Zcoker

If bleeding badly (and if possible) dip the fish in the water for a bit. Their blood coagulates in water only. My solution is to flatten down the barb on the hook (worm hooks or EWG hooks). The worm hooks seem to go deep with the worms, more often than not catching the throat lining during the hookset, or even the gill plates. In all cases, the quicker the release, the better! The barbless hooks pull right out with the least amount of damage no matter where they are located.

Time those fronts! Recent front fishing example (south Florida). One of several giants caught during a cold front. Even though the air temps went into the 50's, the actual water temp was 73 degrees (and dropping) when I launched. Takes time for the water to cool down. Next morning the water temp was 69 degrees and the bigger fish went completely lock-jaw. Seemed like the big girls reacted more to the gradual temp drop than anything else.

Old Town Sportsman 106 Minn Kota King of the Everglades! This has been the most efficient, the most dependable, and the most versatile craft that I've ever had out in the Florida everglades. I've gone up to three days/three nights on one single charge with juice to spare. I can steady it in a 25mph headwind without an anchor merely by throttle control. Pros: Super easy for one person to load, unload At 10.6 it can be launched just about anywhere with ease Goes all day, all night without a hiccup. Hull is super thick and tuff, everything is solid and durable Transducer is recessed with no ability to get scuffed or knocked around The rudder is massive for precise steering and folds up completely out of the water by a hand lever Replaceable keel guard Feet controlled steering Hand controlled throttle Hull storage will accommodate the complete Wilderness System yak cart Extremely stable, can stand and cast with no issues Motor is recessed for extreme shallow water running Sealed to the max, the inside of hull is always bone dry, even after washing or a heavy downpour It has caught me a TON of nice fish! Cons: NONE

Same here. Rest of the hull looked nice. I think I've even seen aftermarket flip-up rudders for the Native kayaks similar to the Old Towns.

The rudder design on the OT kayaks steered me more towards them. It’s massive and completely folds up out of the water… out of the way of everything! I think I would’ve gone through a few rudders by now if I had purchased the Bonified.

This guy hasn't gotten out of the way for anyone, ask anyone who fishes Headwater's Lake lol. In fact, he's about as active as any young person could ever get, unbelievable energy for his age at 84, still steaming ahead at full speed! I know a lotta young'uns who'd be hard pressed to keep up with Roland's stamina.

Although not necessary, having a fish finder with GPS mapping is a good idea for a fishing kayak. I use the Garmin Striker 4 Clear View on my yak, which is small and compact, never gets in the way. It's more than adequate for shallow water fishing. The GPS mapping feature has helped me out immensely in getting back to the launch site, espeically at night!

No pre-set goal but the overall goal (and advise) would be to keep things as simple and as practical as possible. Adding a lot of useless stuff to a kayak can be cumbersome. I've seen kayaks so jacked up that it was miracle that they even float. The kayak monkey can take hold quickly! First thing is the make sure most everything is tethered in some form or another. Onboard my Old Town 106 minn kota, for example, I have a good pair of easy reach tethered stainless scissors. I have a good pair of tethered easy reach anodized split ring plyers with cutter. I have a phone tether. I carry a mini stainless multi tool in my motor dry compartment with just about every flip tool needed for emergency use. Spare prop, pin, nut, and towing rope in my hull storage. Attached to the back of my seat is a Native Kayak dual Plano multi storage box, easy reach. On the front lower part of my seat is a Yak Gear YakSac storage pouch, easy reach. So my seat is basically compartmentalized as a complete unit that carries most everything used to fish with, easy in, easy out. On the right front track I have a forward (landing) rod holder, a Garmin Striker fish finder mount, a landing net handle cradle, and a light switch for my bow mounted running lights. On my left track is a landing net 'neck' holder, so the fish can be supported in the net while in the water. In the rear is Yak Attack 13x16 black box with four rod holders. That's it for me. Simple and effective.

"promoting and using your rods" seems appropriate

Those jitter bug hits are awesome! Just the other night got this gal on one. That solitude of which you speak about vanished instantly!

Location and convenience certainly has a lot to do with it. I know here in Florida there's bass to be had at every street corner, backyards, lakes, golf courses, ponds, canals....and endless array of places that are not only loaded with tons of bass but are very, very convenient. Easy pickings. The key words here being convenience and ease of catching. Those two combined along with great weather adds up to a LOT of bass fishing popularity!

Because folks can make a heck of a lot of $$$ bass fishing! I’ve seen industry figures in the tune of $60 billion dollars a year annually in the US alone. That’s a lotta cheddar! Who wouldn’t want to jump on that bandwagon? I’m sure a lot of that is the bait monkey lol

The green mirrored Costa sunglasses solved ALL my problems. I've been through them all, Rayban, Oakley--just lost a set of those. I had the Oakley Split Shots, probably the cheapest pair of glasses ever owned. The Costa by comparison are far better, high quality stuff. The visual field is wonderful for casting and spotting big bass. Green lenses designed specifically for shallower inshore style fishing. I have the Blackfin Pro green glass lensed version. They really cover well and hardly feel like ya got them on, even all day out in the blaring south Florida sunlight. Best advise is to hit up a place like Bass Pro, Dick's, or even a local Sunglass Hut to try whatever sunglasses on. Just like clothing, should fit well, feel well, and perform extra well!

