Boomstick

You pretty much hit the nail on the head here. He was a couple months shy of 42 and single, hadn't worked in an office since they closed the office he worked in some years back. Even though he suffered from social anxiety, everyone in that office loved him. I recall days I worked there, we'd be heads down doing work and people would come over just to talk to him or ask if he wanted to join them for coffee or lunch or whatever. Then people left for other jobs or got fired and it was down to just 4 people and rarely all at once. He did okay the first few years cause he'd always get out and do stuff, then covid hit and it became pure isolation and it was like he didn't quite know how to rejoin the world, the thing is he was trying more recently. He didn't have any real debilitating health issues, although he was diagnosed with fatty liver disease or a similar one, I can't recall for sure which one he had although I do know that it was very manageable and treatable but of course he acted like the end was in sight. His sister went through his messages and fear of being admitted to the hospital for something serious was apparently part of it, but likely it was unfounded knowing how he let things blow up in his head and whatnot. If he told me, I'd have driven him and did what I could to help. Being as my wife's had 6 brain surgeries and I've been through the cancer routine, I'm sure we could have something.

Well I made it through the services yesterday. I haven’t experienced a loss in my life that was this hard before, usually older family members who made it to say 90 so I knew at some point it’s be coming and at least I could be glad they made it that long and I got the chance to know them.

The Victory line tends to have slightly different action from the rest of the St Croix lineup and I'm not sure how this rod fares, but the Mojo Bass 6'8" M/XF "Topwater" rod has been my favorite jerkbait rod. What specifically makes this a perfect jerkbait rod is it has less backbone than the other St Croix mediums but a very short tip as well. So when you get hit when twitching a bait you can feel it because the short tip where with more moderate rods, you can't even feel a bite on a twitch. And because it bends throughout the rod, you'll keep them pinned. The St Croix medium M/F rods aren't too bad for a jerkbait as well. I would take my chances with the Victory version, they are generally great rods for the money.

I have three rods in this range. A ML/F rod which is roughly a true medium light, a ML/XF which runs heavy and a M/F which is a finesse medium. The latter is my favorite of the three for slightly heavier applications but it doesn't cast light ned rigs that well, and the ML/XF isn't that much better which is why I added a ML/F that runs lighter primarily. My kid has a Champion XP 702SF which bomb casts a 1/16oz ned rig jighead with a TRD on it and has no problem hitting the spot where the fish are at one of my favorite shore spots but my St Croix ML/XF could barely get it. If I had just one to do everything on, I would go for a ML rod that runs on the heavy side. The Phenix Feather ML others recommended is probably about right judging from a 6-12lb line rating (not always an accurate indicator but often it is). I would jump all over the 7'2" ML Zodias that @NorthernBasser mentioned if they still have that deal however, those are great rods at a great price too.

Shorter rods are generally easier for baits you walk or twitch, low hanging trees and skipping. Also when you are casting seated from your kayak, many people like shorter rods for that too.

Thanks guys. Today was hard. It was my first day back to work, and we'd normally chat it up while we work. Today was quiet.

That's literally what he said in his email, "you were like a brother to me". Given my family, I would say he more like what a brother should be but yeah that's what it feels like.

Yesterday, I got an email from my best friend that was short and basically said I love you like a brother please send this to my family. It had two rtf files attached, Kind of alarming, but rtf files? can you even still make them? My first thought was that he got hacked. I was talking to him on Skype all day, which is fairly normal. Later in the day, I got a lot of one-word responses but he tends to come back and respond to everything at once, so everything seemed normal. So I asked him if he got hacked but got no response. Around 8PM, his sister asked me to call her. She informed me that he had thrown himself off a bridge. I then opened the files, one was contacts and his personal information and the other was a suicide letter. In 2018 when I was in the hospital with colon cancer, not only did he come to see me, but when I got out and was on chemo and pretty exhausted, he came down to fish with me every weekend so I didn't have to drive as far (we'd normally meet halfway). It meant the world to me and really lifted my spirits in my darkest times. I hope he somehow knew that. We worked three jobs together, including my prior job for a month short of 15 years. The response from his co-workers has been quite overwhelming. I wish he could have somehow seen all the nice things people said to me about him a week ago, maybe that would have changed how he saw things. I'm a little shocked too. He disappeared off the face of the planet come covid. Last summer, he didn't talk to his sisters or mother for a while and they actually called the police to see if he was still alive. After that, he acknowledged his problems, sought help, messaged me and said sorry for being distant and we talked every day since. We found a fishing access point one night down the street from him, I helped him scout it out on Google Earth, told him how I'd target bass there and the next day at lunch he walked down to check it out and was looking forward to warmer weather so he could get waders and walk in and avoid the tree line. I called his boss (my former boss) and his initial thought was that it was a bad prank, he said he was doing so well, more active, outgoing and even lost a bunch of weight. I'm absolutely devastated, hurt, angry and everything else all at once right now. He was the closest thing to my twin other than not playing guitar and not quite being as diehard about fishing as myself. He never drank to get drunk like me, so he was the perfect drinking buddy in college. Also was a fellow computer science major and software developer like myself.

The only time I didn't wear mine was when I forgot it. When I got maybe a hundred feet from shore, I realized I forgot it and went back to my truck to get it. It's actually beneficial for me because I can keep things like line cutters in the pockets anyway.

I am assuming the rod is a medium heavy, so given that I would go with 16lb fluorocarbon because a lot of areas I fish have gotten quite overgrown. If there are minimal weeds, you could make do alright with 12#. 14# would be a happy medium. If you need a brand recommendation, I like the Daiwa J-Fluro Samurai a lot. It handles the best imo and I can often get it around $20/spool on ebay, usually in the fall and winter months anyway.

