Brad Reid

I should be less "strident" about it; it just hurts to see it over and over. But, the original post was in good faith. It is a common topic. I have even read articles by scientists whom should know better and yet they give it credence, but they just haven't done the math or don't understand the logic. Stats: Barometric Pressures and equivalent related water depths in "feet of water": 29.50 = 33.422' 29.92 = 33.898' (one atmosphere) 30.00 = 33.989' 30.50 = 34.555' As you stand on the edge of a pool, you are standing in 1 atmosphere of pressure, all from air. It is about 14 lbs. per sq. inch. or so pressing in on you. If you dive into the pool and swim down a little over 33 feet, the water has added another "atmosphere" of pressure, this from water. You are now experiencing 2 atmospheres of pressure: one from the air, another one from the water. Almost all people feel a huge amount of pressure in their ears, even at lesser depths. Water is not very "compressible," so the added pressure is very linear. A one point move up in air pressure can be offset by moving up in the water column by 1.13 feet. Bass cover more vertical distance than this . . . all day long. Barometric Pressure readings don't move all that fast except in rare circumstances. Even then, it wouldn't make any difference. Here's the issue: how does a bass "differentiate" the pressure it experiences from a high pressure system moving in and, say, raising pressure from 29.50 to 30.50 pushing down on water . . . from the pressures a fish experiences all day long just swimming around? It has always been about the weather. Brad

Barometric Pressure has absolutely zero direct effect on bass. Zero. Even a large swing of a full point, say 29.50 to 30.50, on pressure readings means a fish has to make the tiniest of depth adjustments to offset the change. Bass and other fish swim around all day at various depths, up and down, up and down, deep to shallow and back, to degrees that far, far exceed the tiny differences in atmospheric pressure pushing down on water. There is a column of air 60 or so miles in size to create 1 atmosphere of pressure at sea level. Water? 33 +/- feet to add a second atmosphere. What it (atmospheric pressure) does do is reflect what weather patterns we see, what we are in. Here, we do know, emphatically, that fishing changes with clear skies versus cloudy/gloamy days, windy days versus dead air days, cold days versus warm days and more, that these do affect fish behavior. I'll share the math of the actual distance a fish has to "adjust" in the water column to offset a particular quantity of added air pressure if anyone wants to see it. Brad

That is exactly right. Most everything these days is some sort of hybrid. Even the new Bonafide kayaks are promoted as having a similar shape to pontoon/catamarans. The difference is they are molded into the overall scheme of the kayak. One issue now, it seems, is kayaks with and without power options in tournaments. Some comps allow power, some don't. Just pick your spot and go for it!!! Brad

Me, too, Hawkeye21, not a kayak . . . Bluesky Boatworks doesn't call it one either. This is just another of endless possible hybrids sort of sandwiched between a fishing kayak (itself not a true kayak) and a jon boat or some other small boat. True boats of most sorts mean storage issues, engine maintenance, trailering issues, etc. What I like best about this one is in a small "vessel," it is nice to have several sources of power. So, some very weak paddling, some decent pedaling . . . and then some power options. The E-Drive coming out soon pops in, plug and play, to where the pedal system does. That, or a TM or a small outboard all seem do-able. Brad

Well, technically both a pontoon and a catamaran are typically defined as two hulls with a wing between them. It gets fuzzy from there. Usually, a pontoon has no internal access to the insides of its hulls; they are for flotation only. In a catamaran, in addition to flotation, its twin hulls are actually used either for living spaces or for storage . . . or both. On the 360, the hulls are used for storage but I think either calling it a pontoon or a catamaran works pretty well. Most of us fishing from kayaks have a slight tendency toward finesse fishing applications, especially anyone who remains seated. This 360 would be a great option for anyone of the "power" persuasion, someone who wants to fan cast hard baits, etc., a fly fisherman, flats, etc. Brad Hello, Gary! It does take up a bit more garage space owing to its width. Its length is about standard for fishing kayaks. Regarding loading it, the 360 has two handles and it is like picking up and walking with light luggage. I have a big scale with a hook on it and I will try to measure its "tongue weight" but I can carry it with a single finger holding on to each of the two handles. One big advantage is you are "centered" in the boat as you lift and move it, not like a traditional kayak where it is off to the side. On getting it inside my truck bed, I just roll it up, place about 18" of the bow ends of the two hulls on the truck gate, then I hold on to it to keep it from rolling off by keeping a hand on it as I move back to the two handles at the stern end, lift it up and slide it on. It takes seconds. One person can handle it all alone. I then flip the wheels up, strap it on and off I go. Brad

