Darth-Baiter

you need two scales. a gunpowder reloading scale and a kitchen scale. you'll need a cheap calculator as well to convert grains to oz

ugh. 50% rain tomorrow. I already took rain jacket out of the closet. looking at the bright side, at least the 45 minute dirt road won't be a dust breakfast. I once put my rods in the back of the truck. I had to dunk them all in the lake when I got there. not smart.

I think the OP should drop down, way down in line-strength. I found lighter line allows a bait to swim more naturally, and the advantages go the other way as well. lighter line allows the person holding the rod to feel the thump. I have 12 flouro on most of my setups. there is no better shot of fun-adrenaline that feeling that mysterious tick-tick on the end. "wait, what was that?!" set hook!! I didn't read much about the OP's favorite fishing method. but there is no mistake when your rod-dragging a Texas rigged weighted worm, and a bass sucks it in. feels like a quick game of tug-o-war. act fast. careful. with total 50lb braid, my experience is that any snag you can't free at the lure is a big deal. in a kayak, I dont think I could snap that line.

I never thought about it, but I also quit drinking beer!! never thought about the money savings. for me it was a social event. happy hours with friends and coworkers. that gets expensive!! 3 $10 pints and "let me get this round". adds up. if I think about it, I am making money!! I dont go to happy hour anymore. I am Booze free because I have the liver of an 80 year old. sucks. but whatever. I am a life balance guy. I spend money, but with thought. it is just as important to know how to spend money as it is to save it. I need money to retire. life isn't free.

whoa whoa whoaaaaaa! this is a family forum!!

there is a lake not so nearby that requires a truck with ground clearance to get to. rainy days require 4x4. very few boat owners have the stones to take a big boat up there. but they do, and the boats are ironically HUGE! but few. I might go there!! see if I can find a buddy to put his kayak in my truck and we split fuel.

water is very low already. I expect boat ramps to close august maybe. last year they closed in OCT. this year is lower. fishing is odd. I had two good fishing days, but none of those days where you can't get them NOT to bite. we fought for the good days. and you know what? I am not seeing the bigger bass. talking to people on the water, same thing. lots of 3lb fish, very little chatter about "the one". I love that lake. I know the summer pattern last year, and I hope it resembles it this year. I'll wear sun protection, bring plenty of fluids, and head out into the heat to find them. they seem to fight hard when the water is warm. any Clearlake reports from my locals fisher people lately? I would love to hear what your experience has been, compared to mine.

I'm goggling weather at some of my smaller lakes/locations. avoiding the big venues due to boat traffic. I had a water skier buzz me and my kayak last weekend. (okay - 50 yards? not exactly a buzzy) you? people go nuts for lakes this weekend around here.

I bought a Mustang hybrid. The instructions read scary. The first part was all about double checking installation and procedures testing to make sure it works properly. I returned it and went with a regular one.

GREAT point about the seat. in my experience, it is much easier to stand up from a good seat than a bad seat. I need to push up off the seat back with my right hand to get up from the super low position.

I like this a lot. the round tube is so robust on it's own. it is actually hard to recycle. I cut mine down and stuff it in the blue-bin. I square tube..anti rolling. I like it.

this guy just runs a tiny electric motor. it was in a lake that doesn't allow gas engines.

kayakers (maybe boaters?) need to practice getting back into the vessel. it is more difficult than you think. most of us have so much gear strapped to the tracks, that an entry point is tough to achieve. good to know this before it is essential. safe water fun to everyone!!

I sometime venture into Edge Rod websites. I always quietly back out. the website is a hot-mess.

I once called a buddy while I was fishing to tell him how I was doing on my lake. he was at another lake. he said he was doing great until he simply fell out for whatever reason. he said it must have been a misstep. he was shocked how difficult it was to climb back in. but he managed. we laughed about it. my friend is slender and fit. an older person or someone less fit could get into real trouble if they cannot touch bottom or can't climb back in. what a scary death.

some people push a bobber stop up behind the head of a plastic. I tried it and I felt it was fairly difficult (and kinda dangerous) to do. It is a very tight fit. they make these hooks with a bulbous "knob" that allows the plastic to squeeze on, but not allow it to squeeze off. I bought some, but I dont use them much. I just do what you do and fight it. One time at this hike in lake I was down to my last few TRD Finesse. I had picked up some very heavy braid someone littered. I clipped off a piece and tied a simple overhead knot on the top of the bait, careful not to slice into the bait. it held for a long time. I fish them tex-rigged behind a bullet sinker, EWG hook.

In my attempt to be cost effective, I use Daiwa J-Flouro as my leader line. it is a schooch thinner than the above mentioned Sensei Leader. (10lb leader is what I use). I simply love it that it comes in a 100 yard spool for less than $20. I have hauled in big LMB with it including my 7lb PB that got tangled had in Delta Foliage. I'll stay with it since I tend to run long leader in front of my braid.

automobiles are much more advance that they were 45 years ago. ABS, lane departure sensing, seatbelts(!). I think we CAN drive faster safely. however, I drive like a geezer. I drive for my job in a truck with my State DOT stickers all over it. I am in the public eye and I drive like everyone is watching me. this habit has trickled over to my personal vehicle. safety first. I used to do track days in a street/race car. I know how to drive decent. I still make the occasional driver error. it is the cumulative errors out there that are accidents.

I look around the lake and see where everyone else is fishing and then I slide in next to them. I JOKE!! I JOKE. I honestly fall back on what I do at all lakes. hit the shorelines, cast to cover and structure, look for underwater islands, etc. I have an odd success rate at new lakes. 4 hours I can at least get the skunk out of the kayak.

tonight's dinner. cantonese Comfort food 101. Chicken and Rice claypot.

^With this person. I’m still plenty fit to kick my hobie fins. And anything to keep me out of a DMV is a win. I can do 14 mile fishing days easy.

Similar story. a boat with uniformed game warden pulls up to me in my kayak. I was pulling out my papers when he stops me. “ I just wanted I thank you for wearing your life jacket - you. And your friend are the only two” he says something about knowing we have proper licenses. Hah.

Sore subject for me. With the ebb and flow of product availability during our pandemic, I bought more than I need. Now I just kinda gravitate towards a few favorite softbaits and I’m have a pile of colors and styles I simply don use. I need to quit listening to YouTubers and forum influencers

To be clear. I’m talking about a dropshot rig. It’s the sinker flopping about.