yourself a Truscend brand, available on Amazon.

I have to put faith in my gear, so I will let that extend to all parts of it. I've never lost a fish due to faulty drag. Though, I do lots of preventative maintenance to my reels and polish my metal drag washers to a mirror finish.

Hard to say without knowing how it assigns location data.

Going against the wind/current cuts your speed down, that's why I said 3mph. ?

I find that rods in the 7'2"-7"5" range are the most comfortable for me to fish while standing on a boat. I don't notice much if any accuracy difference between shorter rods. Nor do I notice a casting distance difference. I think the angler's height and rod preference will determine which length is best for that angler.

Maybe I'll start using a chatterbait....

I've been told by several people far beyond my years not to get old, sounds like a bum deal. Not quite sure how to comply with that advice....

It's not big (only 1.87lbs) but after 12 hours of throwing swim baits over two trips I was glad to have it this afternoon.

Yeah, depends on your water. If a top speed of about 3mph will get it done, then you're aces. For years, I used to fish out of a tin boat that only had oars and did fine.

TW got hit hard enough that their server was non responsive several times. It'll probably take a couple business days to sort everything out. That reminds me, I need to get an order into NFC before the end of tomorrow....

Thanks! I'm hoping each subsequent trip will be better. If I can crack 4 lbs I will at least have a new personal lake record there. I'm hoping that since basically no one goes there this time of year, the big ones will get a little complacent. ?

"Person" is defined differently than you would think. Also, those can be hard to fish from without adding hard floors as you're half laying down the whole time.

Yeah, it was rough out there. I got quite the workout paddling against the wind to get back to my truck! I'm just glad I got some positive reinforcement. I put a few more pieces of the puzzle together today. I need an anchor. It's too hard to fish these as slow as I think they need to be with my kayak getting rocketed out by the wind. Need to go buy a rivet gun now.

It was pretty windy out there today so boat control was challenging. Went to the opposite side of the lake from the first trip. It was more productive, I saw a small bass and a painted turtle. I also got bit twice! I missed the first one because I was so surprised that I was getting a bite, I was second guessing if it was a fish because I didn't know what a bite felt like on my rod or with a swim bait. I swung after the second thump which I assume was the fish spitting the bait out. However, when the second strike came later, I knew what I was dealing with and got that one in the net. About five pounds lighter than I was going for but I also needed a moral victory to get my confidence up. First soft swim bait fish!

Yep, that's the data I used to choose the lake. It's possible it is the same fish but last year one of our tournaments produced one in the upper sixes, so I'm cool catching that one too, lol. Most of the small mouth were transplants by people living on the lake. Other than the ones that have spawned, they're probably in the 3-4lb range. Trip 2: Launched about 10am. Air temp was 34 per truck. Water temp unknown Wind was 8-15mph No clouds, sunny

Depends on your area. I would look at the going rate for a similar setup on Craigslist to give you an idea. If the prop is busted, I'd bet the battery isn't amazing either. So you're in for at least a new prop, new tires, a few other incidentals and a battery plus possibly a charger, so you'll probably be closer to $600 when all is said and done. Also, check your state laws for boat/trailer registration, licenses, and fees.

Yep, seems easy, right? We'll see tomorrow morning. Was supposed to go out today but that didn't work out.