My words copied from another post, here: First, let me mention that I bought one of these through a program where early subscribers could purchase one ahead of the release at a substantial discount. They retail for $3499 and I think I paid $2399 for mine. Cost wise, the current retail price is, more or less, consistent with other big kayaks, say Hobie PA 12s and PA14s, the Natives and several others. Is it a kayak? Well, hmm??? It is 13'4" in length, so not any longer than many fishing kayaks, actually sort of average; and, it is 48" wide, so about 6" or so wider than a Native Titan Propel. Review - - - Pros- 1) That extra 6" over the other already widest kayaks? It means with its substantial deck areas (they call them porches) that one can literally walk all over the vessel. It is more stable by leaps and bounds than any kayak or canoe I have ever used; 2) It can be slid straight up on my 2016 Toyota Tacoma's bed. Because it has a slight taper from its widest point to the bow, it fits almost perfectly between the wheel wells. I use a bed extender by choice. No trailer is required unless you just want one; 3) It has built in cart wheels. This is a feature all big kayak-type vessels need and having this as a standard feature? It saves a person money later on; 4) It has an actual swiveling bass seat mounted to a substantial post. This is the highest seat on the market likely by 6" or so. Issues related to standing up or sitting back down? Gone; 5) It has a built in starboard side "rack" for carrying multiple rods, an anchor pole, a paddle; 6) It has a really giant, over-sized rudder that is controlled on both sides of the seat; 7) It has 4 compartments for storing rods in 2 of them, for storing tackle boxes in others; ? Its tongue weight on the bow end? It surprised me how light it was, easier to move down to the water than any other kayak I have owned; 9) It has holes in the "porches" where one can stab an anchor pole, or multiple anchor poles, down into the mud; 10) It has two built in mounts for power poles on the rear of each hull; 11) and, last, it has a pedal system with many innovative features (it kicks up if it hits something, multiple adjustments, etc.) Cons: 1) You sit high, so you catch wind more than from a lower seating in a traditional fishing kayak; 2) It paddles, sure, but it'll be a slow grind. I like standing a paddling better; 3) It isn't very fast, I'd say 3.5 MPH might be maximum speed. So, more pros than cons. Finally, gosh, it comes with a seat bag, 2 rod holders, a "thingy" to hold your water bottle, tools to work in the "boat," and more. I'd give it a solid "A" for anything from small pond fishing to large lakes. I'd be hesitant to shoot down a river where you might run into something between the two hulls and get spun around, or worse. Too, it'd be super fishing flats and smoother bays, not so much I suspect offshore. It won "Best in Show" at the ICAST this past summer, so others like it, too. Hope this helps!!! Brad Here, my 360 loaded on the back of my 2016 Toyota Tacoma. I do use a bed-extender just to balance and protect the vessel a bit more. With many trucks, mine is 44" between the wheel wells, you wouldn't need a trailer. Brad

I think you are going to really like adding a heavy spinning combo to your arsenal! Sure, spinning reels/rods are often associated with finesse, they are truly great for it, but this cross-over really works well for your intentions. A 6'6" rod will give you pinpoint accuracy, let you hit some spots that might otherwise be tough hone in on. Brad

I think most of us too often think of this balance as being something achieved inside our homes like balancing the scale of justice. I'd at least consider at what point feel and balance likely matter the most. For, say, a drop shot fished on a sort of semi-taut line, this tension is pulling down a bit on the rod tip. From the perspective of functional balance, it might be that a reel slightly heavy and tipping the butt end down in a living room test . . . would be perfect on the water. A-Jay alludes to this in a post up above, I believe. Each sort of presentation has its own characteristics. Brad

I'd recommend the following article as it relates to using heavier spinning tackle for great results. Kent Ware uses this sort of set-up almost exclusively, does well with it. Brad https://www.flwfishing.com/tips/2014-04-22-going-big-with-a-spinning-rod