Darren.

I'm gonna throw wacky, drop, and Ned rigs to start with, perhaps ends with....:) I like rigs that "just work" Texas, other soft plastics afterward. Might throw some hard plastics (cranks, etc.) if I'm told they are go-to rigs for said body of water.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

I'd exchange it. That model is my absolute favorite of my 5 Stradics -- all 1000 models from FI to FJ to FK to CI4+. Something sounds wrong with it, potentially. Should be a buttery smooth reel out of the box. All of mine have been just that. And with braid, there's zero line-management issues with 1000 size - at least for me

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard, Brian!

Welcome aboard, Wes!

Welcome aboard!

I make my own weedless wacky and drop shot (and Ned rig) hooks. So break out the fly tying vice! It's cheaper any how. Buy a bunch of hooks, some leader material, bada bing!

I suppose longer is better ... for some. Oh geez, I'm sorry, that statement can be misinterpreted badly... Surf rods, as @A-Jay mentioned, I can easily see it. Even long pole fishing w/o reels. Some like trucks jacked up so far they need a ladder to get in the driver's seat. Not practical, but some do it. I'm the wrong guy to even respond. I don't see the requirement for rods over 6'6", LOL. Whatevs! Go for it!

Hi Nick, welcome aboard!

This is my all time fav.

Considering bass eat live forage, it's not unusual or sad. What's unusual is that we use FAKE bait to catch them!! One need look no further than our own @Fish Chris (please come back, Chris!!) to see just how big a bass you can catch on live nightcrawlers. He was the master.

Welcome aboard, James!

Some fanTAStic movie choices in this thread. Shawshank Redemption Tombstone Gladiator Boyz in the Hood Aliens Good Fellas Etc. But for me... The Princess Bride! Humor is off the charts.

Awesome! Right up my alley. Would post my own footage of a cottonmouth facing me down when one of my sons and I were long-pole fishing off a dock at Harwood's Mill here in VA. Vid file is too big. It came from across the reservoir directly to us at the dock. I picked it up with the butt end of one of the 10' poles and moved it to the other side where it continued its belligerence toward us for fishing in its water, LOL.

Current: Ned rig, drop shot, wacky

Congrats, David!

Welcome aboard!

I use(d) Gamakatsu circle hooks in size #8 and had plenty of success on bluegills, yellow and white perch, all the way to cats and bass. The #12s will work, just beware that, at least in my experience, circle hooks under a float do not always yield a lip-hooked fish. I've had a LOT of gut-hooked panfish with circle hooks... As for bait, we normally use night crawlers, but I've run the gamut of canned/preserved grubs, crickets, etc., to Gulp and I prefer live whenever I can use 'em. Gulp does work, though, just that they can dry out when they sit for a spell. Maggots and grubs ordered online is great. I never did so, but wouldn't hesitate to when I eventually circle back to long-pole (no reel) fishing. I love the technique's simplicity and fun when a fish hits. Fantastic for kids, too.

Silly as it may sound, they remind me of a quality tennis racquet! LOL. I've long been a tennis dude, so anything that has the curves of a cool racquet like these get my attention.

These nets have long been on my "desire" radar, but priced out of my reach. Perhaps some day!

I'm not so convinced Amazon and other online retailers are the cause. Contributing factor, perhaps. I've bought one fishing product on Amazon that I can recall. Chinese-made bobber stops. Other than that, I've used TW, ebay, and several other online retailers. I actually am one that would rather visit a BPS for the atmosphere, the fish tank, and so on. There used to be a sense of wonder at the place. Something that garnered an excitement for the sport of fishing. The problem is, those things are not the same attractions they once were. Again, this could be me, but BPS used to have things going on all the time. Feedings, pro sessions, excited, helpful, and knowledgable sales folks. Those things have dwindled to semi-occasional attractions, and the knowledgeable sales folk are fewer and farther between. I used to visit to run things by the fishing manager, who became a friend. He was sharp. He left for better pastures. It was a sad day. BPS became less personal ever since. I'd run stuff by folks there and nobody could give me solid advice I was seeking. Also agree with @fishnkamp that Johnny's Empire of products has usurped other brands' products. And JM himself, a man worth billions, seems to have surrounded himself with advice that steers the "a fun place to visit" atmosphere of his stores into something other than that. Just my 2 cents.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!