The owner is giving it up because of an illness

Hi!
I’ll upgrading from my folding kayak this winter and need some suggestions.

I’m mainly fishing rivers and lakes in Michigan (not big water) for reference. Some additional insight;

- 2k budget
- Would prefer pedal drive. I have permanent shoulder issues and paddling for long periods is not possible.
- Interested in modular, mainly for space saving. This isn’t a deal breaker for me though, I can car top it.
- Something I can stand in comfortably. I’m 6’2, 210 lbs.
- Easy to install a fish finder
- I won’t be doing any competitive fishing, only for pleasure so it doesn’t need to be top of the line.
- I would like to put spot lock on it but wouldn’t want anything else powering it.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Hello friends.

Seeking guidance for a pa14 with one objective bow mount.

The handle bolt was stuck in the hulls brass insert. The insert just spun.

I couldn't reach the rotomolded cavity for the insert from inside so I twisted the handle to expose the insert. From there a 13mm wrench allowed me to remove the bolt.

Repair choices:

1. Remove the insert and replace with a wellnut.

2. Heat and reinsert the brass insert. Plastic weld as necessary.

3. Replace both handle bolts with a phillips plus nut solution. Possible a backing plate inside?

4. Other?

Well, I definitely didn’t see this coming!

This was my first year fishing competitively in kayak bass tournaments, and somehow I managed to finish the season as Angler of the Year!

Going into the season, I honestly had no idea how I would stack up against guys who have been doing this for years. My initial goal was to get one podium finish. I’ve always loved fishing, but tournament fishing is a whole different animal. Learning new bodies of water, figuring out patterns, making decisions under pressure, staying focused, and trying to put together a solid limit when it actually counts was a completely new challenge for me.

Here’s how my rookie season played out:

Season Results:
Event 1 – Long Pond: 5th
Event 2 – Squantz Pond: 3rd
Event 3 – Gardner Lake: 1st
Event 4 – Highland Lake: 1st
Event 5 – Glasgo Pond: 10th
Event 6 – Aspinook Pond: 2nd (Big Bass – 20.5”)
Event 7 – Lower Bolton Lake: 2nd
Event 8 – Pachaug Pond: 8th
Event 9 – Winchester Lake: Tied for 10th (dropped score)

Final Result: 2026 Angler of the Year

Looking back, it’s pretty crazy how the season unfolded. I started off just hoping to be competitive, and then somehow found myself winning back-to-back tournaments at Gardner and Highland. That was definitely a confidence booster, but this season also humbled me pretty quickly. There were tournaments where I struggled, couldn’t figure the fish out, and questioned every decision I made.

One of the biggest things I learned this year is that tournament fishing isn’t just about catching fish. It’s about staying mentally focused, trusting your instincts, making adjustments, and not letting one bad day ruin the next one.

Looking back, if I were to point to something that led to a lot of the success, it’s confidence. I stayed dedicated to getting 3 or 4 practice days on these lakes before each tournament. My main goal was to find my confidence baits for that lake, and confidence areas that I knew held quality fish.

I’m proud of the two wins, but honestly, I’m just as proud of the consistency and the way I kept battling through the tougher events. My AoY trophy this year was a huge jerk bait - the jerk bait was what got me on the podium in the majority of these events.

Never in a million years did I expect my rookie season to end with an AOY title. I’ve still got a ton to learn, and that’s probably what excites me most.

Huge thanks to everyone I competed against this year. I learned a lot fishing alongside some really talented anglers - and lucky to call a lot of these guys good friends now.

Next weekend is the invitational State Championship to wrap up the season at Candlewood Lake.

Tight lines everyone!

Hi all,

I’ve just gotten back from a trip where I drove from NC to the Florida keys with my kayaks. Everything went great and I thought I’d share the details of this setup for people who might want to do the same thing.

this setup uses the Malone MegaWing for the kayak cradles. These kayaks fit perfectly snug but I would not recommend them for a kayak any bigger.

I have the MegaWings mounted on 60” Yakima crossbars. I was worried the kayaks would be too wide and I’d have to put one of the cradles on the outside of the towers but evidently a shorter cross bar would’ve been just fine. Overall I found this to be a very confidence inspiring setup. Happy to answer any questions about it!

ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED THANKS!

I recently added a keel guard to my kayak but it wasn't EXACTLY form fitting. So there are some gaps along the edges. What kind of sealant should I use to fill those gaps around the edge? I used marine goop to adhere the guard but thats not exactly precise very spreadable.

