Darth-Baiter

got to test some new gear. new water shoes from Astral. the Rasslers, recommended by a member here. and a new Megabass Popper. I got all involved with the recent popper thread and ordered THE WRONG Popper. I clicked on the PopX, by Megabass and not the POPMAX. the popX is tiny. 1/4 oz, I only had heavier rods so I casted it with my spinning set up. They ignored my drop shot anyways. I hiked in half a mile and up a gentle hill (uphill both ways :)). dragging my Hobie Outback. I had the lake to myself, but noticed a guy in a belly boat wearing all camouflage, later on. the bass were HUNGRY. got one on the first cast. a 2lb. then I fished thru the bass nursery. I noticed one tiny splash, so I flipped out the PopX. it was insane. I would throw it out into 15 feet of water and the bass would rush up out of the weeds and slam it. I saw them herding shad out deep and I raced out there, and casted as far as I could. the water calmed, and I thought I was too late. KABLOOSH! a 2.5 sucked it in. I saw bigger bass darting around. I was a hot mess, but I managed a few more cast and got hits on all of them. I have 2 PopMax in my wishlist. I will get the python and another shad looking one. it is so fun, anticipating a top water hit. I had a good day, fishing a local regional park lake. far enough hike to keep most kayakers out of it, but by 8:00 am, there were five of us. the lake is an old quarry, so it is very bathtub shaped. flat as a pancake for the most part. deep throughout. I'll crack the code there one day, for the bigger fish. the pic is my FIRST popper bass. I didn't bring any other topwater, since I thought I should lighten the load for the hike in. I didn't even have a frog. I think a 4" walking bait in bone would have been great today.

okay. found the weak link. the hook point orientation really increases snags. the tender body of a worm slides right thru and into submerged branches. haha. I lost 3 rigs today, pushing the envelope in cover. locks a bass in tight!! but buy an extra envelope, just in case.

I fish out of a Hobie Kayak. mine is the Outback which I consider their "multi-task" model. Good for the open ocean, good for the lakes and ponds. I think to maximize stability, they put the seat very low. (I can pull a cord and drop the seat almost to the floor if I get caught in big waves) I've been in a friend's high sitting model and in big waves I get nervous. I feel like the ball on the top of a metronome. with the high sitting position, you just stand up. In my kayak, getting to my feet was a chore, but like all things you just figure out the body-mechanics to get it done. so I have been practicing in my living room. sitting flat on my butt, and trying to get up. hahah. I can do it easily, but none of the methods would translate over to a move to do it in my kayak. I need to be able to pull my heels in real close and rock forward enough to counter the weight of my backside and stand up. helps to cross my ankles. right now, I have to reach down grab a H-Rail, or push up off the seat back. I have used the tug of a bass to assist me mid fight. I should have practiced moves when I was younger, and stayed more flexible, and not gotten so fat. but here I am. its funny trying to get up off a floor without the use of hands.

They were difficult to find for me. I eventually found them at TW, when I was notified they came back into stock. my local store near my office said he cannot keep them on the shelf. I bought a few packs of some sizes. they are a shorter EWG hook. stubby looking almost. coated with a gray material supposedly to make them slicker (?). the big thing is the point is kinda aiming out, away from the hook eye. you Texas rig a worm and the hook is pointed out already, poised for sticking a bass. the first packs I got were 2/0 hooks and I tried them on a 4" Senko. I might be imagining things, but the hooks seem to solidly stabbed into bass jaws better than my Gama -hooks (offset G-lock, I think) . I sometime took pliers and bent the hooks out some on the others ones in my box, but I often wondered if I was making the hook brittle with some work hardening. I'm not a material science guy. I like this hook. it isn't the typical thin wire hook I like, but it seems to be working very well. just a note folks. I am not the greatest bass fisherman, so I dont over think my hooks. I usually just grab and go, and they get all mixed up in my box and I never know what I am using anyways. I might try the Oshanansey hook (once I learn how to spell it :D)

it might be gray water? treated enough but not enough to be potable.

as soon as my home repairs are done, maybe we can go explore some new spots to get you motivated again.

my friend and I crossed lines when we were fishing jerk baits. It was my turn, so I reeled it all in to me and worked the problem. his jerk bait was somewhere underneath my boat, and I assume just suspended. I feel the line yank straight down. I hand him the line beneath the mess and say, "start handling!". he got a 1'lb bass. haha. I have reeled minor backlashes right up into the spool bringing in a fish. not ideal, but the backlash is the same when you unspool to the same place in the reel.

