Rudy1922

Is this for people that refuse to learn how to use a baitcaster? It might be easier because there wouldn't be any backlashes?

Check out this reel.

Sounds like a bad habit. I'll stop doing it and thanks for the advice.

I noticed 2 days ago that I thumb the spool of my baitcaster while setting the hook. When I start my sweeping hook set I let the drag start to work and by the end of the hook set I'm thumbing the spool. I then take my thumb off and let the drag take over. I never noticed it until now. Bad Habit? Does anybody else do this? Will this damage my reels?

It's getting hot over here, high 90s and sometimes higher. I usually throw a Carolina rig, jig and Senkos when it starts to get hot but I was wondering if anybody uses a Keitech Swing Impact Fat? I had some success using them in cover but now I'll be fishing in open water. How well do they work during the summer in open water conditions?

I plan on throwing a lot of Carolina Rigs during the summer and I was looking at the Champion 764C. I like to use 1/2 oz. weights, sometimes 3/4 oz, but I don't know if that's heavy enough to load the rod. Could somebody tell me how it would cast with those weights? I was using my DX745C but I think it's better suited for 1/2 oz. Jigs. I know they make a 804C "Carolina Riggin' Special" but 8 feet seems way too long. Storing and transporting it seems like it would be a hassle.

I've decided to start using the Fat Ika. I have a Dobyns Champion 734 that isn't really doing anything right now, so I thought i would use it with the Fat Ika. I was casting it in the backyard today and liked the tip for casting the Fat Ika but I remembered people saying they were having problems with hook sets. Is the tip on the 734 too slow for the Fat Ika? I use 30 lbs braid and 4/0 hooks.

Thanks so much for the side by side test. Sounds like you really like the CI4+'s SVS braking system. I got my CI4+ down to 2 brakes and 1 on the dial today. It casted farther with less effort but I had to really focus on using less effort. I had a couple small backlashes because I was casting too hard but after awhile I got use to the adjustment. I also used my Chronarch 201 E6 and got it down to 2 brakes. It also had an increase in distance but it was a little more difficult to control. I'm also surprised by your results today. It sounds like the SVS braking system is better than the VBS. I have one question. I always thought you had to "balance" the brakes but you are only using one brake?

I don't know if this makes a difference or not but I loosen my tension control knob until there is a slight side to side movement in the spool. I do this to all my reels.

3/8 oz. is the lightest I've thrown on a bait caster. Maybe your right about practicing with the 50 E. I've stopped trying to improve my casting. I reached a certain level, left the brakes where they were and just became comfortable. I'll try to "push it" tomorrow.

I use 3 brakes on the 50 E. I use 2 brakes and adjust the dial anywhere between 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 (depends what I'm throwing) on the CI4+

ok that's 1 for the core.

I have a Dobyns DX742C coming from Valley Sports, he gave me a good price. I'm going to use the rod for Senkos and 1/4 oz. shaky heads. I was going to test my Chronarch E 50 and Chronarch CI4+ (both with 20 lbs braid) on it to see which one I like best. Then I thought I should look at the Shimano Core 50MG, since this is going to be my last bait caster for a while. I have some questions about the Core. Is it really better at throwing lighter baits than the Chronarch E 50 & CI4+? Now that the CI4+ is here, is the Core old news? I guess it's going to come down to which braking system I like better for lighter weights. The CI4+'s SVS or the Core 50MG and Chronarch E 50's VBS.

Thanks. I'm so glad I bought a kayak and I'm off the bank.

I've never used a swimbait before, maybe I'll give them a try.

I was the only one on the lake this morning. I only caught one but it was my new P.B. It was a nice fat one, 5.44 lbs. I was fishing submerged grass with a 3/8 oz. Dredge Brush Jig in about 9 feet of water. What I used: Dobyns DX744c Shimano CI4+ Suffix 832 braid - 30 lbs. with 10 lbs leader. Siebert Outdoors - 3/8 oz. Dredge Brush Jig - Blue Craw Zoom - Baby Bush Hog - Watermelon Seed Jackson Cuda 12 Werner Carbon Camano 240 cm paddle Gopro Hero 3+ Black Here is a Gopro video of me catching it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opCvv7pubhs

What everybody said plus a good knife and portable phone charger.

I use a 240 cm Camano and use a low angle paddling style most of the time. Sometimes I don't go every far at all and stick close to the shore and fish submerged grass and trees. On those days I wish I had a high angle paddle so I can maneuver better. Like most people here, i have more than one fishing rod. I have rods for a lot of different techniques but why do I only have one style of paddle? So my question is, Do you guys have different style paddles for different situations? Do you say to yourself "I'm not paddling very far today, I better bring a High angle paddle" or "I'm going across the lake today, I better bring a low angle paddle"?

I have a Cuda 12 but I'm a beginner, so my opinions are probably wrong. Anyway, at this point in time, this is what I think. I have about 70 hours on the water with the Cuda 12 and I use a Werner 240 cm Camano (I'm 5' 11"). I think the paddle is great and I love using it. I think in the low seated position it might be a hair too long (maybe) and in the high seated position it might be a hair too short (maybe). So it's a good compromise if you plan on moving from low to high like I do while fishing. It just depends on how windy it gets. Or...and I was thinking about this while I was paddling from both positions today, I just have to get use to the adjustment in paddling when you move from low to high. The Camano is best for a low angle paddling style and the Shuna is best for a high angle style.

I've caught 56 so far. Almost all of them were around 2 - 2.5 lbs. At first jigs were working, then only jika rigs would work. That stopped working and then only the drop shot would work for me. Now it's mostly the Keitech swing impact fat.

After approx. 55 hours on the water in the Low position on my Cuda 12, I thought I was ready for the High Position. It is more "Tippy" but nothing too bad. I kept telling myself to keep my head in line with the center line of the kayak and everything worked out fine. There are advantages with sitting higher, like being able to cast a Carolina rig, being able to see the fish better and my legs felt more comfortable. I also felt like I paddled better with my 240 cm paddle. There is also more room to store tackle and other items under the seat. Not that you really need to because the center hatch is so big you can store all sorts of things in there. Since it's under the waterline, I feel the more stuff you put in there the more stable the Cuda 12 becomes. I also like having all my bait and tackle right in front of me but out of the way. I was worried about what would happen when I caught a fish from the High position but I was fine. Watch my GoPro video if you want to see how stable the Cuda 12 is with me paddling and catching Bass. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnxbxVuJID4

Thanks i'm a lot more comfortable on my kayak now. Here is a GoPro video of my first kayak Bass. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCmXubBX4CQ

Dobyns DX 744c Shimano Chronarch CI4+ 30 lbs. Sufix 832 10 lbs. Seaguar Inviz x (leader) Siebert Outdoors 3/8 oz. Dredge Football Jig (Whisky Craw) Baby Brush Hog (Watermelon Seed) Mega Strike

Hand wipes are what I use. In fact I use them to clean the whole fishing rod.

You're right about casting and sitting close to the water. I have to adjust the brakes on my bait casters when I use my kayak. I have a rod holder on my kayak but I always forget to use it when I land a fish. I only use it to hold the fishing rod while I paddle. Here's a video I made using a bait caster on my Cuda 12 with some crappy music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcT_GDk4KIg