07Rapala

I just shot an email to Northstar to ask them what they thought was a good idea with this super light boat. As a few of you have suggested, I have considered just putting in some tie-off points as far forward and back as I can reach, and also potentially using the grab rope in the front. FWIW, the one time the stake-out pole did work for me was when I made a loop in my grab rope, put the pole through the loop and then stuck it in the sediment (firm silty sand) right next to me where I could put more force into it, and then let my boat just hang off the rope and drift back and forth. Seems I could do something similar with an anchor or drift sock line and carabiner or something.

Thanks for the input so far guys. Does Navionics or FishBrain allow you to log catches? Or is there another app for that?

I'm getting back into bass fishing after about a 20 year break. One (among many) things where my knowledge is lagging is digital tools. I need a good lake map app (don't have a dedicated fish finder/GPS). Currently using FishID, but its not great. I'm also looking for an app to log my catches. Would be happy to pay for a good app, but would rather not have a monthly prescription. Lastly, can anyone recommend a website with good local forums? I'd love to learn from people fishing my local lakes, but I am not sure where that online community is. Thanks!

I'm setting up a solo pack boat (canoe which paddles like a kayak) for fishing, and trying to work out how to control my position. I made a DIY stake-out pole, and I have to say I'm disappointed. It only seems to hold in really light wind, less than 5mph, may hold a little faster but definitely would not hold over 10mph. Its also an awkward 8' long stick in my tiny 12' boat. Utility seems limited and storage/use seem clumsy, am I missing something here? A drift sock seems very appealing, how larger should it be and where is the best place to get one? Since the stake-out pole didn't work well, I am leaning towards getting a small anchor. I am wondering if I can install an anchor trolley. My canoe is a pretty light 'kevlar' boat, so I don't feel comfortable perforating the side of it. I was thinking of mounting two shorter ones on the gunwales nearer the bow and stern, leaving the sides where I paddle open. Am I going to be able to mount one on the top of my gunwales, and is this a good idea? If I don't do an anchor trolly, what is the best way to connect a drift sock and anchor to my canoe? Obligatory boat photo!

I'm in a similar boat (pun intended) to the OP. I'm fishing from a solo pack boat, I'm very low in the water and probably have a lot less initial stability than a fishing kayak. Up here in WI, the issue is getting pike and musky off the hook. I have never learned to grab a fish by the gills only lip landing bass. I'm just getting back into fishing after several years off... come to think of it, I guess I must have managed a gill grab on a few occasions. Anyway, it sounds like the fish grip can handle my pike/muskie issue. Can it basically replace a net? Any pro-tips on how to grab a big fish by the gills?

Thanks for the input so far! So, a couple things I should have mentioned from the offset: 1) By 'getting back into fishing', I'm talking about going from fishing 0-2 times per year to maybe 6-12 outings a year. 2) Though I'm not entirely opposed to a baitcaster, I would strongly prefer a spinning reel. Since I won't be fishing much, I won't have a lot of time to learn a new reel type. I did have a baitcaster with a magnetic brake ~25 years ago, and I remember it being very frustrating, either failing to cast a distance or developing a birds nest. I will need some convincing/reassuring/reeducation. I don't want to be someone set in their ways, but I also want to keep thing simple. Why do they make spinning reels in 4000-series and larger if baitcasters are a better choice? And I should add that the heavier lures mentioned above are just the maximum sized lures I will be using... the ones that have proven to be too much for my current rod. (Though I have to say, other than the small spool, that little 1500 Shimano reel seems to handle whatever I throw at it). Wow, randomly found a photo of my old baitcasting reel from ~1995... left-hander version and everything. Not sure on the model but it was a Quantum brand.

I'm starting to get back into fishing after many years out of the game. I have a fairly light rod and reel that I bought 15 years ago for jigging and finesse fishing. As I have spent more time on the water last year I realize this rig is too light for a lot of what I am doing. So I'm looking for something heavier to compliment it. I want to keep things simple, so I just want one other rod to handle a variety of tasks. I intend to use this for heavier crank baits and spinner baits, topwater, sometimes fishing in the slope, and some multi-species fishing, mostly (when I fish up-north I tend to hook as many pike as I do bass). I will almost entirely be fishing from shore or a canoe/kayak. My current rod is a Fenwick HMX 6'6" medium-fast action, which is rated for 1/8-3/4oz lures, 4-12lbs line with a Shimano Sedona 1500 spinning reel. This rod seems too short and too flimsy for some of the heavier lures I am using spinner baits, Zara spook, whopper popper and 1oz spoons (for pike). I think what I want is a 3000 series (or 4000 series if necessary) spinning reel (I am loyal to Shimano). With a 7’ (or slightly longer) medium-heavy, fast action, rod. Does this check out? I'm willing to spend $200-$300 (maybe a touch more) on the rod and reel together, and I am pretty loyal to Shimano... any suggestions?

I used to be big into bass fishing in high school. But when I went off to college there weren't many good fishing options nearby and I got into mountain biking which took up most of my free time. Now its been 25 years and I'm looking for a way to spend more time outside to relax and reduce stress. I live in Madison WI, and honestly had no idea until a few weeks ago that Lake Mendota is considered a world class smallmouth bass fishery. I live within a few blocks of the nearby Lake Monona. I'm looking forward to learning what I do fishing from shore or from my canoe. I want to keep it simple, but I want to land as many fish as I can this way.