Darren.

Welcome aboard!

My Chronarch 50e and a 6'6" ML Carbonlite loads up extremely well and will cast soft plastics like 4.75" Zoom Finesse worms, 3" Stick-Os, etc. It took me while of casting in my yard to dial in the distance. I'd cast, walk it of or run a long tape measure. That said, casting distance for me is great from my kayak, not sure I'd be as happy from shore.

Another Mac guy here; however, if you don't want refurbs or used models, consider a Chromebook. You can come in way under your $600 budget with $$ left over for fishing gear!!

Welcome aboard! Easy solution is to buy some spinning rods to accompany the BG reels. Other solution, buy a baitcaster(s). Issue being that you'll need to really practice the art before using as it can and will be a nightmare until you learn. I'd just buy some spinning rods. Good luck!

She's a beaut! Congrats!

Be safe, y'all, and may the flood waters quickly recede! Thoughts and prayers with ya! Got family in the Houston area!

Mountain biking with my boys Guitar (acoustic) though I've not picked up my Taylor in a long time...

For me, "good ol' days" are days of memories catching fish with my Dad, my boys. Catching my PB was a "good ol' day", too! That day I slayed several 5 and 6 pounders under a flooded bridge was one. Another one was recent when my 2nd son and I were yaking back to the dock and he says "dad, can I troll a frog?" I said, "sure, why not! I doubt you'll catch anything, though." Next thing you know, he's screaming, I caught one!! That was a good ol day for me. Oh, I was towing him with my e-kayak.

Junebug Watermelon magic Green pumpkin black flake Watermelon red-flake Two-tone plastics like GP and Watermelon, best of both

Welcome aboard!

Hurricanes are the opposite of a good time. Hampton Roads of VA has seen its share. Hope our Texas friends weather this one out safely. Hope they've gotten out of harm's way, but if they stayed, may they be safe and sound.

On thinner leaders (4-8#) I'll go more wraps up, I do not usually do equal wraps up and down. I go more wraps up, less wraps down - sometimes 10 up, 5 down. To be honest, there's no set formula for this knot. As well, the Alberto (Mod'd Albright) has be come my 2nd knot of choice, the main being the simple, but o so reliable (for me) uni-to-uni, usually 5 and 5 wraps.

I've not been fishing FC for nearly as long as many of you guys, but the price point keeps me from experimenting with various types; however, I did settle with Gamma Edge for leader line on the FC side of the fence.... As for whether or not it makes a difference, I really don't know. I have done no recording of conditions and so forth when I've used FC and not. That said, I do tend to use Yo-Zuri Hybrid more these days. 6 and 1/2 dozen the other to me. I've got enough 600 yard spools of YZH and 3 spools of Gamma Edge to last me for many years of leader line! I just hope the bait monkey doesn't disrupt my satisfaction with what I already have.

Dude. Owww. Glad insurance is gonna cover and nobody is hurt as a result.

A nice find. Nice clean up, or ... trash?

Good luck, David! 48 myself (as of this Sat), and like @J Francho, I think I'm younger than my age, and body actually say I am. The other week I took a spill while mountain biking and bruised my ribs. Kept going after I caught my breath and pushed thru the pain. But ended up having to go in for x-rays as I thought I broke 'em. Have been mountain biking since, but not fishing as that puts my body in more pain than biking, believe it or not. Anyhow, point being, I'm slowly waking up to the fact I'm not in my 20s anymore and need to stop pretending I am. I simply don't heal as fast, and for sure can't do the insane stuff I did mountain biking that I did then. Painful wake up call, that was.

Welcome aboard!

Sure.

Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.

Do you live near any kayak stores? Most of them will have demo days, or they'll let you demo yaks on non-demo-days esp. if they are located on a water body/river. I fish out of a Native Ultimate which is super stable but is more of a hybrid between canoe/kayak, similar to the Wilderness Systems Commander. These are fantastic yaks that have entry points (older models) under $1k if you can find demo models, or Craigslist used... These days there are so many stand-able fishing kayaks on the market that you can almost take your pick, but for the money, you want to make the right choice. The best way is to get some sit-in time whether on the water, or in a yak store. I got in-store sit-in time before i bought my U12. Been happy ever since. Good luck on your search!

Ain't nothin' ordinary about that outing, man! Nicely done and congrats on TWO PB's!!! In ONE DAY!

Welcome aboard!

Nice!

Can't help with clubs, but welcome to the forums!

Welcome aboard!