Darren.

Had some thin sliced ribeye and corn tonight, as well. Celebrating my bro-in-law's b-day. Wife grilled perfect medium rare. All I did was microwave-steam the corn, salt, pepper, and butter 'em, too. Delish.

When I think wide and roomy kayak I think Pro Angler. Nucanoe is another "hybrid" worthy of consideration on that front. I wouldn't consider my Native Ultimate "wide and roomy" though it is wide. Is also comfortable. I'd say consider a hybrid (Ultimate, Commander, Nucanoe) if you're biggest lake is 50 acres. Hybrids have no scupper holes to drain. I fish much larger reservoirs and have never had an issue with no scupper holes. Although I do eventually want another yak with scuppers so I can hit some salty water with bigger waves and such.

Rock on and catch a limit, mate!

I lost my tag, so my wife sewed one on the back of all my shirts... LOL, not really, she doesn't sew. But anyhow, OP, welcome aboard! Please do list your budget for both combos. And realize you also need line, etc., figured in. Unless that separate which, if true, kudos. You're on the right path to be possessed by the Bait Monkey. There are some great combos you can buy at Dicks', Bass Pro, Cabelas, and other shops. And often, at least at Bass Pro, they have mix/match combos. More info needed to give you better feedback.

Sure! I mostly tie a uni-to-uni, or a modified Albright where I go up about 8-15 wraps (depending on line diameter), and back down 7-10 times, then moisten, tighten. I give strong pulls before ever dropping my line. So I've practice-tied these knots for years. Getting a well-tied knot is crucial, IMO.

I rarely ever break a leader, unless I work at busting it off on a snag. But you should be able to use straight braid when bed fishing. If they don't bother taking any of your presentations anymore, try a leader again. If it works, then use a leader

We have a lab (Oakley the Knucklehead) and a mix of Bichon/peekapoo/maltese (Kobe). He's the mastermind. Think Pinky and The Brain. Somehow Oakley is contracted by Kobe to jump up and fetch any food on the counter that is less than 10" from edge. Or if it falls to the floor at Oakley's feet, Kobe, if less than 10' away will always...always beat her too it. But I can't imagine life without dogs. Love 'em. How did this go from steak to dogs? Back to our regularly scheduled culinary discussion!!

Yes. Yes the dogs would definitely appreciate that action. When it's time to cut the fat and grizzle off the steaks, they're at attention. Fortunately we don't have severe droolers... Well, me not included.

We have friends who've done that locally. Had the opportunity once, but didn't take advantage of it...

Awesome, Hootie! Love it!

Please, keep the ideas flowing!! I LOVE what I'm reading/watching. I knew there had to be some incredible methods out there given the experiences we all have. And @RoLo, surely you have a method!? @BrownBear, yes, probably safe to assume *most* of us get steaks at the supermarket. Crazy enough as it may sound, tho, one of the best ribeyes I had in last year was from Walmart!! Was not their brand, I don't think, but was reasonably priced and spectacularly cooked by my wife (for Father's Day). Local Kroger now has a butcher shop. Massive cuts of steak sitting there waiting for cooks like y'all. Just that they're so darn $$

Welcome aboard, Braylon! I think you'll be fine using a shad shaped bait. I've caught bass in a local retention pond that has none, and I used a Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm wacky rigged as well as drop shot. Caught plenty of bass with it.

I tend to be a purist when it comes to seasoning, too, although I do enjoy sauteed mushrooms and onions (to the point of carmelizing them) as sides. But after our experience at Ruth's Chris it was all salt, pepper, and butter from there on.

Now a rotisserie steak sounds very interesting! Just the opening vid on that page got me salivating. Don't need to speak the language to understand they know how to cook MEAT!

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind when I (eventually) give the FnF a try. I've got some 1/16 jig heads I use for crappie fishing, so they'd work well, I think.

That's quite possible. A ML rod will load up much better with lighter weights, but setting the brakes and spool tensioner, not to mention the most important thing -- the thumb!

Agree. If you're gonna go for really light baits, tough to beat a spinning setup. I can go really light with my Chronarch 50e paired with a 6'6" ML rod, but it is not my favorite for light bait/light line techniques.

Well, @Raul, you're in luck! We should have mammoth steaks again in a few years! Woolly mammoth will be back from extinction within two years, say Harvard scientists

I'm glad I haven't bought a CI4+ then, LOL. My wife would be putting me out to pasture... My FI, FJ, and FK Stradic 1000s will have to do for now. Fortunatley I'm super happy with 'em!

good stuff

I'll probably, well, more on the possibly side, hit the Hampton store up this weekend or sometime next week. Won't be surprised if they're not on sale, tho. Exactly right on that...

We use salt and a slightly wet paper towel to clean our cast iron. Works most of the time but sometimes one of the kids will use the wrong stuff (olive oil, or such) and make it all sticky...

LOL, I'm having a hard time with that description, Keith. A hard time keeping my beverage from spewing out my nose due to laughing so hard, that is...

But ... but ... everyone around here has one, and I'm south of the MD line!! Now my wife was born in Delaware and she doesn't like charcoal grills..

Maybe that was the place...I thought it was Florida. Heck, I googled it and there are a few places that do the whole store with salt blocks thing now.