Dorado

Forrest Gump Across the Universe (huge Beatles fan) American Beauty 3-way tie

I can't offer any help regarding mounting positions but I proudly own a Hook 4 and offered some setting recommendations below. Hope it helps!

Fly fishing for Gold Water quality bows and browns. Walleye, big catfish, and slab Crappie get my attention over the bucket mouth

You're so right. I tried a loop knot last time I fished a Jitterbug and I've never looked back. Snap is not as effective as the loop but is conveneint when you are switching among other top water hard lures like Zara Spooks, etc.

Here in AZ it's all about the time you're on the water rather than what you're using. In the summer I'm fishing from 4AM-8AM. That alarm going off at 2:40 AM hurts sometimes but it's always worth it. Lipless cranks, mid depth cranks, and roadrunners with Gulp!Alive! Black Shad minnows have worked consistently here. I need to start drop shotting Roboworms this year. Bottom line, fish super early!

If there isn't any surface activity I'll use a chartreuse 1/4 oz (1/0 hook) Roadrunner and a 3" white grub (Zoom or PowerBait) and slow roll it barely off the bottom with the rod tip down almost touching the water. This method caught most of my prespawn Bass this year. When surface activity finally picked up (postspawn) I used the same set up and had the grub wake right below the surface. You need to keep the rod tip High and shake the tip as you're reeling moderate speed. This was especially deadly at night this year. Grubs catch numbers and appeal to the 2-4 lb LMB class. Plus, crappie and channel cats frequently take this lure. I laugh at myself sometimes for paying for $20 lures that never get bit, so I'll revert back to a simple ol grub and jighead and clean up shop.

I fish in freshwater and in depths less than 60ft so I'm in "Shallow Water" Mode Downscan: -Autocontrast on -Range is Auto -Frequency is always 800 kH -Ping Speed is "Slow" since I'm motorless in a yak -Noise rejection is Off -Surface Clairty is off because I'm only interested in readings below the surface. You can mess with it if it bothers you -Color on Blue Gradient. Easy for contrast Sonar: -Auto Sensitivity always on -Range is on Auto -Frequency is on Medium Chirp. I like a wider cone for a more pronounced fishing arch and it's easier to spot schools of Shad with that setting too. I rarely use the High Chirp but can see in situations where fine detail needs to come into play like differentiating between a large catfish that's a foot off the bottom vs. a small boulder for example. That High chirp should show a gap between that bottom hugging lunker and the bottom. -Ping Speed is slow -Noise rejection off -Surface Clarity same as mentioned above -Color on white background. Like this contrast. -Fish Id OFF. Very misleading Using the simulator mode is great practice when you're configurating the settings. I'm constantly experimenting but these settings have been very helpful and have improved my success in locating active fish in large bodies of water. Good luck !

@NHBull So, these are the settings that I prefer. Bear In mind that I operate a kayak with my Hook 4x. First of all, I run my unit 99% of the time on dual screens with 2D and Downscan. See pic below. This is a helpful way to confirm types of structure and baitfish when I'm tying to interpret the signal readings

This

I have a Hook 4 and have finally found the perfect settings after tons of research. Are you still needing help? How do you still like the unit ? @NHBull

@hawgenvy which now you inspired me to hit a pond with a jig and trailer. Awesome pics!

I hate baitcasters. Have a new Daiwa Tatula and Lew's MB Speed and have only used them both twice. Can't fish at night with them and bird's nests ruin it for me as I always get them in the middle of a feeding frenzy. I'm happy with my cheap Pfluger Presidents

Great thread guys

Curious to see what others say

I kayak fish a lot in AZ and rarely troll when I'm targeting LMB. However, for trout (Kastmasters/Mepps Comet Minnos), stripers (4" Paddletails), and white bass (Wiggle Warts) I troll with a VERY slow paddle and at least 75 ft of line behind like someone said earlier. It's very effective whether you are parallel to the shore or circling islands. @JustJames do you have a sonar? This time of the year it's all about finding those schooling shad. If you solely targeting LMB from a kayak, IMO, I would focus more on using your confidence baits at places that have structure and places with steep drop offs and rocky cliffs. Last thing. I usually bring a buddy along who loves to paddle more than fish and he just trolls a lipless crank (Rapala Rippin' Rap - Chrome w/ Blue Back) and ALWAYS catches something (LMB, catfish). I have a tandem kayak and I'm neurotic about only one person paddling at a time to ensure a slow speed when trolling.

I'm confident enough to say the red crawfish looks great and has potential in my neck of the woods.

Great post! Smart lure choice first of all. I need to try that approach next time I take my yak out. I'm addicted to fishing in general from my yak. I feel like every game fish fights differently and being so intimately close to the action puts it all in closer perspective. A nice striper vs bulldog channel cat to an acrobatic cutthroat trout - I swear that I remember every fish I catch from my yak vividly because there's nothing more exciting The fun is only beginning for you............

How about Bomber's Fat Free Shads? TW has 29 various colors and they run great out of the box, especially for that price point.

Paired with white Berkley Power grubs!

How do I "like" this post more than once? Great tips

2nd Pic of the Cuttie.

Landed this nice Cutthroat Trout from my kayak off a Mepps Comet Mino on #4 Sunline FC Sniper. Location: Big Lake, AZ.

Which of the bladed jigs do you recommend for both Largemouths and Stripers?

The Threadfin Baitball series Squarebill is one of my favorite LMB fishing lures of all time. That lure shines in the Fall when they are shallow chasing Shad

Savage Gear, nice........