Darren.

Welcome aboard, Blake!

Your first, congrats! None for me, perhaps some day

Welcome aboard, Kevin!

Congrats! Just when I was going to write "good luck" for your search!

Welcome aboard!

I do, is in my top 10 rigs, not fished nearly as much as the others, but I like it. For me, I tend to go with a smaller bait, such as a Yamamoto Shad Shape worm. I tend to throw minnow style baits. But so many plastics will work. I've fished small lizards, ribbon tails, etc. They all catch fish.

Welcome aboard, CD!

Never done so myself, only day trips. But I have friends who have hiked the Appalachian Trail! That's some good hiking there. Mountains in PA are fantastic, I'm sure there are great hiking adventures.

With respect, line diameter really doesn't matter when it comes to braid, especially on spinning reels. I know some disagree, but @NHBull is right that 20-30 is overkill for weightless plastics. That is not to say you *can't* use it or *shouldn't* use it, because that's entirely up to you! What it is saying is that we're talking 10# braid; most at that pound test have a breaking point above the stated strength. So when NHBull says "overkill", he means there's not a whole lot you can't do with 10# braid with regard to weightless. Punching and flipping? Maybe not the best... I use 10# and 15# on my spinning gear. 20# will work fine, too. I've use up to 30 and 40 with spinning and - TO ME - it is more than needed. Heck, I use 20 for baitcasting! Use whatever you feel most comfortable with and slays some bass! As for rods, I do like a MXF or MLXF (St. Croix) with weightless. That said, my Carbonlite MF has a stiffer tip than my Compre MXF... Both can set the hook very well. The quick hookset of an XF rod is what I like best, which may be why a lot of us prefer XF tapers. Sometimes that super-quick reaction lift of the rod with a "stiffer tip" is all that's needed to set the hook. As with rod brands, power is relative to the manufacturer, so is taper, unfortunately. Nice if there was a standard...

A few turns of your reel to put mono backing on is a fine thing to do. You could also put a strip of electrical tape on the spool then tie your braid. As for 6lb Fireline, it's thin, that's for sure. You'll need to tie a very secure leader knot to prevent slippage. Usually that entails extra loops up and back if you're tying the Alberto. A Uni-to-uni probably ok with 6 or 7. I personally bottom out at 10lb Power Pro for my braid. Have used Fireline, can't remember the test. It was ok. Some people love it/swear by it. I simply prefer Power Pro. I'm sure you'll do well making sure your drag isn't too tight and your leader knot is solid, rod not too stiff, either. Good luck!

Welcome aboard! It'll work Texas rigged, even better wacky rigged

Oh yes, must post a pic. Sounds like a beast of a lady perch! Congrats!

Welcome aboard! Curado is a solid reel. Good price from @RoLo

I'd go as big as I could afford, personally.

Welcome aboard!

Have to agree...while still edited and sponsored, I think it's the purest form of fishing entertainment on the air right now, and certainly having some influence within the industry. Well said. Fully agree.

Agree with everyone that cotton string or yarn is a bad idea for backing... Electrical tape, a straight tie of braid (carefully wrapped) or use a couple wind ups of mono will do the trick nicely. Good tips from @RoLo and @fishnkamp about saltwater experience.

Welcome aboard!

Rod length, IMO, is entirely in the perception of the one who holds/fishes the rod. Personally, I prefer rods in the 5'6" to 6' length, with 6'6" being the max. Just what *I'm* most comfortable with. I'm right at 5'7" (give or take a ⅛" here or there).

Well then, you are well versed in the world of the Stradic!!

Fake or not, that's a BEAST!

Excellent! I think you'll really like it.

Based only on in-store handling of the GX2, I feel it is a bit soft on the tip, which would explain your thoughts on how it handles/recovers/twitches a worm. So for a budget rod with your 6' requirement (I love 6' rods, too), I'd recommend you look at Bass Pro Shops. There are a couple series they have with 6' M power rods depending on your budget. Their Graphite series is quite inexpensive and a decent, fairly sensitive rod for the money.

I powered my yak fish finder with a Makita battery. They work great, compact. I don't tend to binge buy fishing gear, well, not true if you define binge as a bunch of stuff in one outing. it is the single buy of a rod I don't really need, or a reel I don't really need but can't pass on the price. My wife knows of my buying issues. She says I'm a marketer's dream.

I'm just glad they don't make fishing equipment!! I'm in love with the M12 lineup. Got the brushless impact, hammer drill. Multi tool, hackzall, circ saw, and my pride and joy: 18v 10" miter saw...oh my. I only wish they had an 18v chainsaw...