Turtle135

Not at all the end of the world. While a deep diving crankbait might wear you out some as you give up "cranking power" I suspect you will find the higher gear ratio beneficial to most of your other presentations.

As someone who has fished the MAKBF from day one, I would say, start fishing that series as soon as you can. You will learn more in a few events than you could figure out on your own over several years. The group of anglers you will meet are ready and willing to give you all the assistance you are ready for. As far as pedal versus paddle. I purchased a Tarpon 130x back in the fall of 2016 because I wanted speed and a comfortable kayak over any other concern. I have also been paddling a kayak after bass since 1991 so I may be biased towards a paddle. What I have seen in our tournament series is that is not the kayak that wins, it is the angler.

I was on the Tidal Potomac today and the water in the main river was 34 degrees. I would start looking for them in the creeks as the water temperature pushes up towards 50 degrees.

I will second the Stanley suggestion. War Eagle Spinnerbaits are good fish catchers but you never know when that wire is going to pop. I find Stanley to be good fish catchers and pretty durable.

1. Do you find value in being able to fish a variety of water? Yes 2. Would you pay money to fish private ponds that are more convenient and/or offer better fishing than what you currently fish? No 3. If so, how much would you be willing to pay per day, week, or season to fish this water? Not applicable 4. Would you use this website/app? Why or why not? No. I am not a fan of any "pay to fish type propositions" on top of the various license and launch permits that I already purchase every season. Where I live you can still find untapped fisheries if you are willing to work to unlock their secrets.

I also wear the NRS Chinook. Comfortable and I have pliers, knife, line cutters, scent, camera and whistle all right there where I need them.

Just another option. Buy the jig heads painted (Siebert sells them like that too) and tie your own skirts. Your cost per jig will be less than two bucks.

I am not as efficient with jerkbaits but since I normally only fish those in the dead of winter (with very long pauses) they are not much of an issue. I have always felt that the jig was the perfect presentation for the seated kayak fisherman.

Is that the "Morel"? I just got 40 of those in from Siebert. Have not had a chance to use them yet.

I think the hooks on those might be too big.

One option is the Owner Ultrahead Finesse Ball Head (1/16oz Hook Size 1). It is a ball head but a TRD will stand up on end (once you stretch it and get the salt out of the elaztech).

The Susquehanna River up above Harrisburg, PA. While spring time flows can make paddling up current a little more challenging during the summer it is much more manageable and you have a river a mile wide to traverse. If you decide to head to the Susky I can PM you some launch sites.

Temps over the weekend had me scratching my head. I was on the same lake on Saturday (the windy day) and the surface water temperature was 39 degrees. I go back out on Sunday (dead calm and cloudy) and the water temp was 42 - 43 degrees. I think what was happening was that the strong wind from the south was rotating cold deep water to the surface.

Congrats on getting the year started! I had been running down to Lake Anna on the weekends to find open water. Fortunately my local lake was ice free except for some of the shady shallow coves so I was out there yesterday in the rain. This one was skinny but I was happy to be fishing in Maryland again. Black&Blue jig in 25'.

What type of boat would you be mounting this on? While I can get away with a smaller screen on my kayak (and get more features for the dollar) that small screen might not be right for a bass boat.

Dick's Sporting Goods carries it. If you have a local one you can check stock. https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/megastrike-fish-attractant-17megumgstrkxxxxxlur/17megumgstrkxxxxxlur?

"Need to see how i compare to the big dawgs that are coming in March." If you need to see how you compare to the Bassmaster Elite don't you need to go find your own fish like they do? Good luck, stay positive and get out there and whack them!

Thanks for the intel! He has a planned trip to Florida coming up in February so he plans to test his weed chopping down there.

I was going to suggest the Uni knot as well for ease of tying. It is the one knot I can tie with complete confidence in the pitch dark. On your progressive lens you may want to take a look at finding a pair of polarized Cocoons (either the Fitovers or the Clip-Ons). I use the Clip-Ons. https://cocoonseyewear.com/

What I am curious about was if "Dottie" and Manabu Kurita's bass were actually intergrades and not pure Florida Strain Largemouth. George Perry's fish would likely have been an intergrade.

I prefer the original (because the biggest bass I have ever held ate a jig slathered with MegaStrike Original).

Another reel you might want to look at is the Lew's Super Duty SD1S. These used to go for $ 180.00 but can now be found new on eBay for around $ 100.00 (they replaced that model with a wide spool version and a LFS version). That reel might fit the niche you describe (strong reel for handling baits up to 2 ounces but still low profile for pitching into tight cover). I use those on the Tidal Potomac River for pitching into heavy weed mats and I am not under gunned when a 20 pound blue catfish decides to crash the party.

I have had to run about 2 hours south to get to that open water but by the time Saturday rolls around I am chomping at the bit to make that drive.

When I was able to do some "true winter" fishing every bass I caught was on a jig. Of late since my local lakes froze over I have been running down to a warm water discharge (Nuke plant) where the water has been 45 - 48 degrees and a variety of presentations work.

I got my first kayak back in 1991. At the time I thought I would move on to larger water craft down the road. However, the simplicity of the kayak, the paddle, a few rods and whatever tackle that fits into a milk crate really appeals to me. From Lake Champlain to the North down to Lake Toho in the South and hundreds of lakes, ponds, rivers and creeks in between it has been me and the yak searching for those bass. Late March I head to Kentucky Lake to fish for the top prize of $ 100,000.00 in the KBF National Championship. Bass fishing in a kayak has evolved in an almost unimaginable way.