I'm considering this set up which seems like a good deal (seller says he'd take $4k). I looked at them yesterday and everything worked and there was no major damage just some small normal use scratches so I'm confident in the hull. My concern is the longevity of the epdl drives. These are two years old and seem to be fine, I'm wondering if anyone owns one of these and can tell me how long term reliability has been and anything you know that I should. Thanks.

I've been looking for a reasonable backup throw n go kayak for easy fishing days when I don't want to bring out the trailer and a bunch of gear. Debating a new Makana 100 or finding a marketplace lynx. Throw it on top of the SUV and just pack a tackle box and a couple of rods. What's your favorite?

Up for other suggestions too, maybe not the CAJO. They get pretty pricey once you add peddles.

Hi! So i'm about to get into kayak fishing as i'm tired of fishing from the bank. the kayak I am looking to buy is a Perception Outlaw 11.5. My car is a nissan sentra sv 2016. I know it's not a big car and it does not have any roof rack. I have seen a lot of different technique for loading it directly on the roof without bars and I was wondering if it was possible as well with my type of car and if some of you had already done it. Thank you in advance for your advices!

Yes, you are able to clearly see my antennae in this photograph. Whenever we extraterrestrials experience a sense of excitement, they tend to pop out automatically.

Great day in San Diego on the old town sportsman 106pdl

Tldr: I want a measureboard for my kayak but don’t t want to spend a bunch of money on something I hope I can make myself for less.

So I have just bought my first fishing kayak and want a way to measure pike without having to go to shore to measure them. I have fished from a rented touring kayak before and caught a few large pike which I had to go to shore for to measure them accurately. Now I just bought my first sit on top kayak and want a way to measure them either on the kayak or in the water next to the kayak.
I thought I might try to build a measureboard myself since 1: there aren’t many options to buy something that fits my needs (as far as I know) and 2: I am hoping I can maybe spend less money if I do it myself.
I think something along the lines of a musky bumper or ypc boat measureboard might work since I could float them in the water next to the kayak and place the pike on there to measure it.
Now I am just wondering if anyone has done something similar or has any pointers as to material and construction for such a project

A fixed blade or RELIABLE one handed opening folding knife should be kept in a spot accessible to BOTH of your hands at all times - in any awkward or odd body position you MIGHT conceivably end up in.

Your hip pocket is not that spot, your gear tray in the kayak is not that spot anyplace on your waist is probably not that spot if you are sitting.
One flank or the other of your PFD is probably not that spot

The BEST PLACE for a knife while wearing a PFD in a kayak is on the chest or low shoulder, handle down
Edge oriented away from the neck on the draw.
It can be drawn with either hand.

Why am I preaching?

Well funny you should ask - had a little incident yesterday while paddling off Makena, Maui.
Kind of a weird one - but a good reminder as to WHY some safety gear is just non negotiable, and there is a method to an experienced kayakers madness that some of the new guys just think “ oh he’s taking it a bit to the extreme”.

So there I was paddling along - it wasn’t very good conditions, a little breezy before the sun came up - 3’ wind chop occasional white caps went out anyway at 0530, hoping conditions would mellow out.

It got rougher, wind picked up - constant whitecaps, occasional 4’ wind waves, and the wind was howling through my stand by rods and line making that whistle sound. Kayaking ceases being fun in those conditions.I was about 2 miles out

so I turned around thinking if it didn’t improve before I crossed back over the 100’ depth contour into the shallows that I’d pack it in and head for the beach.
Got about half way in and the wind mellowed out, and the chop subsided to a more comfortable 2’.
I could see the wind line offshore - it was still nasty out there. But I had enough water to try and get some fishing done.
Not much of a bite, up one good bait, a small opelu (mackerel scad) - and two small (but highly desirable if they were actually eating sized) fish. one tiny little 4” uku (green Jobfish) which when they are 20 pounds are a prime target - and an 8”Weke Nono (Pflugers goatfish) which get up to about 24” and 8 pounds when mature - and are also excellent tablefare… small ones like that 8” one also make an excellent live bait for big Uku or Jack trevally - but as breezy as it was I didn’t want to set up a bottom fishing drift. So I let them both go
I hope they both made it back to the 130 foot bottom to grow up… and and didn’t get sniped on the way down.

