JimT

I got the scupper mount kit from Navarre and installed it that way instead of on the yak's factory mount. Gets the transducer up against the base of the yak and pretty much out of the keel line when dragging. Transducer works perfectly and the kit is a very easy install.

something like an Old Town Bigwater might do the trick if you want to go the kayak route

I think maybe the smallest Garmin echomap unit does? it's a 4" screen and is in the $300-$350 range

if I'm going solo that's how I do it as well, but if we've got two kayaks I find the trailer is easier, plus I usually need more stuff in the truck bed for two people. But agree about the truck bed making things quick and easy. And I don't get shut out when the boat launches are crowded or full.

curious what people would recommend for Yo-Zuri hybrid line. I've been using Palomar but is there a better knot for hybrid?

on the rudder stability question on the Old Towns--I got the bolt kit from Navarre that has nylon washers you can tighten down (you could also just do the same thing with a trip to the hardware store, but I was buying other stuff from him at the same time). You can dial in the tension on the washers without having to constantly use the Old Town knob. Works great. I did find one day I was fishing in really calm quiet water and the rudder bolt made a god-awful squeal. When I got back I gave it a good shot of Boeshield and it's been fine ever since.

thanks--I've got a fairly clean original Mark 10 that is slated to go on it at some point if I can ever get it tuned up right. But for now I'm just using a nice light 6hp Suzuki 4-stroke on it. Which is nice too.

I finished up a 1950 Pen Yann cartopper last year and have fished out of it, does that count as a bass boat? ?

we started with an Old Town Predator MX and have been very happy with it. usually around $1300-1400

the Native kayaks seem to be pretty popular, the FX 12 is 60-ish pounds but no closed storage hatch. for some folks that might be a plus.

loved this. I know exactly what you mean

on the other hand . . . https://youtu.be/lmG87t_6-Mk

Chuck Earls sells various 'keel armor' kits for different brands of kayak. Another option. https://lakeeriekayakfishing.com/shop/ols/categories/keel-armor

using braid for the first time, reading this thread and stuff online as well. Lew's says to tie to the holes in the spool of Lew's reels, for what it's worth:

hello from the Ithaca area, and welcome!

I just went through these deliberations as well, didn't want to break the bank and didn't want to go ultra cheapie either. Also have never used one, so didn't want something with so many bells and whistles that I'd never learn to use them. Looked at the brand comparisons but admit I started with an inclination towards Garmin as I've had Garmin GPS for hunting for 15+ years and now have a Garmin watch. Ended up ordering a Garmin Echomap 63cv which includes the transducer for $400. I figured that's a nice low- to mid-range unit that I will learn the basics on. Plenty of these available out there on ebay and elsewhere. for what it's worth p.s. that Echomap 73sv mentioned above was on sale at BassPro two weeks ago for $450 but is now sold out. I'd have jumped on that if I had seen it in time. But if you don't need something right away you can wait for bargains.

once I watched this video I stopped worrying about scratching the keel ? https://youtu.be/RmhdBuPkR_c

got it, I promise to do WAY better next time ?

first post to this thread, am I doing it right? ?

I really appreciate tips like this to spots, I'm also pretty far away from it to take advantage of the intel, but if I'm ever in that neck of the woods with the kayak I'd love to give it a try.

I'll second or third the advice to go 4-stroke, and I can tell you I've been really happy with the small Suzuki that we bought.

really enjoying my first summer kayak fishing

Have found myself in the weeds and near submerged logs and trees more than I expected originally, so have decided to add a punching setup that should let me use braid more effectively and basically just have another tool in the toolbox. So I'm planning on adding a Dobyns 805 and another Lews reel, this one will be a Super Duty G in 8.3:1. Eager to try this out next trip to the gnarlies.

Chris, sorry I'm just seeing this now, have been in the Adirondacks the last week or so and not on the computer much. have you made your trip yet? saw a lot of folks in boats at the north end Saturday when driving by, south of Fayette there are some coves that seemed to attract some attention. it's a big lake and I'm just slowly getting to know it. there was a lot of debris in the water a couple of weeks ago from all the rain in July, I think that has slowly gotten better. Good luck on your trip, let us know how it goes!

when I was a kid, Rapalas are all we fished. Can't tell you how much allowance I spent on those things, I was always losing them