Rockhopper

nice rod 😉

SPRO KGB swimbait rod is also a solid choice. Also the Levante Leviathan for trebles being it is more parabolic.

Hard choice. My gut tells me my curado 71 mgl because it's my favorite to fish with. But, I guess I would realistically choose my bantam mgl for one all around reel.

Pantera

Easily 20 to 30 minutes

You can still use the weighted hook you are using now in the manner you describe. Just shove it up in the belly more to where the hook is exposed out the top. The belly weight is going to help the bait fall more evenly. If you need a little extra space, use any razorblade to cut a slot in the belly for the weight on the weighted hook to ride in. You could even superglue it up in there if you feel it necessary. Belly weight > lead head imho. If you have to have a lead head, AJ is spot on with his recommendation.

I wouldn't see why I would not be able to. The DD that flopped out of my yak earlier this year wasn't really that hard to land honestly. I have caught plenty of fish in my life MUCH bigger than 15lbs, and also in fast rivers with very strong currents as well. Hell, a 10 to 20lb winter steelhead in a high flow river can tail walk and run on you for literal minutes before you ever even get it close to the boat let alone able to net it. You have to tire those big girls out for quite awhile before they will present themselves to you. I have caught a few offshore fish and sharks in my lifetime in the 100 to 200lb range, but granted that was on ocean tackle, not 15lb copolymer that I typically use for bass.

Yellow Gatorade and Grizzly Green.

I personally hate trolling while trying to paddle the kayak. The drag of the line/lure in the water makes paddling in a straight line a total pita.

https://talonrods.com/products/xmw_carbon-casting-8-15lb-7

I have only bought a couple of things that were recommended to me admittedly. I am very particular about my gear as I have been bass fishing for 40 years and know what I like for the most part.

The Bantam would be my choice for your intended purpose.

This is the one a got. Sorry the tape covers the box up.

Crap. Actually third place. I missed @gim's entry. But we are all within 2 of each other

I gave up. Ain't no way I am beating my score already. 2nd place is first loser I guess.

My vote goes to the 873 CRR if looking for a high end rod.

Yes free, and everything was included. It belonged to my father who upgraded the one in his boat.

No Kidding! I use those leaders all the time salmon fishing!

Cannot find a lot of info outside of specs. Was this a good unit? Worth taking the time and money to set up on a kayak?

Lets go! I just broke a hook Sunday and need replacement.

I have 550 blueberry bushes

I was fishing it as slow as I could to keep it on top of the water. I will give the light weighted hook a try, I just was hoping to not have to retrieve faster to keep it on the surface.

I played around with a soft body frog yesterday for the first time and caught some really quality fish. However, I am struggling a bit on the retrieve. I watched some rigging videos and had mine rigged in the same manner with a 4/0 EWG. But, about 70% of the time, my frog was upside down on the retrieve with the bend of the hook on the top side and the point on the bottom. What am I dong wrong? How do I get the frog to run true?

You totally can, but what happens when you need to paddle on the rod side of the boat with a rod in your hand and a line in the water? Much easier with a kayak paddle.

I highly disagree with this. When in my kayak, I find myself doing a bunch of one handed paddling when I am fishing. A lot of this is due to wind blowing and needing to hold or reposition the boat mid retrieve. Rod in one hand, paddle in the other. I grab the paddle in the center and make short strokes to hold myself in place, etc.