Kayak Fishin

Thanks for the replies guys. I went with a 7' MHF to frog with 50 pound braid. It won't get a ton of use, and my frogging spots are mostly lily pad fields with open spaces. Plenty of power.

I got ya. Makes sense!

That's kind of the way I'm leaning. Was also debating the UL but my medium light can throw 1/32 ounce jig heads and 1" grubs with ease if I'm targeting panfish. I loosen the drag and its a blast on the braid. Care to elaborate? Looking forward to hearing! Yeah not sure I'm ready to jump into fly fishing just yet lol. It's a whole new expensive animal!

My current front line combos are as follows. 1) Spinning - 6'6 - MLF. 10# yellow braid to leader. 2) Spinning - 6'6 - MF. 10# yellow braid to leader. 3) Casting 7.3:1 - 6'8 - MF. 12 # flouro 4) Casting 7.3:1 - 6'8 - MHF. 15# flouro 5) Spare casting reel with 50# braid to frog on the MH. So my question is, what do I want to add to round out the top 5? Honestly I don't feel like I need a heavy rod. Should I go with another MH? Ultra light? I will fish anywhere and mostly just want to build a fun, capable, adaptable arsenal. I don't do tournaments. I mostly wade and kayak fish. Thanks!

I was just about to post this same question. The local river I fish is about 3 feet deep on average through 3 neighboring towns. There is a certain point in the fall, which I think was today, that the fishing just turns to crap. I was about to post and ask if anyone knows if bass physically leave these locations and go into bigger main rivers, or stay and just don't eat. The fishing drops off by like 90%. At least for me anyway. Couple that with IL winter temps and its almost not even worth it to go out. I have tried every presentation and nothing works. So in regards to the initial post, I'm not sure about date or water temp, but I'm positive this happens on the two rivers I fish.

One of the reasons I sold my SG110 was because it has one point of contact in the keel. Car topping it was clumsy. It's hard to explain. My bonafide has two points of contact and its a breeze to handle with one person. The SG110 was a good size, and wasn't too heavy. I prefer a shorter boat because I car top and I'm 5'7. The 12 footers never interested me.

I have the 6'8 MF and the 6'8 MHF in the LTB. Both have 7.5 ounce AG reels. Like a few here have said, I don't think they are overly tip heavy. Especially because every rod I've ever owned feels the same with a 3/8 ounce bait hanging off the end. I love the reel seat and the rods are very comfortable to fish. They are super smooth while fighting fish with any size. I have a few avids, and although the sensitivity difference is negligible if even noticeable, the LTB excels in overall feel while both fighting fish and not.

X2!

Something to consider... My bonafide ss107 was $1299. Currently rigged with "essentials" I'm at about $3,000. No motor. But it does have a power pole.

Good stuff. Tried today. Wind was sort of irritating. Had a 2" grub fixed about 5' down in an average of 10' of water on a round styrofoam bobber about 30-40' behind me. No fish. But still going to try.

I think I'm going to have a chance to get out tomorrow to try these techniques. I didn't go today because fishing on weekends around here is typically irritating until the temps really drop too much for weekend warriors. I shall report my findings!

Thanks everybody. Happy to be here!

Awesome, thanks. I'll add those to the list of things to try on my extra line out. I've always only used live bait with a bobber on rods that weren't in my hand. Not much experience true trolling either.

So if I'm not paddling, those first two are cool just chillin on the bottom?

One more thing... Any other baits that would be good for this? Besides gulp minnows and curly tails?

Wow not bad! I love multispecies fishing. Fine by me.

Thanks. Nice username Darren!

Thats what I’m going for; maximizing time i have bait in the water. Sounds good. I’ll probably try the bobber and different depths while paddling, and do your vertical jig with a gulp minnow when I stop. Sure can’t hurt to try. Might be able to get out tomorrow.

Thanks Kev. Do you nose hook it? Or hook it like a swimbait with the hook out the back? Does it get hung up much?

Do you think a small curly tail grub has enough action to sit out there? Especially when I’m not paddling? Just trying to get the most out of my time and fish two rods. I have the locking yakattack rod holders on gear tracks so I should be fine. One thing I’ve been ocd on is gear leashes. Lock it all up!

Thanks all. Been fishing my whole life. Kayak is a game changer for sure. Been reading this site a while now too.

I didn't mean the actual way of fishing being illegal, just if it's not my third line out or something. Cast one, leave one out. Around here its a two max most everywhere.

Hey everybody. I've been curious about this in my new kayak, just not sure what to call it. If I used a little crappie jig or live bait, would leaving a line out with a bobber (dependent on depth) work while I paddle? Just leave it in the rod holder? Being a don't break local laws about numbers of lines I have out. Just cast it out and leave it behind me? Thoughts? Thanks.

Hey all, greetings from Illinois. Started kayak fishing this year and it has been a blast. Looking forward to contributing. Steve