Some of this live bait takes a good eye, like with sand fleas. Gotta catch a wave just right, the light just right, and then a quick scoop with the sand shovel in just the right spot. Even at that, it can take a LONG time to get enough fleas for the Pompano rigs. They're not always around. They do keep well overnight without water, though, just damp wet sand. This example can mean a whole day just in getting enough live bait for the next day's fishing. So one would need to plan for two days, one day for getting the bait, the other day for fishing.

Aside from buying live bait, it can be a daunting task just to catch it. I've had days (saltwater surf fishing) running all over the place to find it, catch it, and then keep it lively enough to fish it. Sometimes the process can take up a LOT of time, even most of the day. I see in freshwater (here in Florida) they use these PVC stake-out poles along with hog feed. They pepper an area with the hog pellets, then stake the area out with a PVC pole, and then come back later slinging a cast net. This process seems to catch a ton of wild shiners!

One of the best feelings is seeing a young’un catch their first fish. Feels good being a part of that experience!

I say me.... Night time is just like day time with most tactics Less is more when it comes to kayak fishin, less tackle, less clutter, less "things" Cast and cast and keep casting and when ya think there's no fish around, cast again! The most overlooked spot is usually where the giants hang out A fishing "check list" can save the day (or night) Always have a portable phone charger handy Firepower can be a good power Think outside the box. There's ALWAYS another way to skin a cat! Learn what moves you forward, not backwards Common sense is the best sense, make your own decisions, be your own person Have FUN!

These fronts not only affect the fishing in freshwater but also in saltwater, mainly with the wind shifts from east to west. When a front moves in (south Florida), we will eventually get a strong west wind, which flattens the surf, opening a door for some excellent topwater fishing! Not only can one cast a country mile but the lures can be worked back in very effectively. Taking advantage of what a front offers in ALL aspects is a good practice.

Last time I weighed a big fish it flopped around on the scale and fell off back into the water, missing me out on a 25-26 inch measurement! I try to hold them close to my body for actual reference. Quick measurement, quick photo, and then off she goes.

I've never understood this hand switching, either. Maybe years ago they only made right handed bait casters? When I first got my baitcasters, left or right was an option. Well, my right hand has always been my dominant rod holding hand and my left hand has always been my reeling hand, just like with spinning rods. So it made no sense whatsoever to follow the norm, which seems to be just the opposite. I really can't see any gain to have it that way, at least mechanically. I'd have to re-learn the whole casting/reeling deal all over again.

I never really pay no mind to the barometric pressure, just the approaching front. Down here in Florida, it's a big long nasty looking line of cool air pushing against hot air, causing pure havoc with the air pressure. Good to get out right before the thing hits because the fish can often go completely bonkers. So I just sorta time things, making the best of it before the front hits, which is what it's all about. Even if I get caught up in the actual front itself, it's not that bad because the fronts are thin and moving very fast. Any bad weather happens very quickly. That immediate change in the weather as the front hits, the sudden burst of colder air, the cloudy misty sky along with whirling wind, the rapid pressure fluctuations, all that ignites the bass into pure fire and they start burning up everything in site. Only last a little while but it sure is some nice action!

I'd say to stay focused on what you like and do best, maybe adding creative ways to what you like to do best. Try thinking outside of the box. Never think that you have to force yourself to do other things to get better at them. You may even be great at certain techniques and not even know it! Don't copy-cat. Never assume that fishing success is all wrapped up in a neat package with no other options. What other people do is what other people do and what makes them great at what they do is how they personalized their own unique styles, techniques, and presentations.

Any of the everglades access roads offer some great fishing. Just have to hunt them down. Some are gated, some not. Google Earth can locate the areas but you won't know if they are gated unless you drive out to check them out. Naples to 75 east or alligator alley has areas that go along the canals. Same with Tamiami Trail. US 27 north and south is loaded with great places. Half the battle is in the hunt, the other half is in catching the fish. And there are some BIGGUNS off those levee roads!

They're very effective on calm, dark nights. If using one, then the mentality should be BIG fish. Not always will this happen but when it does, it's like a smashing like no other, a very angry hit. Brasher "tuned" his jitterbugs. He reshaped the aluminum cup to make different sounds. He also relocated the rear treble hook to the very end of the lure, probably for better hookup ratios. Seems to me that most of these big guns who fish at night for DD fish always end up "tuning" their lures. Same with Pat Cullen, he "tuned" his buzzbaits. Nothing stock seemed to work for them. So they all resorted to making their own modifications, which obviously worked!

Personally, I've only fished live bait in fresh water once (aside from worms up north years ago for trout). I borrowed a live shiner from a buddy, flung it out and just sat there in my yak waiting and waiting, looking like one of those duck decoys. I sooner grabbed another rod and started casting. Not for me. Just too boring. Even off the beach, I'm all lures even for sharks. It brings to mind that fishing can be a very rewarding challenge and winning the game with a fishing lure has the most appeal, for me, at least. When I can catch and land a 150lb fish on a topwater lure with a surf rod, that in itself will forever be a victorious memory. Just wouldn't be the same on bait. Same with bass, when I can see that big 9 pounder explode on my lure, I'm ALL in, man. I'm shaking my head right now at some of those very exquisite memories!