Darren.

Welcome aboard!

Leader line of choice for copoly for me.

Welcome aboard, Jerry!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard! Some great fisheries there.

You've got a great one there, Eric. Do NOT let go

Welcome aboard, Eric! Does your wife know your choice of screen name?

Welcome aboard!

Nah man, York River has some great striper "rockfish" fishing... Yeah, the monsters are in the deeper channels of the Chesapeake Bay.... Got buds who travel the CB from VA/Eastern Shore to MD for some giants. Not me and my kayak, tho, LOL.

I sorely miss my Mother, who left my Dad, siblings, and me a few years ago with a sudden stroke. NEVER take her presence for granted. Ever. Thanks for posting.

Welcome aboard, Jim!

Welcome back to the fold!

I use 10 and now mostly 15# Power Pro Super Slick 8 on my 1000s. Plenty of line for freshwater fishing most species. 6, 8, 10 pound leaders typically, and if I need *any* extra drag when fighting, I simply palm the spool with whatever pressure needed. The rod plays a part, as well.

Everything. I have caught dozens of bass over 5 and 6 pounds on them, including the 6.6# in my avatar. Also use them striper fishing inshore. They are far more capable than just for ultralight.

Welcome aboard! Today's reels, by and large, are smaller and lighter. @WRB is spot on with the 3000 size being more about spool depth. While I fish 1000 size Stradics, the CI4+ being my favorite, I've also held the 3000 model and it's a great size and weight. I do fish jigs with my 1000s, not typically heavy jigs. For those I use a baitcaster, but wouldn't have a problem using a larger spinning reel for one. Guess the bottom line is to echo @d-camarena, "either one works"

50 yard spool of 40# Ande leader material (mono). Felt that 50# was a tad too stiff, and 30# was a tad too soft. 40# seems to be the sweet spot. https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/ande-monofilament-leader-skeins

Welcome aboard, Wade!

Great bluegill catch. Really nice size, and yeah, addiction starts now for the little guy .

Welcome aboard! Not a tourney guy, but I go when nature calls...and no other anglers are near by...LOL.

Congrats on the new rig, but I'm left scratching my head as to the front. That's a lot in the way of fishing, especially with the net in front of you, as well. I think that'd get in the way of casting, fighting a fish that makes a run across the bow, etc. But try it since you're determined to do so . Make sure you wear a PFD 100% of the time.

Dang, what a beast.

I will wade where I can, if I am in the mood to do so, usually if there's a hard sandy bottom. Unfortunately, most of the reservoirs where I fish are mush and suck your shoes off, LOL. We also have a lot of snakes, and water mocs are common here, less-seen are copperheads, but they're around, I've seen them. Fortunately, no gators. There are river otters and beavers, too. Had the bahookie scared outta me a few times with beavers sneaking up on me and slapping their tail on the water. Otters are curious critters.

Yup, I use both regular PP yellow, and PP Super Slick 8 in yellow. Love it for line watching, and it will fade over time, but once it's past the point of (your judgement) aesthetics, simply unspool it and spool the line reverse - so the "unused" stuff that's been sitting on your pool is the "new" stuff you use.

Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot Sizes from 4 (rarely) to 2/0 with 1 and 1/0 being the sweet sizes. 99% of time use weedless, tying my own.

It all depends on you. There's a video out there in which Gary Yamamoto discusses a leader long enough (like 20 feet) to get the leader knot on the reel while fighting the fish to the boat. Personally, I typically stretch my arms wide one time, maybe two. There is no set rule to the length, though common sense will give you some rules of the minimum And my arm stretch is gonna be vastly different from say, The Greek Freak (NBA)