Darren.

@Scoonie, welcome aboard! I have found that, for me, braided mainline plus a leader solves all my problems. I fish wacky rigged senkos, TX, Mojo, jigs, etc. Leaders are usually copolymer (Yo-Zuri) from 4-15# test depending on what I need for the targeted area. @HeavyDluxe great avatar. I can't wait till Babylon 5 finally (hopefully) hits the streaming sites. Drives me nuts because I want to watch but can't afford to buy the series.

Worth it? Yep. Easy to see when needing to line watch. Use it on every reel I have (plus a leader).

This is what I do, as well. As for the Thule mentioned by @Choporoz I have a buddy who is close to your height who uses it to top his yak on a Jeep. At least I think it is the same one, he has an extra piece that goes across the middle of the back that allows him to prop his yak up, then walk it up from behind the vehicle.

Welcome aboard! May fortune favor you as you hit the trophy bass lakes down there! Some day I hope to make it there. I like to poke the ribs of all the guys who go down there...

Welcome aboard! Welcome aboard to you, too!

Yes. You could spend copious dollars and go to warmer climes with bass trained to bite every lure that enters the water. *cough* *baccarac* *cough* Or Play PS4 games and/or watch movies. You pick. Wait! You could set up a bucket in the back yard and practice pitching and flipping. OR you could save up $$ to go to "massive bass-in-a-bucket" locales that A-Jay and the other boys go to. Hey, your choice

Welcome aboard! Not knowing where you're from, if Virginia, look at the Dogwood trees. Blossoming? Then bass are spawning.

Great catch, Luke. Get yourself a scale and you can record future PBs!

If my Chronarch 50e came in 8.1:1, I'd have bought it without hesitation. As it stands, I upgraded mine to 7.0:1! I love fast baitcasters. I slow my retrieve for other techniques. But when I want my line back for another cast, I want it NOW, not at 5.4:1, LOL

My best recommendation is for you to get into a Bass Pro, Gander, Cabela's, or local shop and try every reel that piques your interest. If the one on display feels like crap (too many hands playing with it), ask to see one in the box. This is really a great way to narrow down what feels good in *YOUR* hands. I did this fully expecting to walk out with a Pflueger, only to find that I really liked the "feel" of Shimano better. I did buy a Daiwa Lexa never having touched it. V. good reel, but I gave it to one of my boys.... You may have the opposite experience from me! That's the beauty of it all. We are all different and like different looks and feels of different brands. It's all good so long as it works for you and you like it!

Welcome aboard!

My gosh, some monsters there. Fish in the OP looks as big as the kid!

Having used both, I vote the hybrid option! If I had the $ for a Hobie, I'd probably have one, but I absolutely love my Native Ultimate 12 which is a hybrid between a kayak and canoe. Space aplenty for storage, customization ease, etc., and low to the water like a kayak. And light.

If I had the choice when buying my Chronarch 50e, I'd have picked the absolute fasted available. So if it were 8:1.1, that'd have been MINE!!!

Awesome jiggin'!

Nice rainbow! Sweet!

I would like to think I'm a good fisherman, LOL... Unless I missed something, the OP didn't mention spinnerbaits...so I only mentioned what worked for me today. Frustrating day. Spinnerbaits were def on my mind at times, though.

I also use a pocket knife when on the water. Have to cut at an angle, slow from side to side as each strand gets snipped. Need a decent knife if you have thick leader...

Welcome aboard! Welp. I fished the wind today. Had a few choice words for it, as well. Caught only 2 bass and both on drop shot. So hey, there ya go. Dropshot, or weighted wacky... My .02.

Blue, I've been using braid + leader for a very long time and I've been using it for drop shotting, too. Got a buddy of mine hooked, as well, and he's caught some great bass of late with a 10lb leader using a Trick worm... FWIW.... As far as reels, I will only say that I prefer Shimano...Pfloogs are fine as well, just didn't fit my hands as well as Shimano's when I compared....My DSG special $99 2500 Stradic FJ has been absolutely awesome.

Nice! VA warms up on Monday about 20º, then we're back in the 50s for our Spring Break.

Good trip!

Welcome aboard, Brett!

I do not buy leader-specific line for bass fishing. Just use regular spools of fluoro or copoly. I do use leader line (mono) for tying my own weed guards.

Awesome! Great memory for her.