Darren.

Nice! And let's be honest. Who *really* cares WHERE you caught it! I mean, look at all the guys who go to Mexico in hopes of a PB!! Count me among those with a Florida and Mex bucket list for a double digit PB!

I'll be honest. I like roboworms. I like how they look, how they feel, how they look in the water. But I just don't catch a lot of fish with them. That they make a Ned worm is cool, and I might buy a pack to try 'em out, but the TRD works for me fabulously, so I'll likely stick with them.

Welcome aboard!

Absolutely not! But I always run my fingers over my leader to feel for any nicks if I've come through some cover. If there are any, I run over again with my fingernails as sometimes it feels like a nick in the line but it's just detritus attached to the line. I will cut the leader if there's a lot of abrasion after a catch, retie then. But like Brian (@Team9nine) I can go many catches before a retie.

That was a fanTAStic game tonight. Absolutely fantastic. Sorry Pats fans, but tis what it is. Awesome Foles showed up tonight, and the Eagles D showed up when it needed to. Tough breaks, but Tom isn't retiring, so there's always next year.

Welcome aboard!

Fantastic, @Glenn! Hank fan, myself, so looking forward to the show. Sadly, I don't get the Outdoor channel, so hopefully he'll allow you to post the episode on BR for the rest of us??

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard, Roxanne! I would say great policy in any water no matter the temp

Welcome aboard! I have 5 Stradics, and if I picked today, I'd get the CI4+. One difference between me and a lot of folks is I prefer to use smaller reels - 1000 size. Given the lightness of the CI4+, longer rods will be more tip-heavy. I use rods from 5'9" to 6'6" with 6' being the current sweet spot for me. St Croix is probably my favorite brand in your price range. As you're discovering, we are going to be all over the map in terms of recommendations and what *we* each like over other brands. So best advice is to get to a Bass Pro, Cabelas, etc., and find some rods and reels that catch your fancy. Our recommendations are great starting points for both. Put the reel you like on a rod you like and see what you think in terms of how it balances in your hands. Does it *feel* right, or just OK? Try another rod, try another reel, and so on. I did this at Bass Pro years ago. I went in all set on particular brands, but left with completely different gear. Been pretty happy since.

Congrats! May your time there be awesome!

Kudos to you, mate! There are some excellent brands in the $99 range, NRS Chinook (mentioned above), I wear the BPS branded Ascend life vest. Previous version to the one I'm linking to here: https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/ascend-paddling-fishing-life-jacket-1508311300-1 They look virtually identical, but I think mine has a larger back. Anyhow, basically a knock off of the Stohlquist Fisherman PFD (on sale at Austin Kayakfor $89.99) You don't have to spend a mint to get a good vest that will save your life. I think you'd be happy with any suggested thus far.

Topwater fishing. But I can do it seated, it is just much easier when standing to point the rod tip down for the retrieve.

Welcome aboard! I was like you, caught LOTS of bass and other fish with spin casters. In fact, I preferred under spin reels! Still do, for guests and so forth. I say go for it! You refurbish 'em, fish 'em, and catch 'em Thread Revival!!

Rob, have your friend read a bit of this article about an FLW pro who uses nothing but spinning. He goes way heavier than I do - fishes different techniques. https://www.flwfishing.com/tips/2014-04-22-going-big-with-a-spinning-rod

You've got two threads going for the same thing, then. Did you not find an answer in this one for the Pflueger? As for the $175 combo, look around for a ML rod in the $100 range like a Carbonlite, Veritas, etc., and grab a Sahara as @WRB suggested, or a Pflueger President, Daiwa Legalis...all solid in the sub-$100 range.

This is what I do, as well, as much as possible.

Welcome aboard! Great catches, man!

The way the hook bends upward gives me pause. I like the idea, though. For me, I just tie my own weedguards on Zman Ned rig jigheads, or I buy their version with the wire guard.

Welcome aboard, @Tristan Hayes! Good advice above. That reel is a great inshore reel based on what I've read. If you like 7' rods, then there are plenty that will offer both salt (inshore) and fresh capabilities. In fact nearly any rod will work so long as it is rinsed afterward in fresh water.

I've got Fast and XF rods, and there was a time I'd have said XF for everything (within what we're talking here), but like @NHBull said, paraphrased, no two are the same. Case in point for me, my two Shimano Compre (old cork) rods were both XF rated, but compared to my Fast rated Avid (then) and now Premiere, and even the Carbonlites, the Compres were less twitchy. Strange, that.

Welcome back!

I don't know if it's the "holy grail" for smallies, but I've talked to a number of folk down my way that absolutely love the James River up Richmond way. One even takes kayak trips several times a year to float down and smallie fish. Is on my "eventually gonna do it" bucket list, the James River, that is. Richmond way.

The seller I bought from has a 99.9% rating, but must have sold all their inventory since I bought mine back in 2012. Torch Sports is the name and they only have one item left. So not much help.

Stupid is as Stupid does, apparently. I can only imagine the stuff you've seen, or the wrecks you've had to "rescue". Seen too much Stupid on freshwater - even electric-only, believe it or not! My sons' know "don't be that guy...ever".