Darren.

@HeavyTwenty shows the tip wrap, wind knotting in pix. Knots, no, tying knots is easier, IMO the flex, ease cinching the line makes for good quality knots. For leader knots, same thing applies. I use Uni-to-Uni most of the time these days, Alberto is my other go-to.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard! Power Pro Orig. or Power Pro Super Slick...

Welcome aboard! Definitely need more info. Boat, kayak, shore? Soft plastics? Hard lures? Casting, spinning?

Welcome aboard!

Pluses on spinning: line management - no coiling off the spool. That's a pretty huge plus to me. Minuses: Wind knots, tip wrapping. Don't happen enough to spoil using braid, so pluses win in my book. I use braid on all my gear, spinning and baitcasting. I tie on a leader 100% of the time, but that is my thing, not absolutely necessary as my sons can attest. I like it to save cutting in to my braid for hook/lure reties.

*speechless...*

Welcome aboard!

Let's go 16-0!! Go DUBS!!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!!

Beauties! Nice catches!

C'est la vie. One reason I like to stage my rods laying down in front of me in my kayak. I inevitably catch one of them sitting in the crate behind me.

Yessiree, you've had a MOAB. Scissors are your friend there. Gotta hate those trees and such behind you when you least expect them to be there.

I'm also successful at using Gammy Finesse Wide gap in 2, and 1. I do a lot of line watching, hence using yellow Power Pro braid and I also tie on a leader of varying pound test. Something that happens is a shortstrike. Usually when a bass is just toying with the lure - at least that's how I describe it. Since you say you know bass fishing, you're familiar with a bass hit vs say a bluegill machine gun rat tat tat hit? I've had bass on wacky rigs all the way to the boat only to see them having a grasp of one of the ends of the wacky rig and not the hook. It sounds like you need more practice FWIW, I am using more 1/0 size hooks lately, but honestly, the hook up percentage isn't that much different.

Welcome aboard! Yes, you can use the super salt for wacky.

Welcome aboard!

Congrats and heck of a bass there!

yes...Tidewater area of Virginia... Are you? And where at? Welcome to the forums!

This is an increasing problem. I see it on local waters ALL the time. People just getting in to the sport, or even long-timers that adhere to the "you only need a life preserver IN your boat" rule thus don't wear one. You'll even see it in pictures posted here on the forums! I have twice forgotten my PFD and twice have called home to have my wife or one of my sons bring it to me (was after I had unloaded and realized my error). Life is too precious to worry about being "cool" (dual meaning), or "uncomfortable" wearing a PFD. My boys are not allowed to go out in kayaks, canoes, w/o wearing one.

Welcome aboard! Plenty of NJ guys here who will chime in soon.

Welcome to the forums and welcome back to the sport!!

Kevin Durant... Mic drop... Ok, just for game 3...and 2...and 1. Let's see if he and the Dubs can drop the mic in game 4.

Welcome aboard! I used to do ultra lite a lot, shopped for ultra lite lures as a result. Had Rapala cranks, etc. Crappie cranks make a great UL lure. And fwiw, I use Stradic 1000s for all my bass fishing! They are exceedingly capable of hauling in fish waaaay over the UL specification.

Well they came in, here are some pix. 100 pack. They are definitely thinner at the core than the other ones I've used, so should come thru the guides well. I've got a tangled drop shot my youngest was using yesterday to retie and I'll add these on.