greywalls

Honestly, it sounds like the Backwater Assassin paddle would be perfect for what you need. I have a buddy with one, and he likes it. It seems pretty danged durable, and he uses it in ways that I wouldn't risk chipping up my own paddle (which is featherweight awesome, but somewhat fragile) to attempt. Anyway, you likely could find the Backwater Assassin for less than $150 -- so, might not be a bad option for a knockaround yet pretty-decent option... https://www.yakgear.com/product/backwater-assassin-carbon-fiber-hybrid-paddle/

My father has several full-cork USA-made All Stars, including a couple sitting on his rod racks still brand new / unused. Not sure what models, as I admittedly haven't paid attention to them before -- however, seem to recall that several are casting rods in the charcoal / maroon color-band (knowing him, they probably are 6'6 to 7' M or MH)... I'll have to check them out next time. He has tons of stuff from the 80s and 90s that is packed away brand new (reminds me of a time capsule!)...

Jackson Bite, without question, if you are looking for more of a throw-n-go creek boat... The Outlaw is a beast. It weighs in at ~80lbs, which is similar to my Bonafide SS107. The Outlaw I handled actually felt heavier or perhaps more cumbersome than my Bonafide. ...Basically, I'm thinking that your experience with the Outlaw will be more akin to your pedal yak... While the Bite is definitely not a "light-weight," itself, it does weigh in a bit lighter, and it is a more nimble boat... Given that you already have a pedal yak, have you considered something much lighter, such as a Crescent Ultralight or Native Falcon 11? Both would be great "grab and go" boats...

I have a Bonafide SS107 and love it; however, it is definitely more of a fishing rig than a family rec rig... Of the boats you are looking at, I'd go with the Crescent Ultralite (or the Crescent LiteTackle for any larger folks) without question. I'm in the process of ordering Ultralites for my wife and kiddos. The hull design on the Crescents is really well-done -- the rocker of the Ultralite makes it a super-"fun" boat, while also stable. Every component on the Crescent is made in the USA, too... But, in any event, it comes down to personal preference, and you and your family should demo as many options as possible. Also, check out the Headwaters Kayaks channel on YouTube for some great honest reviews...

My problem with the Levante is that if I were to purchase one, then I'd have to pick up an Exsense to put on it. Aesthetically, that is one sweet looking setup.

I have a spinning setup that I use on what sounds to be a very similar environment. I have a nearby stream that runs 1' to 6' deep, and it's only ~30' wide -- but, it's loaded with smallmouth, and I love to wade it upstream with spinners and small crankbaits... A few years ago, I picked up on a whelm a spool of Silver Thread AN40 (6lb, for my ultralite application). It's copoly and inexpensive... However, I could not be more pleased with the line, and it's all I use now on my small stream spinning reels. It casts nicely, holds a knot perfectly, and has never broken despite being hung and abraded on countless rocks. And, I've had zero memory issues (although I've only used lower pound test).

You could do much, much better for a little bit additional investment. In my experience, there are few things more likely to frustrate a budding angler -- or a first-time baitcaster user -- than learning on extremely inexpensive and usually poorly constructed gear. That's not to say that anyone needs to drop a ton of cash, though -- rather, I think that you'll save yourself a ton of frustration by purchasing a better reel. For example, if I were purchasing a setup for my young son (he's too young currently, as he's only 5 and is still "mastering" his Zebco spincaster, but the same rationale applies), I wouldn't be at all concerned about the rod (plenty of $25 decent graphite rods to be had on sale at the big box stores); however, I wouldn't skimp on the reel, itself (which, IMHO, means that I'd be looking into Lews, Abu, Shimano or Daiwa offerings @ the $50+ pricepoint). If you're stuck on purchasing a matched combo, I would recommend the Lews American Hero combo or the Abu Garcia "Max" combos (there are SilverMaxes, BlackMaxes and ProMaxes). I think if your budget allows you $70-$80, then you'll find a setup that ultimately should be much better quality and make you much happier in the long run.

Hey, look on the bright side... You have good taste!

Not to side track the thread, but... Hello from Powhatan, just down the road from you!

~15yds is where I cast most often, working the edges of smaller Virginia reservoirs from an aluminum bass boat with a weightless fluke.

Wasn't joking, and I no longer think it's a gimmick... Worth a shot, and I'm excited to try 'em.

Okay, I'm sold. Just now put $500 on my AMEX. Can't wait for Spring!

I know. I'd like to think that Randy's success was more specific to his judgement and angling skills and his selection of a crankbait that ran true at his desired depth and presented his desired coloration than it was owing to a microchip inside the crankbait. I don't at all mean to argue. I think Livingston makes fine crankbaits. They were not the first to market electronics inside crankbaits, though -- and my generalization wasn't targeted at them.

C'mon... You can't say that with a straight face, can you? Maybe the color and trueness of the crankbait, or the luck of an experienced angler, had something to do with it? Or, maybe... We've figured out how to embed into a crankbait an intelligent chip that computes in real-time all physiological information from largemouth bass weighing in excess of 6lbs w/in a 10' perimeter of the lure and presents accordingly a biological stimuli lab-proven to elicit predatory responses from each of the largest and most proximate bass? Still a gimmick, IMHO.

How about the electronic crankbaits that purportedly emit baitfish sounds? Similarly, how about the LED lighted lures that "catch fish in low-light conditions"? Someone already mentioned the Color-C-Lector -- man, that brings back memories... As a teen I wanted one SO badly when they came out. Also already mentioned: the Banjo Minnow. Yes, it's probably a somewhat of a decent soft plastic, but, man oh man, did that company overdo its TV marketing! Flying Lure -- it glides backwards beneath docks where the "hawgs live!" Helicopter Lure -- money-back guaranteed... to twist your line into a mess. Gator Bait -- synthetic fish attractant... The Bionic Minnow...