NYWayfarer

Biggest Brook Trout I got this year. I have had success with rooster tails, powerbait and trout magnets

Hope everything turns out ok and you make a speedy recovery.

Very true. The Red Eye shad is in my confidence bait arsenal.

Clearly, no. But my best guess is this is a Brown Bullhead.

My car has no rack. I car top my 10' Kayak with one of those foam block kits they sell in DSG or Walmart. I have recently upgraded the staps that came with the kit.

Same here. Those folks are usually my in-laws. Bass to me are a sport fish. There are so many better tasting freshwater fish IMO. Trout, Perch, Salmon, Crappie, Bluegill, Catfish and even Tilapia. I would keep all of those before a Bass. Given the choice I prefer most saltwater fish, fluke flounder, cod, tuna, etc. over freshwater fish. Plus I am too lazy to clean my catch so I get my fish from where God intended me to, the supermarket!

Is that a nice way of saying Dad should be wearing a life-jacket? Dad jumped right in to save her...without a PFD. Glad everyone is Ok. I chuckled at the picks as Mom went to help she never dropped her rod.

Good stuff

I fish much like you, 2 or 3 evenings and 1 weekend day per week. Evenings never more than 2 hours. Weekend trip is usually 4 or 5 hours. I wear a cap, buff and sunglasses. Long sleeve shirts and light weight pants for as long as I can stand. July, August brings out the shorts and t-shirt. SPF 50 on any exposed areas with reapplication after an hour and a half in the sun. Sunscreen needs reapplication!!

Clearance? I ask because the GX2 at my Walmart is $39 everyday price.

One bout with poison ivy was all it took for me to ditch the shorts for lightweight pants. I like the Columbia Backcast Convertible pants.

When kayak fishing for Bass I bring a telescopic rod/baitfeeder reel set-up rigged with an egg sinker and circle hook for Catfish. Since I only have 2 rod holders and limited storage on my kayak it sits in the cockpit with me until I use it.

First Bass of 2018! Air temps reached 80 degrees for the first time this year here yesterday. Warmed up the local pond enough to make the Bass start biting. Gave me a break from Trout and Pickerel. Not or a monster by any means but a great fight on the light action Kastking Calamus rod and 4lb P-Line Floroclear line.

Sunscreen Bug spray 30' of paracord Pee cup (18oz Red solo) Sponge Towel Vacuum sealed water bottle filled with ice water Clif nut-filled bars Buck Knife multi-tool whistle and my newest purchases...paddle and rod leashes

I have the Mela II 2000 and I have shelved it for many months now. The reel is decent enough but I am not a fan of the "honeycomb" spool. Too much room for dirt and debris to get into the reel and on the spool shaft. I had a problem with the drag knob on mine. I contacted Kastking and they sent me a new one ASAP. There is a world of difference between the Mela and the Sharky series. The Sharky II is a true workhorse reel. I own 2 of them a size 1500 and a 3000. Both are still running smooth as can be in their 2nd season with me. Before making a decision I would watch some more reviews and read some of the ones on here from trusted anglers like @Bluebasser86 All I know is I reach for my Sharky II way more than I reach for my President nowadays.

Honestly if you are catching Smallmouth with Panfish gear who cares? You are catching! If you are looking for smaller traditional Smallmouth baits try Strike King Bitsy tubes and Strike King Bitsy Bug mini jigs with a small soft plastic trailer, I like a Yum 2" Grub.

On Black Bullheads there is a tan crescent around the tail right before the fin begins.

Jerkbaits and Crankbaits of the lipless and square bill variety.

They are around a few places in Western and Central NY I have never seen a Brown Bullhead with Barbels that dark. Wish there was a better view of the tail. Black's have a marking on them that is very distinctive.

Happy to see you out again after this loooooong winter. Beautiful Smallies, Grats!

My secret weapon for sight fishing beds at my local pond is a wacky rigged 3" Yum Dinger. I can cast over the bed, drag the dinger slowly across the surface of the water till it is right over the bed and let it free fall in front of the Bass. That slow falling worm will get a strike most of the time. If that doesn't work I can lift the Dinger from the bottom of the bed and shake the tip of my rod. That imparts an action that draws a reaction strike.

Looks like a Black Bullhead.

Kastking Sharky II I find myself comparing the Sharky II to the President all the time. I find them both the perfect balance of low price and high quality.

Wet your line before cinching your knots. If they are still snapping then you are to rough. What brand line are you using? I find it very hard to snap any of my favorites (Stren, Trilene XT or Kastking Flourokote) in 8lb test. Trout are line shy fish. I try to go with the absolute smallest line diameter I can get away with. Right now I am using 4lb P-Line Florokote on a size 1000 reel with a light action rod. Using a split shot, hook and powerbait trout dough I can cast a good distance. Same goes with lures as low as 1/8 oz I could not imagine using 10lb mono for trout.

The water in the upper Hudson River is still in the 40's and the current in strong with all the recent rains. Some snow is still visible on the tops of the mountains that surround the river in that area. I saw one LMB on Saturday and that was it. I went to my local pond on Sunday. It was rainy but the Pickerel didn't mind. Got three of them in a short two hour walk and fish session.