Cuivre

I used to do that as well. But it got to the point where the people who picked up the random numbers I dialed kept saying "who are you and why are you telling me this?" 😜 (I'm single and live alone.)

When I do to cold weather tournaments I keep two pair of hip waders with me- light weight FroggToggs and a heavier set of neoprene waders. Which set I use depends on the degree of cold I'll be in. They help with getting in and out of the yak without worrying about getting my feet wet when launching, as well getting in and out other places around the lake to address issues with gear or bathroom needs. Plus, they keep my legs from getting wet/cold from splashes.

I use my winch to its full advantage as well. I'm re-doing my kayak trailer and changing out the bunks and painting the frame to match my kayak (was green- painting it to black). I use carpeted wood bunks but also put plastic bunk skids on them to reduce the friction.

I just received my new Jackson Big Rig FD yesterday. Some things I will transfer over from my rigged up Coosa FD, but due to a chunk of money coming in and moving from a contractor to an FTE, I will make it the kayak I want. I'll keep my Native crate- it works well for me and isn't too big. I'll upgrade electronics to the Humminbird Explore series with he MegaLive 2 transducer. I don't know if I'll keep my RailBlaza turret mount or go with something else. Jackson has some underseat and accessory storage (and add on TriTrack) I'll probably get and I'll either transfer my Anchor Wizard or buy a fresh one. I have a "Da Bomb" anchor on order- a buddy of mine owns the company. I'm waiting on my Newport NK300 to come in and I already have a 36V 50 aHr battery. I don't know what steering system I'll use- looking at the Tim Percy system, I don't know if I would like foot steering. YakPower system and mounted nav lights will also come pretty soon.

That is a crucial decision. Anymore, the TM and the electronics are matched sets. I went with an Ultrex on my G3 HP180 last change out, so I'm locked into HB electronics, assuming I only want one graph on the bow, Fortunately, HB upped their game with their new Mega Live 2 technology, so I might have to sell my MegaLive 1 FFS transducer and move my Helix 10 to the console....since the MegaLive 2 transducers do not work with Helix head units. Looking at their Explore Unit heads for the bow.

That is a new requirement of KBF and affiliate local clubs-if that video is requested, it has to be available. Not every fish will be checked for a release video-that would be too ponderous. The last Hobie BOS tournament had the same fish submitted and counted twice by a high placing competitor. It cost another angler a lot of money due to them not catching that double counted fish, since he would have jumped up to that placing- I think it was over a $10,000 mistake, if I remember, plus the intangible impact. There was no way of knowing if it was a second unique catch of the same fish, or something more nefarious. Hobie BOS is no longer happening in 2025, but KBF learned a lesson from that incident.

That doesn't make sense on many levels, the least of which is "why would they want to do that?" The current requirement is CPRR, which requires the angler to record the fish being released live, swimming away and the empty Ketch board being shown. That has the added benefit of insuring the same fish isn't measured, stringered, and submitted twice and that the fish is alive. Any other on the water video of the fish/angler using a GoPro or even just a phone video will be much better than a still picture at a weigh in for use in marketing and social media. Plus- it reinforces and expands Ray Scott's ethic of Catch and Release, by using technology that has been available to anglers for years- cell phones, video, electronic submission and second party judging of the catch's length and health (standards have always been the clear and healthy eye must be visible on all photos and the fingers cannot be under the operculum). Constant relocation of fish just for the ability of angler to prance around on stage waving a dying fish around is just indulgence of shallow ego and false bravado.

I'm 61 and I fish out of a kayak and bass boat for bass and crappie. The only 2 times I fell into the water was on my bass boat deck crappie fishing. First was reaching for pole timber to tie off to, when the TM hit a tree I didn't see-so I was leaning forward, off balance and went in with the sudden stop. The second time was when I was tying a knot and the wind was blowing my boat down through the trees and one hit especially hard....and over I went. Both times where when it was warm, fortunately. I am getting a longer, wider, more stable kayak (BigRig FD-delivery is tomorrow) and a 3 hp Newport electric motor just to keep me from having an accident in the kayak- especially since losing gear risk is higher and I'm fishing out of that more than my bass boat. I've been using a stand assist strap for years- it also helps me lower myself back down into the kayak seat more gently. I got a Knot Assist 2.0 to help me with tying the FG knot- that makes all the difference in the world for me and this knot.

