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Welp, almost hit the second goal already. Been a pretty good start to the year as far as size goes.

Only when I fall out of my kayak...

Love the hybrid hunters. Picked up a few last season, along with the smaller jr size. Smallies love 'em, too.

It all depends on the waters. Went out for the first time this year in a flowage and caught a 5.45 lbs 20"+ on a relatively small flicker shad, on a steady retrieve. Not too long after, got another 5 pounder with a 1/2oz (or maybe 3/4oz, don't really keep track) chatterbait and a slow retrieve on the fall, after I felt it take a swing. I got three 16-17" smallies on three casts with a squarebill worked slow after that.

Finally got the kayak in some water this weekend. Wasn't expecting much with the weather - cold, windy, and scattered showers. Glad we toughed it out, though. First one wasn't too crazy, but it did hit a topwater Second one.. well, I thought I hit a snag because my lure just stopped. 5.45lbs and just over 20" Third one was another chonker, although I didn't weigh it. Ended up with another 4 or 5 fish after that. Was a d**n good day to get out.

I'd like to get a 17"+ smallie on the fly rod, and a 21"+ in general. I may have broken the 21" mark before but I didn't really start carrying a bump board regularly until last year.

With the regular season closed here, I've been hitting up the driftless region for some fly fishing. Still learning, but I've managed to get at least one the last few trips. Luckily flies cost a lot less than lures, as I'd be bankrupt with the amount I've been leaving in the trees.

As soon as I get on the water

Every time I'm tempted to buy a boat, I remember that my kayak works perfectly well. And that I hate fishing around other people and being limited to boat ramps.

Yup.. I started out with an Ascend 12T and it was just ok. Before a full season with the 12T, I upgraded to a Jackson Bite FD. Pedal drive is a game changer, and the Jackson is so much more stable. I'm sticking with my 7" finder, though.

Had a sunfish get pike'd for the first time last year. Held on all the way up to the kayak, but let go right before I got him out of the water. Same day, another pike launched themselves about 3 feet in the air after missing a topwater. Wish I had a gopro for that one.

I'm partial to the 105 sized Choppo. I think they have a better action than the WP, plus they're a couple bucks cheaper. Also have a few 120 sized Choppos, and a pair of 5.1" Drunken Mullets from Chasebait that were on sale at Scheels. Big smallies have no problem smashing the big top water lures.

I picked up some Strike King Hybrid Hunters, both the regular and Jr versions last season and had really good luck with them. You can run them almost like a wake bait, or crank a bit faster and get them down to 5-6 feet. Smallies around here love loud rattle they have as well.

I don't often run straight braid to a lure, but when I have the palomar has worked great.

I've caught more pike through the ice with hot dogs than I have with live bait..

They're a chunk of change, no doubt. I do a lot of river fishing with my pedal drive Jackson. The ability to just double click the remote and anchor down is so nice, especially if I'm just floating down casting to the shore and hook into a fish. A few backpedals to slow, click-click and I'm not 500 feet downstream after fighting, landing, and releasing the fish. I've used mushroom and claw anchors before and they're just too much of a pain (and a bit dangerous) when they get hung up on rocks or logs. Still have my anchor trolley if I'm going to be fishing deeper water, but that's pretty rare for me.

I've used the trilene knot with 30-40lb flouro leaders, just use 3-4 wraps instead of 5-6. Hasn't been an issue.

I picked up an MM Mojo glass last year and it's becoming my favorite rod.

I can't speak to boat use, but I have a micro power pole on my kayak and it was worth every penny.

Looks nice, but $600.. woof.

I'd be hitting these spots, especially towards the fall.

I'm glad that works for you. No kids, no spouse. No need to burden an imaginary sky being. I'm comfortable as it is, but a couple extra zeros in my bank accounts would absolutely help me sleep better.

I wouldn't need much, at this point a 'measly' 1-1.5 million and I'd be able to retire with no worries.

20# Suffix 832 braid, with anywhere from a 10# to 30# fluoro leader depending on how many pike are around and how expensive the lure was that I'm using.

Fishing rivers, my main structure is boulders and timber, along with current seams and pools. My favorite structure, when the water levels are right, is a good undercut bank. Nothing like nailing a cast right to the edge of a bank and having an angry smallie explode the moment your lure touches the water.