FryDog62

It’s cooled off a bit now, but when I landed here in S. FL recently - it was 103 degrees warmer than where I left in Minneapolis. Was in a bass tournament last weekend and am still pinching myself. Gawd, I don’t miss it !!

All good reels, but I’ve switched out all my Lew’s reels for Daiwa and Shimano, they just last longer in my experience...

I couldn't decide between 6 or 8 pound fluorocarbon for the longest time. Finally found 7 lb Sniper. Seems to be the perfect compromise - lol

I use 7 lb Sniper on my 2 BFS set ups... works great, gets the sink rate on lighter lures that braid does not. No to the Dobyns 700/BFS rod, tip is better suited for trout - not bass around even the lightest cover. A 1/5 oz Ned is too much for that tip IMO. The old 701c (not made any more) would be about right. I’m a big fan of the Phenix Feather 7’1” Light. It’s not that expensive, but if too much I would recommend the Sensilite as well. The new Abu Garcia PLX TE at 6’10” ML is interesting too at $179.

Was in a bass tournament today... pretty laid back but fun. Was told I placed 9th out of 27 fishermen - despite not having a gas motor to get from spot to spot. And about 80 degrees warmer than home. I’ll take it?

You’re describing the 4th of July weekend weather in Minn lol... I feel your pain brother, I’m in FL now... my son left Mpls yesterday below zero and I picked him up at the airport it was 83. Will never forget the smile on his face curbside are RSW. Yes, time to leave the cold !

I know its a bummer. On that Canadian trip we had 7 guys that all ate the Shore Lunch. Two were unaffected, two (including me) had heartburn for 2 days... the other 3 guys ended up doing their best re-creation of the Blazing Saddles camp fire scene... Oh my

3/16-1/4 oz VMC Rugby jig with 4 inch Hula Grub. Lights out -

Northern Minnesota/Ontario shore lunches are a must - although I wouldn’t recommend the “Shore Lunch” brand. Stuffed with MSG and causes heartburn on a level higher than most people I know have encountered before. There are other brands out there like Watkins - same flavors, no MSG ?

https://www.omniafishing.com/p/picasso-lures-undressed-tungsten-football-jig Tungsten is spendy, but at least its 2 jigs ~ Or these: https://swaggertackle.com/new-football-jigs/

My fleet of two boats:

I went 60ah and went 7 hours still on “high” according to battery life gauge... ?

For me, the speed isn’t a big difference. But I did hear one kayak tournament angler say that he downsized from the 136 to the 120 specifically because he wanted to get to the best spots in a tournament before the 136’s showed up. Could be the 136 comes out with a 60 lb thrust motor next year - probably will happen...

Wide open, she cruises regularly at 4.3 mph. Not sure what the 136 would do, its heavier and same motor so I would assume slightly less.

I've had the kayak for about 2 weeks and have been out a half dozen times. I think it is very stable and seaworthy. I've taken it straight into a 15+ mph wind with chop at 4-4.5 mph and it did just fine. A little spray but that comes with the territory in a yak. In calmer waters, I troll shorelines standing up casting, skipping, etc. Throwing frogs shouldn't be an issue. I'm 180 pounds so I don't know if you are a lot bigger if that would make it tougher, I don't know. I think the cockpit has plenty of room and I can turn around, stoop down to land fish, etc. I've never been in a yak before buying this boat. I'm a bit spoiled with my bass boat at home and honestly was concerned about how fishing friendly this would actually be. Pleasantly surprised with how good of a platform it is. I did buy seat risers from Navarre Kayak, to raise the back of the seat up 3 inches (more level with the front height of the seat). I'm not a fan of sitting low with your knees way up high - and these really help. Now I sit up higher when cruising/trolling and can see where I'm going or casting better. Very easy to go from sitting position to standing with the seat risers. I highly recommend them (https://navarrekayakfishing.com/shop/old-town-seat-risers/) The hull is very hefty and quite substantial. If it has any drawback at all it is that it is extremely heavy for one person lift, pull, launch, etc. Wheels are a must if you have any distance at all to take it on land, or from your vehicle to the launch. If you have a trailer it would be much easier to transport/launch. If not, be sure you're in shape to maneuver it. But all this extra weight does make it a very stable, safe fishing machine!

I'm new to kayak fishing, but thought I would mostly fish the shorelines. However, I'm now very glad I added a 7 inch graph with side imaging... using it a lot more than I thought. You being much more experienced with the kayak will probably get even more out of your new electronics than I have. Enjoy!

All weightless or weight buried in the plastic... nothing to clank off a pontoon or dock post. Spooks the fish and/or ticks off the homeowners. I typically skip: Caffeine Shad on weightless Owner Twistlock Light hook Neko rigs with 1/16th oz nail weight buried in the plastic Weightless wacky worms All on baitcasting equipment (SV spools). I find it easier to get the fish out and away from cover, posts, etc with b/c equipment.

Yes, my son is staying at our house while we are away and he's been telling me how frigid its been. This has been an absolute blast down here so far, temps upper 70's to low 80's. Locals are "bracing us" for a major cold front next week in the upper 60's... Ha! I asked them if that's considered a Polar Vortex and they just give me a puzzled look. Well, even though it'll be a cold front, we'll survive somehow lol. Gim, you'd be interested to know that I've been throwing a number of lures down here, but one of the best has been the 3.5 inch Maxscent tube. Rigged weedless on the Owner Phantom hook tossed into the outer edge of the weed line. Kind of left off where I did in the Fall in Minnesota. But that tube seems to work just as well down here. I'm getting low on stock, better load up on the next TW shipment!

Absolutely - will leave it at the Gray’s Bay access for you

Yes, like this! I was too busy talking with my hands I had just launched and not flipped them up quite yet...

Not sure about salt unless you hire a guide, should be good fishing that time of year. There is always fishing off the Naples Pier too but it gets crowded. As far as freshwater, there are ponds near many intersections throughout Naples. Just have to park, cast the areas you can access then on to the next. Topwater in the morning, plastics during the rest of the day. Lots of 1-2 lb largemouth, sometimes bigger ones present.

Its a unique lake for Florida. Most are shallow, weedy, gator waters - but this was an old dug out quarry, so its deep, clear and minimal weeds. Gators are rare, but of course can wander in from time to time. They get over a certain size are captured and donated to the local food shelves. Taste like chicken I'm told... Being a rare, deep lake, there are a few jet skis, wake boats... not many, but more of a nuisance than the reptiles fortunately ~

Funny, we’re on 400 acre freshwater lake... about 10 miles inland and someone said it’s rare but they will occasionally catch snook in there. Reportedly, someone caught a 40 incher a week ago. I might need a bigger net!

Spending a couple months down south on a 400 acre freshwater lake in Florida. Hard to imagine looking at it every day and not fishing. So contemplated several options and landed on getting my first kayak. Honestly I’m a bit spoiled with a bass boat at home with many bells and whistles. So opted for an Autopilot 120 with MinnKota 45/Spot-lock, Helix 7 Mega SI, and transport wheels to pull it to the boat launch 50 yards away. Did all the rigging myself, which took a little while and a few bugs yet to work out. But overall very glad I did this. There is even a tournament later this month. I may be the only one in a Yak but and thinking of entering just for the fun of it!

I have both a Medium and Medium Heavy in the Daiwa Aird and also Abu Garcia Vengeance... Both the Aird and Vengeance are great rods for the money. In general, I think the Aird is a tad more moderate and the Vengeance more between Fast and Extra Fast. Therefore, I use the Airds for moving lures, and the slightly more sensitive Vengeance for bottom contact, or lighter detection tactics. Great “value” rods?