Darren.

When I saw "skunked" in the same paragraph as "first time ever" I did a facepalm. Dude. I've been skunked more times that I wish to count. Congrats on going so long w/o one!! I wish my luck was that bad, LOL.

Seeing how the Ned has won me over this year, I guess I should respond Downsides: None. Well, actually, I think I could find one based solely on the fact I've only used Zman jigs for this so far. The bait keeper can come un-soldered. That's a downside of the hook/jig setup I'm using at this point. I could probably resolve it by trying some of Siebert's jigs or making my own. Perhaps I'll try one or both at some point. But doggonit, the Ned rig is awesome. Never been skunked when I've used it.

No it aren't. Well, maybe it are.

Welcome aboard! I'd like to recommend you go back to Bass Pro and put your reel(s) on several different rods that fall within your 2-for $150 budget. You don't have to bring your reels unless you want to, BPS will have your Tourney Special and maybe the Shimano (but both without line spooled on). This way you'll get a nice feel for how each rod with reel feels in your hands. Bass Pro has some excellent house brand rods that'll pair nicely with your reels, as well as a number of other great brands. I have done exactly what I suggest to you and doing so helped me pick a rod for my reel that I thought felt the best in my hands. Good luck!

I'm with @The Bassman, 6'6" and under with about 5'9" or 6' being the sweet spot for me. I just prefer shorter rods. My son has a 7 foot inshore rod we bought him for that purpose, but it just isn't in my wheelhouse of size. To each his/her own. I caught my PB on a 6' M casting rod, and over a dozen 6# bass on my 5'9" Compre. They all get the job done. Simply a matter of preference in my book.

I don't stray very far from my standard arsenal for bass. For me, they work. I'm after the catch, the fun, not competing or out to best "the other guy". It's a hobby to me. Of course I'd be lying to say breaking my PB didn't matter!! It absoLUTELY matters ... I just don't get out as often as I did just a year ago, so I stick to what works.

I've used braid since the early 90s, Spiderwire then. Used Trilene XL for spinning, or Spiderwire. Fast forward to today and every reel I have is spooled with Power Pro or Power Pro Super Slick 8 and paired with a leader of either copoly, or fluorocarbon. For copoly I mainly use Yo Zuri Hybrid, though I've got and like P-Line Floroclear tho not used much anymore. For fluoro I use Gamma Edge.

I've wacky rigged almost all styles of my soft plastics at one time or another. Fat Ika, minnow baits, creature baits, jig trailers Most successful non-senko rigs for me: minnow baits (specifically yamamoto shad shape worm), Zoom Finesse and Trick worms.

While I live in the kinder-winter of Virginia, I do store all our kayaks outside with exception of my Native Ultimate which I store in our car port, hoisted to the ceiling. It is there year-around. As for your shed, take your pick, though I would take the seat indoors if you worry about mice. May not be as much an issue if you hoist it. You can either buy a hoist kit or DIY it like I did with pulleys from Home Depot. Works great!

Congrats on the PBx2! Haven't tried that bait, but I remember when Larry Dahlberg was introducing it years ago on his show. Perhaps one of these days I'll give it a shot...

Welcome aboard, Brad! Are you fishing from shore, or boat/kayak? I've fished a small community lake in the past that has yielded some excellent days, and some days were skunks - after throwing the kitchen sink at 'em.

Welcome aboard, and welcome to the addiction!

Welcome aboard, Ben!

Fictional? Your last sentence concerning construction, grip, etc., are true, and do influence balance. But when you add the reel is where preference comes in. There's tip-light, tip-heavy, tip-neutral. Rod length? You can have a tip-heavy 6 foot rod just like a tip-light 7 footer. The reel plays a critical part in the balance. Where do you hold the spinning reel? Is the balance (where the rod, with reel, resting on your finger, balances parallel to the ground) 8 inches above the reel seat? or almost where you rest your index finger? Ever heard of fisherman's elbow? Just like tennis elbow. A rod that is heavy in the tip, by my experience, exacerbates the injury for soft plastic techniques which involve shaking the tip. So balancing a rod isn't fictional, it's got practical use, and is very much a "to each his/her own" type of thing.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard! With learning to fish the Ned rig this year, I'd probably stock up on various size and weight hooks and plenty of TRDs. Other than that, lots of Senko/Stik-O baits for wacky rigging, and a mess of drop shot baits. These are bread-and-butter for me (incl. Ned). Not much of a hard lure guy, though I do throw some on occasion. That said, I'd also have a stock of light to medium heavy jigs some frogs, cranks, a few lipless cranks, and maybe a whopper plopper to try out.

Well done. Beast of a lad.

I agree with @J Francho, drop the $30 extra on the CI4+. The FK is no slouch, a great reel. I've got one, but I also have the new CI4+ and wow. For $30 more, I'd take it every day. I own 2 FI, 1 FJ, 1 FK, 1 CI4+ (all 1000 models).

Welcome aboard! Braid, fluoro, etc., tends to be a personal choice. What one finds awful, another loves it... So for me, Power Pro original in 10# and Power Pro Super Slick 8 in 15# test - both of these on my spinning setups. Power Pro original in 20# for my baitcaster. I've used TufLine, Firelines, Sufix, and other braids. I like PP the most. Just my .02.

Mick, I had trouble with the Alberto (mod'd Albright) when using a thin, slick leader of say 4 or 6# test - specifically P-Line Floroclear, and 10# Power Pro. What I found that fixed it was more wraps up, and a few more wraps back down the line before putting the tag end back through. For example, if I normally did 10 wraps up, 4 wraps down using 6 or 8 lb test, I'd go 15 up 7 down for 4lb... Experimentation is key. That was a rule of thumb I read (not here) that if you're having trouble go more in both directions. This all without glue, as well. Mostly use the Uni-to-Uni these days, though Alberto on occasion.

Welcome aboard, Eduardo! I'm sure some California folks will chime in soon.

Another cast right/reel right guy here. Spinning all lefty. Like @Bluebasser86, I've tried to do spinning righty, but no way. Only messed with lefty baitcasters in-store, and another no way for me.

Welcome aboard! Plenty of choices in the $100 range, but I'd probably go for a Daiwa. If a Tat can be found for the $100, grab it. I haven't used one, only used a Lexa (gave to a son). Currently use a Chronarch 50e, and lots of Stradics. So I'm a Shimano guy for the most part, but with my Daiwa experience, you can't go wrong.

I use a leader for both. I just keep a tight line on the horiz. Use horizontal a lot in my reservoirs as there's not a lot of deep water. As said before, a heavier weight helps keep my line taught, though I do tend to use 1/8 oz a lot (got a mess of 'em).

I'm known as a wacky guy (right, @A-Jay?) but after using the Ned rig this year, wacky rigs have been less and less for me (though I always keep one rigged). I also use the TRD and you're right, it lasts and lasts...