Darth-Baiter

Are they fun? Or did they ruin fishing for you? I can imagine you get way better at fishing going so often. I don’t even know where to begin. Are entrance fees exorbitant? Living in the Bay Area California, there is no shortage of organized events.

Without a clue to how much a Johnboat cost, I’d venture a guess a kayak isn’t far behind. BUT! I’ve notice some kayak people are like mtn bike people. They want the latest and greatest. The used kayak market is pretty good! get a pedal drive kayak and never look back. The CPR. style of tournaments HAS to be healthier for the fish. Catch -photo -release has to save more bass lives than banging and stressing in a live well. I met an older gent that bought a use Hobie Pro Angler. Cheap. It was dirty but perfect. He stands and sits with ease. My Hobie is much less friendly to standing up. I can stand, but standing up is a challenge because the seat is so low. but I love it. It gets me places a boat can’t go or isn’t allowed. Like the lake 7 minutes from my house.

I’m buying from West Marine. If I hate it I might jump up to the 7CV. But oddly enough, I want a smaller unit. I want less stuff to hang up on. By hang up, I mean me. I need all the real estate to shimmie back on board if I go over. I climb back easy with the tiny Garmin Striker 4. It’s in the other side of my entry point and I slide up next to it. It’s just me.

I didn’t like the 703 much when I got it. It felt heavy. But as I got used it it, it became my favorite rod. I plan on buying another one soon. It’s my multitasker rod but usually sends the chatterbaits/jigs flying for the most part. (At the store) I picked up a Dobyns spinning rod the other day. Med-LT; it made me question buying my Phenix Maxim recently. It felt so great. I might grab it one day for a second finesse rod, since I love fishing that style so much. .

I just ordered a Lowrance Reveal. It will be nice since the Hobies have teamed up with Lowrance and I won’t have to fabricate brackets and stuff. You selling it?

I’m rigged up. Nose hook drop shot, a pb&J finesse jig, and a lipless crank bait trying to “match the hatch”. On the bench. Spoons and jerk baits.

Headed back there tomorrow. Hopefully I’m better prepped.

I was dead set on the Raymarine Dragonfly 5Pro. Compact was the key. I also love the single plug in the back since it will need to come off and on every time I head out. I do not want a big giant unit. I currently run the ubiquitous Garmin Striker 4. It’s okay and gets it done. But more detail would be beneficial. I love casting to structure. looks like the Dragonfly series is being fazed out! I think I can still find new-old stock at this point. Not sure if the dragonfly counts down battery voltage which is another feature I love. Anyone know? anyone running a dragonfly gonna tell me it will be worth the search?

Got it. I had a big Kastmaster in my garage I wish I he’d packed along.

Weather was perfect for humans. No wind, sunny. 65 deg. I was on a kayak. ‘’water was 58 deg. The bait balls were giant. One point some kayaker yelled at me, “come fish this bait ball!” I responded with, “I’m over it as well”. I bet we were 60 yards apart. He was killing w his umbrella rig. I was picking off the occasional one with a strategic drop shot. Deep 30 feet. Fellow kayakers were all friendly and helpful. we ended up with small mouths and my friends got two spots. Not a lot of catches, but we didn’t get skunked. I got a decent one in my first cast. Pretty exciting nevertheless.

I went Saturday. I invited a guy I met at another lake. We had fun, it’s nice to have someone to hoist up a bass at. I also met up a few kayakers I chatted with at Clearlake , months before. The bait ball spanned a necked down section of the lake. We caught a few, but the more experienced guys did really well with the umbrella rigs. I don’t own one. me, I used one thing - the Drop shot. Deep. 20-30 feet. bite was slow, but I blame it on jinxing myself by catching one in the first cast. I never knew the challenge of cold water bass (moderately cold at 58 deg) I’m gonna fish thru the winter I think. I NEED a kayak dry-suit. STAT!

Gotcha. I’m not that sensitive or experienced to judge a rod. I shop according to weight and nimbleness- if that makes any sense.

Not sure what’s you are reading out of my post. I just like the rod. My spinning setup allows me to skip, since I can’t skip with a baitcast reel.

This. I love mine. It’s the only rod that I plan on buying a second one. I toss weightless SENKOs more and more with a spinning setup but my 703 is great in my Kayak. It’s a fun fun rod.

Haha. Love it. Reminds me of prom night

The 7’ med heavy is sold out at TW, so they must sell more than a few.

Today. Lake Berryessa in Napa CA. Drive thru miles of sobering burn areas to find a gem of a lake. My first visit. My first smallies. I thought I had hooked into giants the way they pulled line and spun my kayak around. Nope, just strong. Really cool. My first cast of the day!

You catch one of the Guadalupe bass yet? ( I hope I got the name right)

Sweet. Somebody needs to add “dead-stick” to the list

You all open up the hatches? Me, I put a small fan blowing inside my kayak in between trips. I do not want stanky mold. I get to fish year round tho. Well, once I buy some immersion gear$$

Haha. Truth. my first best day I forgot my camera and my landing net. I lost a whopper right at the kayak.

Technically that banana isn’t yellow ?

Why couldn’t they say “slow-cranking” the chatter bait. ? ’thanks. Everyone. and yes, I had to google “dead stick”.

Fishing lingo will be the death of me what does slow rolling mean? Just dragging it slow, just fast enough to get it to chatter?