Anyway, while I was slow trolling the live opelu, I noticed that a increasingly large flock of Iwa (great Frigate bird) started circling above my boat -Iwa are snarky grouchy things - big black crank winged seabirds with a forked tail and a 7+ foot wingspan. They are also pretty brazen - usually seen a bunch of them circling a spot in the ocean and swooping down on it is a good sign that there’s bait or fish activity below them.
Not much a good sign if the focus is YOU (or the bait you have near the surface)

The bastards started plucking my bait off the surface and fighting over it.
And before I could try and retrieve it - the biggest of them snatched it and either got hooked… or was so intent on keeping it that he wouldn’t let go of it.

The drag peeled - I set it to strike, it didn’t stop. I advanced it to half full - and it stopped. And I started winching him down slowly.

Great! I’m now attached to a pissed off avian kite at 300’ altitude with 7-8 foot wingspan and a REALY REALLY sharp beak… and I’m in kayak with no towel, blanket or jacket to throw over the damn thing even IF can winch him down to me….

And that’s when the wind line came in. wind went to about 20mph in 30 seconds - and that wind chop went to 3-4 feet pretty much just as fast.
Drag started peeling again - Lost all the headway I had on the bird, advanced it to full - which stoped it. But now it was pulling my boat downwind fast enough to raise a wake. Out of control in 4’ seas and high winds attached to a big flying bird. Holding a fishing pole and not your paddle.

NOT GOOD!!!

I decided to hell with the bird - if he’s hooked he’s likely to die but now I’m at risk so… sorry bubba.

Reached up to the left chest of my PFD - and grabbed my trusty dive knife.
Cut the line away, losing 50 yards of 50# mono and 50 yards of 50# power pro, and a 6/0 live bait stinger rig.

As soon as I cut away, I returned the rod to a holder, grab my paddle and was able to present my bow into the wind and regain control of the boat.

It was an exhausting dig to get back to the launch beach after losing so much ground to the bird debacle.
I even thought about ditching to an alternate landing site and embracing the possibility of a 3 mile hike back to the truck…

In the end I did make it.

But if it had not been for that knife being in its accustomed spot?

I’d have had to face the dilemma of possibly being blown out to sea, or throwing a trolling reel and rod overboard
And abandoning it. The way that the wind was howling - that bird was nigh on impossible to retrieve without upsetting the boat.

You aren’t breaking 50# power pro with your hands. If you don’t have a sharp object at hand to cut or abrade it - you are screwed.

Carry a good knife - keep it hand handy - and remember the unlikeliest things can happen out there - so equip yourself accordingly.

During winter Blue catfishing do I need a dry suit? If so what are some budget friendly options.

We were targeting white perch, the catfish were a surprise. Now it’s time for deer hunting until it’s time for ice fishing.

We were drop-shotting with gulp minnows.

I was planning on keeping my 2019 Outback as a back-up. But after my first few hours in this thing, I’m confident that I won’t be on my Hobie again. It is dead to me. This kayak really will change the industry. Keep up or ship out!

I have a pre-2022 Native Slayer Max 12.5. Today my rudder fell off and sunk to the deep. RIP

I want to upgrade to the Springblade from Berley Pro. I am also looking at the T-lock hub in the back.

My question is can I hold off on the handle upgrade for now or should I just bite the bullet and upgrade it all?

Has anyone upgraded just the rudder control and rudder and continued to use the stock handle?

i’ve been searching for a kayak religiously for about 2 to 3 weeks now I ended up selling my blade and stream 10 foot sit inside paddle kayak kayak in hopes of getting a pedal kayak I’ve tested a couple of local companies and realized I might be a little bit big for a sit on top 10 foot or maybe I’m just not looking at the best most stable kayak for my build. I’ve narrowed it down between three different kayaks now and would like to get some general advice from people who might have some more firsthand experience. The three kayaks have narrowed it down to Are a Hobie Outback 2016 Model With Eva Matts, upgraded Rudder, square hatch, and the lines have been redone the guy wants 1200 which I think is steep as I’d be the 3rd owner. A Sandshark Mako Shark 12 brand new at 1595$ , a local company to me and a killer owner who’s newer to the scene so it doesn’t have as much backing, and a Brand New Pescador Pilot 12 PdL 500$ on market place. I fish a lot of Florida Freshwater in heavy weeds

I'm looking for advice on mounting a trolling motor on the bow of a Perception Pescador Pilot 12.

Has anyone done this, or seen a successful installation on this particular kayak?

I'd be especially interested in photos, mounting hardware, or suggestions for a secure installation. Ideally, without drilling the hull.

Thanks!