casts_by_fly

I contemplated a similar setup last winter. I was tired of the lifting so I was going to trailer it. A few guys have done it with raised bunks and enough gap to the trailer cross members so that you can drive the kayak on and off the trailer with the motor. Same orientation as a regular boat. Before you launch you mount and pull down the motor, turn it on, and go. Bow to the back will give you more distance between the motor and the cross member.

A 15” jack will strip 100 yards of line off a light spinning reel in seconds. Jacks in general are beasts. I’ve never caught a gt but I’ve seen them while diving and they are just mean looking. Bulky shoulders, BIG tall forked tail, thick width.

I have head turners and agree you’re in the right place with them. what bait weight are you looking at?

I’m following this. I tried a wake crank last year for the first time and it was basically a sub surface jitterbug (which I’ve fished for 30+ years). Super fun to fish and worked well for me. Unfortunately the one I have is long discontinued so I’m also looking for a couple.

30# braid is great for 3/8 swim jigs. If I’m throwing 2oz then I might start at 50 and go up from there.

for ANY given weight, I'd rather the fish be shorter and thicker. 1- they generally fight harder. 2- That tells me there is a good food base there so if that one is there there are probably more. Like Tom said, long skinny fish usually mean a spotty forage base (aside from the very freshly spawned ones) and that's never a good thing for anyone. This lake has a pretty good forage base.

and it's not like a Stradic is even heavy. My 3k sized FL is just under 8 oz. I have a 1k sized FE from 2004? that is the same weight.

just depends on what you use and need. If you use 360 then you only have one choice. If the mapping is better for hbird on your lakes then so be it. If you prioritize side imaging over live imaging then a humminbird has better imaging for me. If your salary depends on ffs then then humminbird isn’t it. Yes, some of the pros still choose it but im not sure why. switching is a whole ‘nother thing. Once you’ve learned one it’s easier to stay than swap some times.

the vanford if just too light for me. I hate tip heavy spinning setups and the vanford is so light you have to upsize a lot to balance it on most rods.

I bet it was the easiest occasion ever to skip a lure across the top of the water...

they are basically always the same. You see very little, if any, discounting on Falcon rods and especially not the Caras. Any discounts I've ever seen have been sporadic and one-off. You can get 10% by buying TW giftcards right now. Just buy a $250 gift card for $225, then use the gift card to buy the rod.

50/50 for me these days. If it has a built in 'trailer' with a longer section of skirt then no. If it is a compact profile I'm going for then no again. If I want a big profile or want the bait to stay up in the water column then yes.

If you want to eliminate backlashes, then practically speaking 1- adjust the spool tension until the lure slowly drops 2- put the brakes on 1 click below the max setting 3- put the reel on a rod with a moderate fast action for the most forgiveness if you are still backlashing with those three things in place then you need some help with casting form. The above will restrict distance, but for the weight ranges of the rods you're noting above you're already talking about a half ounce total bait weight lure. You should still be able to casually cast that a solid 20-25 yards even with the reel clamped down. Then as you get more practice you can loosen it up.

or if you want waterproof, this one is a 4 compartment but there is only 1 molded divider. And at this price I might just order another one. https://www.amazon.com/Plano-3741-Deep-Waterproof-Stowaway/dp/B00469AX62/ref=sr_1_7?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.rW77dAqzbJrz6fDaOPD1C0waAf9OA7UGI1BfSiCpnbdxnWjKK5Rc6IHX2MyuTOE781MvXzvQjClVZsVYCjt-cOzaP3hX6vr4CvM8FPQyjYJge541hWRjBnqkHFAAEP_Kp_alJZ3tUYlL09R3g-Pa8xaijKmcBotHV1dY0UQDVRj_hsZZ3TqypkhvBEckLSGAeAK1l-h6hao6tKZgcRfDHfZRqzGUMksokUiyBIP93yoB4yLZN6eqdf8x6O57nWM7aKr1tv4qkHGnUy0Z3VR9DRfeUK2IMjxQ_6vbxH9eZNM.OB8xfkgll8CJ2PN3J9zOV5wKG5JiA9ukPz3KrMee4VQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=plano%2B3700%2Bdeep&qid=1733327086&sr=8-7&th=1&psc=1

gotcha. My neighbor is from there and we're over that way for a bit. drop me a PM if you want to meet up on a lake this spring.

All the same logic for me. I started with 14 clear for smaller/lighter topwaters and was impressed. I moved my primary moving bait rod to 16 lb green and I doubt I'll move away from it. Abrasion resistance isn't critical for me in that application since most of our cover I'm throwing them around is grass.

For the most part no. However, a trick you can use for the freeware games is to turn off your cellular or Wi-Fi connection. Then open the game and play it without internet. Most will still work fine but since it can’t load an ad you don’t see them.

Sunline supernatural for me. Great knots, consistent diameter, low memory. I use 6 lb on a spinning rod, 10&12 for my crankbait/lighter casting rod, 14 and 16 on my medium and medium heavy rods. I considered some 20# but for what I use line that heavy for I want more abrasion resistance.

My electric motor kayak has a rudder for steering as well as the front motor for steering. Pull up the rudder and I can be running down the lake at almost a 45 degree angle with the motor head straight.

whereabouts north Jersey are you? I’m in Morris county.

I hadn't seen this video, but that ties up to what I'd read and heard. The explore looks like a better product than the Helix and Solix but its 40-50% higher price than the equivalent Helix. That's a tough road if you were planning for a Helix. if you were going to buy a solix then I think you're about the same price. The live imaging looks like they caught up to Livescope. One.

very nice! I think I've missed my window up here. I hunted the end of Oct to the middle of November (and not disappointed about that). Then family in town the entire past week (plus prepping for them last weekend) meant today was my first day without any plans. As I drove into work yesterday morning I could see a couple of the lakes skimmed over in ice and daytime highs for the next could days are only 32-34 (lows in the teens at night). There is a little warming trend coming, but I'm pretty sure the lakes are going to be iced up by then. Here's to hoping for an early spring.

For me, 50 is the number. Below that I temper expectations a lot. Once it hits 50 (in the spring) I know things are moving in the right direction and any trip could be the one where the fishing takes off. That said, I don't hate that late march 48 degree water type of trip. The weather is usually gross and keeping other guys off the water. And my PB smallie was in 43 degree water. Plus a couple months of pent up non-fishing combined with a bunch of new tackle/rods/upgrades that you're itching to try...

Ah. When you said spot lock above, I just assumed you were on a minn kota. I don't know what generation is on my autopilot. It's essentially a 2021 powerdrive with a short shaft and custom mount. I'm guessing maybe the second? Either way it's pretty good. It struggles a little if there is no wind/current to be stead against but then again I don't use it much in that scenario. Jog is awesome for working down the bank. When you have cover coming from all angles and want to hit it all, start at the start and fish what you can (outside edge, front edge, a couple casts back in). Jog over 10' with 2 button pushes and work the next set of angles as the boat puts itself into the spot. And of course every kayak anglers favorite spotlock feature- landing a fish. No getting pulled into the cover as you reel one in.

I’ve heard that it is mega live 2 and a new helix replacement called the explorer (I think?). Mega live 2 is not backwards compatible with previous helixes. And the solix is going away.