Time to Make Changes

[dickenscpa]

I sold my bass boat to a client in 2019 because for 1) I'm scared of speed on the water and a big boat and engine was silly of me and 2) I got tired of all the hassle, etc of getting the boat to the water and everything that goes with. That same year I got REALLY involved in Kayak bass tournaments and love doing it. I even sponsor part of KBF. Wound up repossessing that boat about 2 mos ago so now I have a boat again that I'll probably resell because I have no desire to boat fish anymore.

 

I just took time out of tax season to fish the season opener this past weekend. Tax season is very taxing (no pun intended) and it was a comedy of errors. First off I realized the night before that my license expired on Friday night so I had to reup. I'm exhausted from tax season and over slept. Had unplugged lithiums over winter and plugged them in the night before and forgot to flip the switch to charge. Luckily never went below 12.9V all weekend.

 

Here's where I have to make changes - granted I've really gotten into these tournaments and enjoy it but I've decked this Hobie out to the point that it's starting to become a hassle like a boat. Two big graphs, micro anchor, 8 rods, lots of tackle, trailer because it's too big to lift anymore and just gadgets everywhere. I LOVE kayak fishing and it suits my style of fishing plus I could live in a coccoon and love being in a "pod" with everything at arms length.

 

What I DO NOT like is clutter and hassle and that's what I've created. I'll probably have to fish this next tournament the same and when tax season is over I'm going to step back and severely downgrade and remove a bunch of stuff. Just don't know what yet because I pretty much use everything on it.

[TnRiver46]

I smell what you’re stepping in, everything I use is bare bones. I’ve got two motor boats, one has a hand operated trolling motor and the other has oars and oar locks. My canoe and kayaks have nothing but a paddle and sometimes an anchor. The gadgets and gizmos just ain’t for me 

[Jig Man]

To each his own.  If I couldn’t have a bass boat that runs fast and has lots of storage I would quit fishing and go back to golf.

[BigAngus752]

I completely understand the desire to simplify.  I used to double up each rod tube and pack so much tackle on my boat that I barely had room for my lunch.  No longer.  Max of 8 rods and I leave more than half the tackle I used to take at home.  It's much more relaxing!  I didn't realize how much I was pressuring myself while fishing.  I'm much less about the "catching is success" and more about the "going fishing is success".  Ironically, I'm definitely catching better fish than I used to.  Maybe a few less (maybe not), but much bigger bass and I've even branched out to other species.  I say go for it.  Cut out the fat.  

[Bird]

I did the kayak fishing for 2 years and find the bass boat much simpler and more efficient.

The heaviest thing I pick up now is.....a fish.

And this is coming from someone who fishes a lot of electric only lakes.

[gim]

4 hours ago, Jig Man said:

If I couldn’t have a bass boat that runs fast and has lots of storage I would quit fishing and go back to golf.

 

Don't think I'll ever go back to horse billiards and this is coming from a 3 year varsity letter winner that was close to a scratch golfer.

[DaubsNU1]

I have mad respect for kayak fishermen. That is hard work. @dickenscpa sometimes simplifying is the answer. Strength to you through the tax season, that's VERY hard work!

 

Good luck with your kayak / boat decisions going forward. 

[IYAOYAS]

I have both. I have a 19 foot stratos fish and ski and a 13.5 Native Titan. I fished out of the titan for years until I bought the boat. A boat is easier for me being a disabled vet. after 20 years in and being associated with the military as a contractor, I have too many injuries from serving where it is getting hard to spend a full day on the kayak. I have outfitted my boat to make things as easy as possible to launch and recover my boat. To be honest with you it is much more of a hassle to go fishing with my kayak than it is with a boat. Less expensive yes but alot more hassle. I'll just spend a few extra dollars and take the boat and my body thanks me for it.

[GaryH]

43 minutes ago, IYAOYAS said:

I have both. I have a 19 foot stratos fish and ski and a 13.5 Native Titan. I fished out of the titan for years until I bought the boat. A boat is easier for me being a disabled vet. after 20 years in and being associated with the military as a contractor, I have too many injuries from serving where it is getting hard to spend a full day on the kayak. I have outfitted my boat to make things as easy as possible to launch and recover my boat. To be honest with you it is much more of a hassle to go fishing with my kayak than it is with a boat. Less expensive yes but alot more hassle. I'll just spend a few extra dollars and take the boat and my body thanks me for it.

Thank you for your service…

[greentrout]

10 hours ago, gim said:

 

Don't think I'll ever go back to horse billiards and this is coming from a 3 year varsity letter winner that was close to a scratch golfer.

Each to his own. I enjoy both and in my neck of the woods some big girls reside on some beautiful golf courses.

[Alex from GA]

Up until last year I kayak fished in rivers, always downhill and have a boat for places I can fish comfortably.  The most rods I took in the kayak were 2 with all my tackle in my PFD.  Launching and retrieving the boat aren't a problem, it's walking to the parking lot and back for me.