You referring to the Explore series and the MegaLive 2 transducer? I think it is a major step up from their first version, which was considered the third ranked of the big 3. I am strongly considering buying the set up for my new kayak. The YouTube comparisons were impressive and I didn't have an easy time picking up my lure on the old systems I had (Helix 10 and MegaLive 1 transducer).

I advocate for CPR or CPRR in some bass boat tournament related videos when they discuss the status of bass populations and health. It isn't just the health of the fish- it is the constant relocation of fish from where they were caught. That can change the dynamics of their distribution and the forage base they have and must compete for. Also, it can be a vicious circle, since many folks use the "retread pattern" in subsequent tournaments by focusing around the release areas from previous tournaments. Even kayak guys fish around weigh in areas the bass boat guys use.

Welcome to MO. I live in St.Joe area, but lived in NE MO as well. I wouldn't look past the lakes in KS either. I was a member of a KS kayak bass club and fished many of their lakes in addition to the MO lakes. NW MO is much better fishing than NE MO. Smithville and Mozingo are my favorite "bigger" lakes, but they are not big by the southern MO lakes standards.

I've fished bass boat tournaments, kayak on-site tournaments and monthly kayak fishing challenges where you fish whatever public water you want to get the best length for your best 5 fish. There is definitely an excitement at the launch of these on-site tournaments-even the road runner kayak tournaments where you can put in at any launch. I go into these with a healthy mindset- have fun and let the chips fall where they fall. Getting overly competitive in the fishing tournament scene isn't a big issue for me. I've been in that ego-driven mindset during my academic and professional careers and proved what I needed to prove there and then. That is also why I chose to be a 100% privateer WRT my fishing gear- I do not want to chase sponsors or be a member of some "Pro-Staff", and I kind of shake my head at those who judge themselves and each other by those standards. I've fished benefit tournaments in my bass boat for Fishing for Freedom where I take a wounded veteran out for a day of fishing in a tournament for plaques (no money). That is very enjoyable and fun. The kayak fishing club I'm a part of in MO is focused on camaraderie and learning. We have Experienced, Intermediate and Novice divisions in every tournament in addition to overall pots and Big Bass. That encourages the less experienced anglers to experience winning some money among their experience level peers. Our club president has videos on FaceBook talking about tournaments, techniques, processes etc- along with some SWAG hand outs. Basically- you have to find the tournament platform and culture that you like. I still do most of my fishing in a "me vs the fish" tournament, but I like to dabble in everything, in moderation.

I agree. These three organizations stumbled into conducting an experiment that will demonstrate how fish are caught, and who wants to watch what type of fishing. Although, BASS has a huge finger on the scale with their organization legacy weight. It may take a couple years for people to shift their viewing, express their preference and the viewing platforms to adjust so people can view conveniently and without glitches.

I know, right? It is called 'speaking out of both sides of his mouth'. But proof of licensure is likely a requirement to compete in his BASS tournaments (but not his YouTube videos in the off-season). Proof of being legal is a requirement in our local kayak tournament club events, but we had to ban someone who fished our events but wasn't able to buy a license due defaulting on child support (yes- they are connected!). Many kids still hang on his words and philosophy as their gospel. I see a lot of kids trespassing on private land to fish and getting into conflicts with landowners/HOA residents-that is kind of a meme in YouTube world. We don't need someone like Ben to teach them that fishing licenses are "the MAN trying to keep them oppressed!".

I don't think he has very good counsel. He goes out and mocks his arrest by selling T-Shirts with his mug shot on it, and continues to promote the idea that people shouldn't HAVE to buy fishing licenses, if they pay other taxes. Some people are likening him to being a "sovereign citizen" who thinks they don't need a driver's license....kind of playing the role of a "sovereign fisherman". He was without a license for 6-7 months prior to buying it after being forced to after catching the legacy bass.