kenmitch

Maybe a better option would be 1 reel and 2 rods? You could just put the reel on the rod that is best suited for the bait your wanting to throw at the time.

I don't really enjoy finesse type fishing at all. I've tried the ned rig a couple of times and caught 2 dinks with 1 of them being the smallest bass I've ever caught. I guess I've had my best luck finesse style fishing with the shaky head setup so far. I think I was more born to grind crankbaits as it's really the only way I love to fish. Hit or miss but that doens't matter to me. I did catch my largest Spot (4lb)on a shakey head setup. Caught a LMB on a shaky head that was around 6lbs.

Maybe I missed it but are you using a real ned rig stuff or a cheaper alternative? I'm not really into spinning combo ned rig fishing but have tried it before. I've only used it a couple times and caught 2 dinks with it. The 2nd dink I didn't even know it was on the line as it was a aquarium sized specimen. Most likely the smallest bass I've ever caught. Read the following article and maybe it'll allow you to figure out what's going wrong. https://zmanfishing.com/cms/chatter/8-most-common-ned-rig-mistakes

I guess the hardest part would be picking the correct rod for the baits you intend to use in the end. 2 combos would probably be best and you could most likely get a couple decent combos in your price range if you shop wisely and look for sales or coupons if not on sale. 2 rods I'd probably bring these ones. 1 rod the nod goes to the Abu setup for the most part unless I was intending to throw heavier baits. I like to throw lipless crankbaits and other 1/2oz or so offerings for the most part. My favorite combo for them is the Abu Garcia Revo MGX SHS paired with a Vendetta 6'6" Med Fast rod. The Revo I got on a 1 day special at BPS for $175 otherwise I wouldn't be sporting it as I'm more of a bang for buck guy. I have a Carbonlite 2.0 baitcaster combo I got on the BPS $120 sale back in Feb that has a 7' MH Fast rod which works also.

I'd search your local craigslist and other sources for your area and see what's available on the used market. I'd imagine you could get a better kayak in the end doing so. A really comfortable seat is more important than all the other bells and whistles that go beyond what you need. I wouldn't sacrifice stability to get a better seat in the end. The seat could be a deciding factor between choices in the end. Most kayaks have videos on youtube these days. There are a lot of videos on what it takes to flip a kayak and a lot of the more popular choices will have one. I was a kayak virgin til I bought my Slayer 10 Propel so I've never fished another. I do know that a comfortable seat is really a must if you plan on fishing for extended periods of time. I guess you could take a look at the new Old Town Topwater 106. It's msrp is $899 but does have a mail in rebate for a Hummingbird Pirahnamax 4 fish finder if you planned on adding one anyways.

Watching the videos it seems like it might be a decent kayak for somebody who's going from a standard kayak to a propelled kayak and can live without reverse. It would be a step up and would save at least the forward paddling in the end. I never kayak fished in my life till I bought my Slayer 10 Propel so maybe it's the reason why I feel the need for instant reverse in the end. I've hooked more than one feisty fish that pulls my kayak around while zigzagging to the left and right while diving under my kayak and just can't grasp what it's like without it. How do the non propelled kayaks deal with the wind and current pushing you towards structure? You just avoid those spots? Hope you don't hook that fish of a lifetime?

Night vision goggles! lol Only thing I can really add is make sure your line doesn't tangle around the tip of your pole before you cast your lure into the abyss. I've caught a fish or two and during the unhooking process the line has tangled around the tip of the pole....In total darkness I'd imagine it's not so easy to detect.

Your marking the current gps coordinates of your unit by default. Your unit will most likely allow you to mark specific targets you see on the sonar images. You'll just need to read the manual or download it if you don't have one. Probably will take a few extra seconds once you get the hang of it.

I couldn't resist throwing some Hobie/Apple pun around....That's all. You do have to remember the US patent system is somewhat broken and does grant some pretty silly patents at times. It's just a matter of who has the $'s to fight and get them invalidated and if the reward is worth the risk. I'd imagine when it come to fishing kayak the $'s required wouldn't be worth the risk.

Along with budget, and I guess if your a top heavy female (lol) it could also shift the weigh ratio to a higher point in which a lower seat position would be of some benefit.

