HoosierMac78

I had success with the poppers and their spook. The black and white ones, still have them in-case i need to throw a popper that doesn't have an internal rattle. The black popper worked for snook on a trip to Florida as well.

I use that exact set up for kayak fishing on my moderate rod. I tie on a leader, length depending on clarity (0-9'). Biggest difference is how you set the hook, treble with braid just lean into it. Do not jerk the rod for a hookset. With moving baits and no stretch line, the fish sets the hook and you just have to keep pressure on. That has been my experience.

As long as the kayak will lay in your bed without tipping over you are fine without an extender. I switched to 20# braid with a leader in all of my baitcasters for two reasons. Setting the hook from a kayak and cost. The braid will last years and I only buy a 12 and 20# roll of seagur invizx for all my rods for the entire year vs. 1 roll for 2-3 rods (which comes to the cost of a new reel and rod combo every year). Depending on what technique im using the leader is 3-9'. I also throw my 3/8 and up jigs on a heavy action rod. As others have said a roll cast and you can make a lure land softly by tethering the spool and lifting the rod tip slightly before it lands. Never used a rudder. At this point only reason for them that I see is if you have a pedal/trolling motor propulsion. I don't put anything onto my kayak that increases its draft. I stopped bringing my anchor in the river. I do three things to stay in the same spot. I wade and clip the kayak's anchor trolley to my PFD. I made a stakeout pole from PVC, I am not sure about the ATAK 120 but I can reach the forward set of scupper holes on the ride 115 with ease. Even when I have made mistakes, I have recovered from them when using the stakeout pole without dumping. Then a brush anchor/paddle on a leash. Find an area of shoreline/stick up that you can toss your paddle into the grass (while its tethered) or you can tether a quick-grip clamp with shock cord. Quick Grip The ATAK has a new anchor chute that is mounted by the forward hatch, that coupled with a cleat and a cheap anchor would be a game changer in rivers for me. Biggest thing I learned from rivers is land the kayak if you are fishing upstream from current and wade it.

Have another rod ready with a small fluke or popper. When you see them busting baitfish cast to it and work the area a few times. It even works with anything really, I see it happen and toss what I have on in the area and get a fish 25% of the time.

I fish the same areas, I keep my retrieve fast from bank or boat. Unless it is on-top of matted grass/slop, then I'll do fast retrieve with pauses. I can also vouch for orange bottom (Halloween) frogs when they will not commit(just bumping) to white. How shallow are the pads you are fishing? If its over bluegill beds, that is probably what is grabbing the legs or bumping the frog. I catch plenty of smaller bass on frogs

You have Ft. Harrison state park with Delaware pond. And what the others have listed. Delaware is okay for shore fishing, gets crowded on the weekends. Best thing I can advise is google earth and look for places to bank fish or launch your rowboat. Or to make friends with locals and hit up housing edition ponds in the area which are always a gem for a nice 5# every now and then.