There are certain situations the rod will help, such as when a fish picks up your jig off the bottom. When they hit it on the fall, it’s all in the line though so I’m with Tom on that. It’s part of the learning curve with fishing jigs if you ask me.

It just showed in my cart.

DraftKings should jump on this one!

It really depends where I'm fishing and how many rocks, logs and other things to snag there are really. Square bills generally do pretty good, I probably break more bills on rocks than I lose. Lipless cranks are a little harder to get through rocks and wood though.

Well I got the email, and I clicked to activate it, and a 20% discount showed up in my cart. I had a wish list of about 40 oddball stuff to buy, but unfortunately not a single thing in my wish list was discounted. I did search around the site and I found certain items did appear show up with a 20% discount. Judging from this, it seems farfetched to say "20% Off Almost Everything Sitewide" unless these are random discounts and it would only show up after purchasing. Yeah I am seeing the same thing. Some items are discounted, just none of the 41 that I had in my cart. I'd think something would be included (and only one Megabass)

I’ve caught a few fish walking a popper but the vast majority come from popping in a cadence or popping it and letting it sit over where the fish are. I will often fish a jig or TRig by casting it out, letting it sit and lift it up a couple of times. If I don’t get bit I will more aggressively stroke it back to the boat and try again. This way I spent less time in areas I’m less likely to get bit

The Sportsman seat actually has a bit in the seat that holds a 3700 off the floor of the kayak but under the seat. So I shouldn't really need a waterproof box for that even which is nice. I might be able to squeeze a 3700 under the seat, if not, 3600 sized in which case a waterproof one might be good although I've used 2 standard plano 3700s with decent luck so far.

I might need something that can fit 6" worms better (specifically X-Zone Deception worms, which have a wider bag than some other 6" worms). So maybe one of those oversized speedbags will work out for that alright. And if the soft plastic tray works, I'm good. I just want to grab everything and go. Also hoping to get a Yakima Topwater so I can rig up the night before at home and just grab the rods. I have most things worked out or a backup plan. If all else fails I can use the soft plastic bin to carry soft plastics in my truck and take what I need in KVD speed bags. I can also carry one 3700 under the seat, so maybe that's where I keep the larger worms.

I am going to try a couple of KVD speed bags. Unfortunately I ordered the oversided ones made to fit 3600 size boxes not realizing what the difference was. I got one of these as well, maybe it will fit behind the seat and in front of the blackpak if I'm lucky. https://www.amazon.com/Flambeau-Tackle-Super-Half-Organizer/dp/B0060JNORG/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2K40FFQNAXY2Y&keywords=flambeau+soft+plastic+storage&qid=1706120734&sprefix=flambeau+soft+pla%2Caps%2C197&sr=8-2

@casts_by_fly One thing that I did find that I plan on buying with it is these track upgrades where I can store pliers or hang lures to dry. Since I won't have the tray beneath the seat, this will be a nice alternative for that. https://pacificyakangler.com/collections/custom-old-town-replacement-parts/products/custom-starboard-pya-beefy-rails-for-old-town-bigwater-132-pdl-front-track-price-is-per-track I'll also get one way scupper plugs and the scupper plug transducer mount which keeps it mounted nice and high and protected and sidevu is still supposed to work just fine.

I have a mighty mount to put on a mounting plate for a fish finder. I could add another and mount a rotogrip on a raised pole which I've seen people use. I also have to figure out my net. I got myself a Bear Claw net for this year, it seems to be easier on my current kayak. I'm hoping I can find a place up front where I can still grab it easily on the Bigwater like I did on my SS127.

I do at least have the front rod holder to set one rod down, which is basically a godsend for a pedal kayak. With my current setup, unless I bring out a ton of rods (more than I have vertical storage for), I will rarely keep more than just two up front, that is the one in my hand and one to quickly switch to. Maybe I can mount one of those Yakattack rod/paddle holders on the other mounting plate or atop the pedals or something, or just get used to one in the rod holder and one in my hand.

I'd fit them but these are only 27" wide though. I found a Yakima SweetRoll on FB marketplace for $100, but it'd cost me $100 in gas. Maybe I can convince the seller to ship, still should be a good price at least. I am also going to ask the shop when I order my kayaks. I saw some super thick foam bar pads on a rack and roll trailer before and if I can find those I am confident that will work adequately. It's probably still thicker foam than if I took a small pool noodle and then wrapped a big one around that, I mean it was a lot.

I have a Big Catch, but I can only fit one kayak on the trailer when I use it with my currently narrower kayaks. I think the SweetRoll might fit at the ends of the bars and that might work but two of those are $600 too, hoping to find something cheaper. I might be able to get some for $150 a pop on FB Marketplace, plus gas to get them. I know I am that person who would set down a rod and drop it in the water with one of those.

I should mention I have the Yakima Rack & Roll trailer with the 78" bars. It's actually very easy for me to solo load as long as I don't have to get my kayaks onto the stands when I get home (which is a 2 man job). My current kayaks have the catamaran style hulls and they'll sit right on the bars with no issues. This might be a good idea for me. I think I'd still prefer foam in case I go out with my other kid who has a Voodoo, but it's possible that could sit on the same pipes as a Bigwater, it is a soft V sort of shape. Grats on the Autopilot. Those are very nice. And Old Towns are well priced and reliable too. I was pretty impressed with my kid's Topwater 120 as well. I thought it performed very well, it was easier to stand in than my Bonafide in chop because it's much less rickety and I can definitely paddle it faster. There are things about the Bonafide I will miss like the ability to lay rods on the deck which doesn't work with pedals but the rod holder up front is a nice feature to set a rod down, and the center mount fish finder - I have an idea using the Bigwater's mounting plates. I am also wondering if foam pads like this might work. https://www.amazon.com/Saris-Protect-Pads-Set-4/dp/B000C15GVU