Hobie can't patent reverse. Only the way it's implemented can be patented....Unless they did one of those vague Apple style patents. Paddle driven drive system with the ability to go forward and reverse. Easiest and fastest way would be to allow the peddle assembly to do a 180. What it would take to do that while being secure/stable when under way would be the biggest obstacle to overcome. Probably doable with the right design. Another way which would take more design work would be something like a double pump of pedals to allow the lower units rotation. This would be the best option but would take some engineering skills to pull off. Might suffer from longevity issues if not done correctly. I'd imagine it's out of Pelicans league and more like a future Hobie version of the mirage drive.

That's the kayak I was thinking the price point would target also. Not really sure why they targeted a mirage drive clone on their first dabble with a propelled kayak. Maybe it's the Hobie is like the Apple of kayak mentality at play. The lack of instant forward to reverse and back is the major drawback to the mirage drive type system for me at least. I guess it would be interesting if they somehow one upped Hobie and devised a work around to enable it.

I guess the size of the transducer could be a drawback to some. I have the Elite 5ti on my kayak and the transducer is huge compared to my old DI unit I had. If there was such a thing as sonar porn the Ti's transducer would be the top star most likely.

I was just watching a video that kind of explains the what you're seeing on the graph pretty good. Guess it also shows the benefits of units with the DI and SI options also. Maybe it'll help you understand what's down there and if you think you could also benefit from the DI or SI options at the same time. I guess the most important thing to remember is what you see on the graph is what's already behind you in the end.

It's really hard to make logical decisions without knowing the kayaks in question. It's probably better in the end if you narrow down your choices then seek advice on what would be better. Of the things you listed the 12ft could be better or worse in some or even all.

I kayak fish also. My kayak is stable in the water. I flipped it once and lost 2 rods, tackle, killed my phone, and had to buy a rearm kit for my life vest. It was pilot error on my part. I fumbled my rod when switching hands and missed it on the first shot. Reached too far and flipped over. I got the rod in the end....Sadly my cheapest combo. No leash, no floats for me still. Probably would be worth it if your clumsy or paranoid. I think a pool noodle and zipties is a cheaper alternative if uour not willing to live on the edge.

I have the same one and it's a nice rod. Not sure if it's worth the full retail price point in the end. I bought the Carbonlite 2.0 baitcaster combo when on sale in Feb for $120. The price was too good to pass up.

You'll have much better luck with a larger diameter braid. Not like 30 or 40lb braid has a large diameter anyways. Don't forget to use the force.....Your thumb! Once you get the thumb action down you can back off on the controls and work on distance and accuracy. Baitcasters can be intimidating at 1st for newbies. I'd suggest just sticking to a single lure type/weight until you get the hang of it. Something like a 1/2 lipless crankbait or similar....Doesn't have to be the same brand/color as it's more about the weight and how it reacts in the air, etc.

Currently their top dog fishing kayak has a MSRP of $850 so $1000 would be a unrealistic guess on pricing I would think. If I was going to guess I'd think around the $1500 price point might be doable for them.

I use the Dr.meter one on amazon. Has a built in tape measure also. Not waterproof but is accurate. Currently $10.50 but price fluctuates up and down from $8-$16.

Really depends on what your looking for as the sales come and go. Good deals can be had all year round depending on what your after.

I tell the wife I'm going to the lake for a couple hours. Leave before 6am and come home when I've had enough. Sometimes it's a couple, couple hours in the end.

Warpigs work for me at times. I use 30lb braid and just move up to them and pull out the snags when they happen. As far as longevity goes a couple decent bass and I'm happy with it. I only buy them if there on sale. Caught my largest bass of this year on one in the springtime. First time I really fished it as my goto at the time was a rattletrap and was doing a little experiment that day. Switching back and forth between the 2 of them. Trap one 4 to 3 but bigfish went to the pig. 5.8lb inhaled and litteraly almost swallowed it just as it hit the water.

It was 114 here yesterday! Not sure what the temp was at the lake but I'd imagine it was similar as it's just a couple of miles away. My hate for the heat heavily outways my lust for fishing. With the high water level and the extreme heat my local lake is most likely a zoo anyways. Fishing from a kayak and dealing with the heat and others whom are lost in their own little world doing circles around the lake is too risky currently. I'm debating on going on my next day off but the current forecast is 97 with isolated thunderstorms which doesn't sound too enticing too me. I hate the summer!