Hook2Jaw

I'm demoing the 2020 Oldtown Predator on Saturday. I think Vibe flopped on that boat, they should have just added a drive to the SG130. I have no idea how they plan to stand on that platform on that 35" wide boat. Hobie is still putting out the most innovative, top of the line fishing kayaks. The Mirage Drive 360 further solidifies them at the top of the food chain. I'm stepping away from their brand due to price increases from tariffs. I'm a fan of Yakattack products, but Bonafide wants entirely too much money for their craft, and now they want more for 800 limited edition kayaks. Kaku dropped a cool hybrid with a pedal drive!

I think the Predator is around 90 pounds unloaded. Right now they come with a 300 dollar Hummingbird.

It does. I believe I'm about to unload my '17 PA14 and switch to an Old Town Predator, though. I need some hands free reverse, and from what I can tell the knife of a hull on the Predator is faster than Hobie's offerings. Well, maybe not the Revo 16 or PA17.

Hobie released the Mirage Drive 360, the PA12 and 14 that'll have it retail for almost 5k.

If it says YUM and it's soft, I throw it. I also like Academy's H2O Xpress hard baits as well as Berkley. My lipless cranks are Strike King. As far as what I always have tied on : a weightless YUM Dinger, a Berkley Squarebull, a H2O Xpress Ultimate Jerk Shad, and a YUM Pulse 4.5 or Big Bite Baits Cane Thumper in 4.5 as well.

Sticks : YUM Dinger, 5" and 6" Curlies : YUM Ribbontail, 7.5", and Big Bite Baits Kriet Tail Worm in 10". Straight : YUM Mighty Worm, 10.5" Finesse : YUM Finesse Worm, 6.5" A bit of a YUM fan boy and very brand loyal, but shoot, they give me baits for 3 bucks a pack and they catch fish. I'm pretty excited about their new baits this year, so this is subject to change.

How'd I know he was gonna put it out there with those trebles? Those are gonna bend out in no time. I'm sick of upgrading stock hooks.

He probably wouldn't call men ma'am over the internet, though. Education is fine, but I don't think the attack on the man was justified toward the end.

I run rods in 13s 80 dollar price range, and so far, they've been pretty decent sticks. I can't say they're as nice as a Dobyn's, Fenwick, or St. Croix, but I've enjoyed them so far. I imagine those plastics are going to be a tad out of my price range, so I'll probably remain YUM, Berkley, Big Bite faithful, but for a budget angler I've been pretty please with my 3 Chromes and I'm really looking forward to when my 7'6" MH gets here. The medium casting, medium spinning, and medium light spinning have crushed my Daiwa Aird-X lineups sensitivity. You still won't catch me with bright green rods or reels that don't say Daiwa on them, though.

Man asks question, gets aggressively talked to about mono. Okie dokie.

I don't prefer reds and trout, but I do enjoy chasing them every other month or so! Welcome.

Walk a fluke on top to imitate the fleeing baitfish.

I've caught 30" redfish on my Daiwa Fuegos CTs. I rinse them off every trip, and acetone the reel and spool bearings every three before adding a drop of oil. They're still smooth, functional, cast great, and they have the best braking system on the market. I think you're going to love the Daiwa Tatula 150.

Man, if this dude was shining a flashlight into my son's room he would more than likely be rolling his big, lying, cheating, scumbag, 6'18" butt in the grass outside said bedroom with a load of buckshot in it. Truly a great big stinky turd of a person.

@Brett's_daddy mine is about 12'. Gives me room to retie.

Which floating baits would you suggest?

There's information on the new Stradic FL everywhere. A techy friend of mine said it'll be sealed, to some extent, like the smaller models of Stellas.

I've been running 1/8oz weights for shallow water, 3/8oz for deep water. I'll probably increase the amount of weights I carry to accommodate current, running 1/4 for shallow current and 1/2 for deep. The latter two weight options are just my theory, though, so take that with a grain of salt. The two former have been working out well. As for hooks, I use Lunkerhunt 1/0 for my YUM Killshot and Warning Shot, and a size 1 for my Sharpshooters. I bought those hooks on a whim and they are sharp and 2.50 for a pack of 8. Great deal, in my opinion. I haven't quite figured out my hooks for Texas rigging larger plastics. As for line, 12# braid to 8# fluoro has worked well thus far. Braid to leader seems to be the general consensus and I believe I'm drop shotting quite similarly to most people. I have limited experience with the technique.. Lemme tag @J Francho so he can get in here and drop some knowledge. Pun intended.

@JG233, if it's too loose I don't see why you can't just cut it and retie. Adding a 2-3' length of shock cord wouldn't hurt, either! The shock cord will allow you to get that puppy tiiight and still allow for adjustment. Square knot the shock cord into the paracord and finish the knot with an overhand in the tag of the paracord to prevent it from slipping.

Buzzbaits. I have other weaknesses like flukes, spinnerbaits, and chatterbaits, but I've never caught a bass on the one buzzbait I own. I can catch fish on ploppers, dingers, and paddletail swimbaits which are all similar to the above three, though. Heck them buzzbaits.

If you're just gonna do one side and primarily use it for a stake out pole, I opted for my right side after my old Outback had one on the left. Why? I'm right handed and stronger there, and more proficient at stabbing my stick in with force should I need it and clip in quickly. Left handed is gonna lose me a second, and even in a 14', 38" wide boat your positioning can change rather quickly, making the connection more difficult. I'll post up my setup when I get home, I've got a pretty cool modification on my stake. I used some paracord and a carabiner to add a sliding friction hitch to the pole to allow myself to clip into my anchor trolley at water level. I don't pull my stake in current nearly as often as I used to.

Big Bite Baits makes one of my favorite paddletails, the Cane Thumper. I'm excited to see them dropping a bladed jig trailer.

Thou shalt not argue the merits or negatives of Ned in every topic.

What can you tell me about that new crankbait?