Darren.

I just picked up a digital scale from DSG and have been quite pleased with it so far. I have an Econoscale as well (Boga knock off) which has been super-accurate over the years. I bought the Field & Stream digiscale because I wasn't sure my gripper was giving me accurate reading lower on the scale. I've got some weights down to 3 pounds that ring up accurately on both. However, my digiscale reads a 10 lb weight like yours, not quite 10 pounds, but the Econoscale is spot-on. The grip scale is far easier to use since the fish is already lipped. Pain to hook the bass with a digiscale (just my opinion).

Welcome aboard, Chris!

A different take, one which I've explained in another post... Braid is phenomenal for mainline on spinning gear. For me it is PowerPro in 10 lb test. I always tie a leader, of differing pound tests depending on whether I'm fishing cover, open water, etc. The different take is this: spooling only braid is expensive, it will last a long time if you aren't tying and retying over and over, shortening the length of your braided mainline. On the other hand, tying a leader of say, 6', with an Albright knot means you are retying hooks, etc., only on that 6' length until it is short enough to change out. That's a lot of retying that leaves your braided mainline in tact. While it may seem moot to some, it has proven quite cost-effective for me. Whether or not bass mind the line or not is really irrelevant to me. I have tried straight braid vs. leader. Caught fish on both. And I have 100% faith in my line-to-leader Albright knots. So this is one reason I fish braid + leader, it is my 2 cents.

So I voted early on that I'd take option B, bigger fish as opposed to a bunch of smaller. But to be honest, I'd have voted "C" "Both" if it was an option. I am ever hunting a new PB, but I'll take anything that I can catch. I'll take a thousand 6 oz bass over a skunk-outing any day of the week.

I try to test my drags before I make the first cast on a given day. I normally try to set-it-and-forget-it for drag on my spinning gear, but every so often I will change things, especially if I put on a heavy leader, I may have tightened the drag that particular day. So if you get into the habit of double checking your drag each time, you should be fine. And then I use the spool palming method to add drag during a fight. Absolutely hate backreeling, no offense to those who do it. Just don't like it myself. As well, I once watched a pro on TV who discussed drag setting, can't remember who, and he said if you cast out and pull back as if you are setting the hook, you want to hear a quick pull of your drag. While this may or may not be "the best way" to do it, it might be a starting point. Lastly, agree with C-Numb that 8 lb test can haul in some nice bass. I would consider it lightER line. I do use it often and have pulled in some hefty bass in cover.

Spawn will continue thru June at least in VA, not sure if NoVA will end sooner than down here, if it does, it will be a matter of days, I'd think. Beds may be empty here and there, then filled up with a new set of bass. At least in my experience. There are more females out in the depths waiting their turn.

Lately I've been paring down what I take on outings. Minimalistic approach... For one, it's easier in my kayak to not have 4 or more rods. I take 2. As for colors, I have 3 3600 size boxes I take with my soft plastics, a couple hard lures. Definitely more than 4 colors, but I probably only need that many.

Awesome. Welcome, and thanks for supporting BR!

Welcome aboard, Dave!

A fish, and slime? Yep, you're official

Welcome to the forums, Alex!

I have been through several of the cheaper brands. For the money, you cannot beat Walmart's foldable nets - they're usually with the Atwood boat supplies. Mine was around $13, identical to the one I spent $25 on at Dick's. I have used it for a year (previous one I had, $25 model, was used for over a year, lost to Davey Jones' Locker)... FWIW, the foldable models in the kayak section of our local Bass Pro are overpriced junk. Those DO fall apart, as my fishing buddy attests to. He bought the Walmart model and has had no problems since. That said, money no issue, I'd get a Leverage net mentioned by Hanover. However, I have recently returned to the standard floating/light aluminum loop nets with wider gaps in the netting. $15 bucks at DSG's. Reason being, I've found the foldable nets to NOT enter the water fast enough. Too much drag. The aluminum models enter quickly, they float, they do the job. I think mine is a total of 42" or 43"end to end... 2 cents.

Great to be back in the saddle catching fish! As they said in Jurassic Park, "life finds a way" ... to find time for fishing!

Welcome aboard! I'd love to catch a tuna. Someday I will, though I prefer to stay within site of land, LOL.

Welcome aboard!!

Like Paul said, use some spare line to fill up your spool a short ways, then top it off with braid. And while the uni-to-uni is a good knot, I find the Albright/Alberto to be a much smaller knot which goes through the guides better. Length of leader is up to you. Some use up to 20 feet because they want the leader knot onto the spool when bringing in a fish close to the boat. Me, I can't remember the last time my Albright leader knot broke. I'm 100% confident in it.... I use anywhere from 6 to 15 pound test line. So your choices are fine.

Congrats on finding a honey hole! Don't let the secret out to the locals that there's other species there, LOL!

Might you be setting the hook too hard/fast? My experience is sometimes setting the hook too soon, and the fish only had ahold of the worm, not the hook, or the fish was merely short-striking the worm, not taking it in. For the wacky, do you do the reel-down and pull back the rod? No need to really set the hook with a yank that goes from NJ to California if you catch my drift. Lots of variables that could play a factor in your "problem"...

Good haul!

Welcome, James!

Welcome aboard!

Wow! Really nice catches! Congrats on her PB.

Interesting. You mention they are shallow-cruising. In my experience, they tend to bite when annoyed rather than other reasons. And even then, they can ignore but bump into your baits, which if you're not sight-fishing, may feel like a bite. I did this yesterday, watched two HUGE ladies do nothing but "bump" into my line (over and over) which lifted the weight-end of my line. They never took. Now my son managed to irritate the male enough to get him to strike (and catch)! So that said, are you watching the bass take the bait? Normally, I just reel down and lift. But like WRB said, bedders can reject the worm very fast, instant sets are needed -- but by instant, do the same, except keep tight line and lift. Don't rip the hook out... Bottom line, if they're "nipping" as you say, they're not engulfing your bait (typical bedding behavior). Can be an extremely frustrating waiting game. Sometimes you just have to move on to keep your sanity...

Nice catches!

Welcome, Keenan!