it happens. hell, people have been jerks to me here, and this is supposedly a "safe-Place". haha. OP, sometimes we are in our own headspace and another person can't read it. I wouldn't worry about it, I bet he has long forgotten the encounter. I kinda LOVE talking to complete strangers while fishing. I met "Ray" yesterday, and he actually invited me Halibut fishing. we hit it off. I joked that I want to be like him when I grow up.

yikes. I have real stucco. the guy gave me a favorable estimate and he is starting tomorrow. messed up my fishing day. argh! oh well, wife will be happy its getting done. I got a fish today!! LV500 in the grass. a smaller fish. I had a giant hit it and it fought and fought and I lost it, pushing it too hard. haha..so fun.

just as soon as my Stucco repair guy shows up to look and give me an estimate, I am heading out to try out some of your suggestions. added a spinnerbait and a big swimsuit to back up the lipless. go time!!

I bowhunting for years. I can estimate up to 40 yards pretty well. but not so much on water.

true. I recently bought a hybrid. partially foam, partially inflated. the instructions were all about inspection and what to look for before you got out on the water. I know me, I wouldn't do any of it on a regular schedule. I returned the vest. I went with the garden variety for the "Sure thing".

Egyptian stuff. the Eqyptian lore. hahah.. super funny when someone told me the 10th largest pyramid in the world was a Bass Pro Shop in Memphis. I had to fact-check it and it is indeed true! hahah. Has anyone set foot in that store? I think I have to go now. maybe buy a pack of mummified senkos.

I'm in a house built before my region got so hot, so no AC. it was 103 outside my home yesterday. thankfully, I have a white roof with superb insulation, so with some management with shutting down windows after the morning cool down, I can prevent madness. having said that, I am going to explore having AC installed. I can't see it getting cooler (overall) before I die. today the high is in the 80's. I'm taking advantage of it and took the next two days off to go fishing.

i am so used to my NRS Chinook i feel awkward not having it on in my kayak. i bought the NRS Ninja for my brother to wear when he visits. having said that, i looked at some of the innovative ideas on the Astral PFD's and wish i bought one of those instead of the Ninja. i like how a foam PFD really assists in me sliding back into my kayak from the water. it is much more challenging than any attempt PFD-less. i imagine any lifejacket has a lifespan. so i assume i will buy another one day.

more than $5000, less than $10,000. i'm not sure i want to add it up. edit. i've had two Hobie kayaks, so..maybe more that $8000, less than $15,000. and Senkos. (closer to $15k for sure, Senkos :))

true. i have a hobie with the reinforced scupper holes. i still dont "4x4" my kayak that often.

i'm sore. i did something dumb. i fished a spot in the CA Delta. no boat ramp, but there are stairs. going down was easy, coming back up at end of day: not so much. i was tired, hot. i flipped my kayak on its side in the water. easy enough. tried to insert scupper cart, and that effort pushed the boat away from me. i tried to wrestle it back. TWINGE! i felt it immediately. i pulled a muscle. i had friends with me, and i should have asked for help. now i am doing stretches periodically throughout the day. i am healing up fast. i'll be fine in a few days, but lessoned learned. lift smarter and ask for help. i am getting older now. i am thinking of trying yoga when i am all healed up. build up my core and flexibility.

thanks. i ordered a pair. i think these will work for dragging my kayak thru shallows and bank fishing rivers. the bigger surprise for me are the various PFD's they make and sell. they have a very innovative strap over the shoulders. i love how they snap out of the way the second you let go of them. smart.

i am running 17 lb flouro. i like the braid idea. thanks.

i tried it with no success. i cant seem to get the timing or rhythm right. i can feel the LV500 dip into the grass, and i yank and it comes up covered with the stuff. am i yanking up, or to the side? grass is in 8-10 feet water and growing up to about 2 feet below the surface. i know the bass are in there. tips?

i got my first Delta Striped bass this weekend . it was warm out. i would jump off my kayak to cool off. it was nice practicing my reentry, just in case of an accidental "get off". it felt so nice jumping into 75 deg water.

Can you do me a favor and ignore all my threads

nope $2 harbor freight carpenter clamp and some double sided tape.

Xtratuf boots? I see lots of people wearing them.