FishTax

I'm still trying in NC but we have more bad weather coming this week. Been a yuck winter here. Currently very cold rain, tomorrow back to 60, then teens later this week. Classic NC weather

Is that stable enough to stand up in? I think that'd be great for the kids, but not great for me and Pat to fish from for various reasons. But this is probably way better than the tandem kayak I shouldn't have bought.

Yes I plan to pull the batteries each trip, no issue with that as I have to do that to charge them anyway. I'll set them on the 4 wheeler and drive them up so weight isn't really an issue on the batteries. I currently have AGM but when it dies I'll switch to lithium. I use lithium for my electronics already.

Sounds like Jon boat will be the best option for me. I'll start watching for a decent used one. Thanks for all of the thoughts and ideas, definitely some things I hadn't considered. I've got a TM and batteries from renting boats at Marina so I'm hoping to start really cheap and build slowly from there. I have a tall friend named Pat and I'd like it to be spacious enough for him to join as well. Looking forward to the possibilities!

If I leave trolling motor on what are the chances the wires will get chewed or something else bad will happen?

I can't. If I could, I agree as I'd love to have a multipurpose pontoon. The plastic is definitely a consideration as you mentioned with weather and animals. I've left my kayaks out overnight and something ate every soft plastic I'd left on the boat, along with the paddle tail of one hanging off a hook. Luckily whatever it was didn't eat the hook, or chew on my transducer cables and I definitely learned a lesson on that. I'm not sure that I could launch and then pull back out a large jon boat alone. Considering it'd have TM, battery, and gear on it. My launch spot isn't set up for me to unload the boat on the water, I have to get it on land first as I'm launching between trees, etc. in a forest. I need to go over to the marina where they rent them and see how heavy the biggest one they have is. I definitely want enough space for at least 1 good sized buddy to be able to comfortably join me when desired. The 10' bass raiders have pretty good reviews for that but I think the jon boat wins in the outdoor storage category obviously.

I've been doing some research but thought I'd check with you guys who all know way more than me about this stuff. Here is my situation. I'm currently a kayak angler, very comfortable on that platform. However, I have 2 young sons, 3 and 7, and older parents and friends. I bought a tandem kayak and additional solo kayaks, and none of these work for what I'm trying to accomplish. I'm probably going to sell the tandem kayak. Just wanted to establish that before getting to it I live by the lake. Whatever I buy, I plan to leave in the woods. I can throw some wood blocks down to elevate it off the ground and put a cover on it, but I'm not going to pull it up to the house so it should be able to withstand heat and cold to NC specs, and assuming a tarp or something better is over it. I will launch it alone from the shore, so it has to be comfortably manageable by one person. I need it to be easy enough to use for a 70 year old man, or a 3 year old kid. Meaning, the chair is comfortable and they can stand up and stretch their legs occasionally, maybe holding on to a seat or something. I plan to put a trolling motor on it, and fish with it. A lot. I'm in an electric only lake so an outboard isn't under consideration. 2 trolling motors would be considered if justifiable. Do I get a small jon boat, a bass raider, or something else?

Keep going! This site keeps me sane when I'm not on the water. Alright everyone gave their top choice, what's your second choice for weight and plastic?

Strippers eh? Which ramp are you launching at to find those... asking for a friend?

OP was looking for exactly what he got. A great conversation with tons of different perspectives and a few new ideas. I've been fishing a texas rig for 25 years so I know how to do it but wanted to hear what others do. The specifics were to try to keep people apples to apples. Until the free rig convo... But I loved the entire thread, and feel free to keep it going Oh, and since I'm the OP, send all samples to me and I'll bring @Pat Brown along on our testing session 🤣 but the key here is send samples. lots of samples.

I recommend going up a size if you can and getting the bigger transducer. I have the g4 7" with MSI. I like it but I'm on a kayak, if I had a boat if definitely want a larger screen especially on the bow, and the new transducer will give you better returns as well.

Sounds like fun! I'll be on a work trip so couldn't do it but I may be interested some other time.

I actually searched him on FB when I noticed he quit posting about a month ago and he is still posting on there, so I assume just taking a break.

I just went into Academy to pick up my online order, and found the in store clearance to be massive as well so that got me a second time. Extra 30% off already marked down stuff is just too good to pass on. I picked up the 6th sense umbrella rig for $9 which will be something new to try in addition to many other random items.

Yeah that Academy sale got me, as usual. I order it all online, better selection, and then some things are store pickup and some things mail to my house. I've got 2 rods (I don't really need) waiting for me to get today, and I'll check out their clearance bins when I go in.

Interesting that basically no one has said senko on texas rig. It seems like all of us have a million senkos that we never throw 😂 I'm going to pick up some nano hooks and some tungsten weights this week. And I guess I'll have to try a free rig as well. I'm going to add @AlabamaSpothunter to the list with @Pat Brown of top sales reps for the bait monkey... I think I already have pretty much every soft plastic mentioned laying around here somewhere... so if I can find them, I have plenty of variations to try!

I received my master catalog last week. I went online and logged in and made sure my address was correct (it wasn't because I moved 6 months ago), and I received a catalog within a week of updated address. I never requested it, didn't see that option. I'm going to be dropping by BPS in Richmond on Friday as I'm passing through. I'm hoping they'll have some good sales going. I actually like their soft plastics and will probably pick up some of those along with anything juicy looking on clearance.

Interesting replies. I'm not sure if I should imitate them or do the opposite on my pressured bodies of water 😎

We are finally thawed out in NC and hoping to remain that way. Pretty sure we will, super nice week coming up. Just in time too because I was spiraling. I think my kayak will get wet within the week 😎

I am going to try to throw a Texas rig more this year. That has me thinking about different setups and I am curious to hear what all of you think. If you could only have one Texas rig set up for an entire year, what would it be? Specifically what plastic, color, hook and weight, assuming you are mostly running the banks with it, not fishing deep. Very interested to see the results of this. I know a lot of people like beavers and a lot of people like worms and lizards. Can't wait to see what you all think will work the best year round.

Mine is a mess. I'm definitely in the market for better storage in my heated shop where my fishing gear reside

You may think so, but how can you know unless you try it. 🤣 I think my intelligence dropped with the air temps this winter.

yup! how'd you know

I hooked myself pretty good yesterday with a lipless, just trying to cast from the bank. That's what I get for trying this crazy cast under a tree that I saw on facebook reels... my lure never even got wet, just stuck in my finger instead. Best hookset this year so far, unfortunately.

Incredible! I'm fairly confident I would have fallen in as I'd have lost control of my body functions holding that fish!