casts_by_fly

i know it’s a ways out but if you find yourself in Jersey with time again ping me.

A kayak is a little tougher than a boat but mine is super stable so I stand with a foot on the side and go. ive only had one #2 emergency and the lake had a portapotty by the ramp. I won’t get rich ice cream before fishing again…

a 3.3 fat with an 1/8 oz head is about my smallest I’ll throw on a baitcaster. A super fluke or dshad are fine also. Anything smaller and it’s a spinning rod.

Buzzbait trailer is my latest not mentioned above.

sorry it was a bit disappointing, but the fishing was the bonus to the family part, right....? what part of NY were you in?

I'll need pictures of that too... I debated live vs 360 a year ago and went with live. I still think its the right choice, but I could be swayed. That said, I haven't even put the helix in the boat for the past 4-5 trips.

I love my Zodias 6'10" ML and it handles 5" wacky rigs just fine (10 lb braid to leader). Its probably better with a little lighter techniques for your taste. My dad has the 7' version in a M and its got just a bit more power that you're describing. Great rod for throwing a 6" worm and 1/8 oz (which is what he does mostly with it).

What he said. Assuming you've got 2' depth there in total (or more) I'd start at 3/8 oz and fish it rod tip high. In something like that you're only fishing it 1' below the surface, maybe even less. And it will slide right through the weeds. A vertical tie eye and a pointy nose are important. If you're ONLY fishing 3' or less then you could drop to a 1/4 or even 1/8 if you really wanted. Maybe sitting lower you might want to as you're rod tip is 3' lower than mine or so. But a heavier jig will let you swim it faster and more erratic. When you kill it, it divebombs for the bottom and that will trigger them. Then when it hangs on grass a little and you pop it out that triggers them too. I'd cast it right into the middle of that patch of pencil reeds at some point after working the edges (knowing that if you do hook one, you're probably going to have to go in and get it. As to trailer, the worlds your oyster. I'd start with something you have already. I started with keitech fats, but they are a little fragile for me as a swim jig trailer. Great action though if you have some to use up. In that case, glue them to the jig the night before and you'll get 2x as many fish on them. I currently fish just about any plastic that I've fished as a texas rig and beaten up. SK rage bugs are the current favorite. When the nose and hook exit get too beat up for a texas rigged hook I nip the tip off the nose and thread them onto a swimjig. Vertical (for a little deeper) or horizontal (if fishing it shallower/slower). Rage menace are a good trailer as are the craw chunks. A 3-4" single or double tail grub works. I'd bet that your freeloaders would work also, though not good value for money.

can't wait for that post to compare them. I think I know what the answer is going to be based on reviews and others feedback, but you're doing what I want to do so...

So most of the top cometitors now then.... +1 for all of this. In my opinion, its not going to make much difference if any and its a CYA. Like 12Lb said above, of all the guys on the water the elite pros are probably going to be among the best for boat handling because they do it day in and day out, navigating other boats, varying bodies of water and weather conditions. Experience is a hard teacher. I too did my boaters safety course during COVID and only had to take the exam in person. That said, being in a kayak means I'm low man on the totem pole as far as everyone else is concerned. So the only real rule from the course that I follow is rule #1- "the first rule of boat is don't get into an accident". Doesn't matter if you were in the right and he caused it. My dad saw it a couple years ago when he was out (fishing with my best friend none the less). The launched before first light to get ahead of a line of tournament boats. As they were fishing you could hear when the boats kicked off and by the time the first one got a hundred yards or so from him the bassboat was doing a full 65+. The lake was up from some rain and the log that the bassboat hit removed the lower unit entirely. Dad said it sounded like a bomb went off. The guys were alright and trolling motored back to the launch.

How do you rate the aldebaran vs the curado and Ark? A JDM aldebaran isn't much more expensive than a curado right now.

I know you catch your fair share your way, but I REALLY want to throw a swim jig through that cover. Dollar pads, pencil reeds, and eelgrass together, but not clumped and messy yet. The bluegills should be up shallow if not spawning. Same for a buzzbait. You've gone plopper and freeloader, I'd be throwing a buzzbait and swim jig. Both would be getting crushed in that.

I know, but not if I’m quicker.

I agree, but it’s always worth asking. Especially when he mentioned handle weights. That was the only way you could fish the 8’+ flippin sticks on older tip heavy blanks.

I fish the gammys when I want a weightless setup. They are sharp and not crazy heavy so you should get a good penetration. A true medium is a little light so you have to have the line tight before you sweep the rod. Even more so if it’s not a fast action. Long casts won’t help. Braid would help, but if that’s just an all purpose rod then that’s a big change for everything. Next trip out I would just change your hookset. When one hits it, reel down tight with the tip pointed at the fish and sweep the rod fully while you keep reeling.

are you talking true flipping with 8’ rods and barely using the reel? Or do you mean heavy pitching?

Pretty much the same as frydog but 14-16# sunline mono. I’m fishing one of my falcons but in the same power and length range depending which one I grab. better question is, what is YOUR setup that isn’t working?

Summer time and 6’ of water visibility means wary fish usually, especially if it’s public water. Stick to what works and go catch them

If it’s just topwater then I go to an 8. However, mine also does double duty to I have a 7 in my bantam. Not a huge difference and both will work.

did you lock the brake blocks on the spool? There should be four plastic blocks under the side plate. Lock them next to the spool to turn them off. Be advised, if you turn them all off you have zero braking regardless of the outside dial.

im not Tom but I fish supernatural for most of my mono (which is most of my line). It’s a very soft mono, thin Japanese diameter for a given rating. I fish 16# and 14# primarily. I think the 16# is about perfect for most everything largemouth that isn’t heavy pitching.

In fiberglass, a 17’ boat is the smallest im aware of. And they are more like 17’4” or so. The basscat bobcat is 17’7”. Nitro z17 is 17’4”. In aluminum you can go down to 16’ and change. If you shop used there are a couple 16’ and change glass boats.

a rodent could be a good option too. Similar profile but not too heavy. Might be lighter than the magnum. I’ll check next time I’m in the basement

I like catching most anything that that will hit but I am coming to hate pickerel. They just trash lures. Nip the tails off plastics. Bend out wirebaits. They are slimy and make a mess. If I see one chasing my lure I try to pull it away.

1/2 oz for the magnum 3/8 for the standard 1/4 for the midi. I didn’t check the mini