Darren.

All my spinning reels get 15# PowerPro Super Slick 8. One or two may still have 10# PowerPro regular. Either is great, I got the 15# on a deal, so got a lot of it to use. Their 10# is equivalent of 2# mono diameter, and the 15 is 4# diameter equivalent. You'll get plenty to spool on. Both are yellow, helps me with line watching. And I use a leader for every one of my setups.

FWIW, I would also recommend braid to you. I switched years ago and have never once wanted to go back to a mono/copoly/fluoro line (except for leaders).

Dang. Sorry, man. I lost quite a few hundred in cell phone, camera, gear in a capsize many years back. Hurts....

I use my thumb on my casting gear, but on spinning I simply palm the spool if I need more. I keep my drags fairly light and have increased hookups, as well.

Welcome aboard, Rob! Sounds like an incredible plot of land you have there. Awesome!

No real effect on me that I can tell, either. I do have Gulp baits for saltwater, but I have yet to experience success with them that will make me want to buy again... And I did buy one of my boys a Pflueger President spinning reel for Christmas, the previous model, which I got at BPS for like $30 or $40... So no real loss there, either.

Nice! Healthy lookin' largies there. A good day despite being tough!

Welcome aboard, Kevin!

The only thing that's changed since you last were in the sport is the aggressiveness of the Bait Monkey Fish what you remember and how, I doubt the bass have memories that far back. From shore I threw just about everything I had. Probably most success came on soft plastics for me. If you can, focus on docks, laydowns, and various structure that you can see. Try jigs, Texas rigs, cranks, etc. Good luck!

Unfortunately, Ryan, I do not. But as it's your first post, welcome aboard! Why don't you stop by the Introductions section and tell us a little about you!

Boy, I do not envy you. My fishing buddy would ask me questions for the first year or two, then he grew on his own and started going and killing it without me. We are no longer friends...LOL Just kidding, we just no longer fish together. I prefer going it alone or with my boys (sons). It frustrated me to no end one night last week when I took out son #3 and showed him how I love to drop shot in a particular spot.... I started hooking up, a 5 pounder, a 4 and a 3.5 not to mention the sub 3s I caught. It killed me that he was not catching so I stopped and gave him what I was using. He had two hookups but didn't get to bring them home. My kids I don't mind, so long as they absorb what I teach. Others? Change the times you go out to fish, LOL.

Good luck and report back with your catches!

I'm with you, @Bluebasser86. Prayers offered.

Not sure which knot you're referring to. Surgeon's knot? Anyhow, as for the Double Uni, it's actually one of the easiest to tie, once you see how it goes, you'll see why. The FG may be the smallest, but it's also the longest for bass fishing. And, though some here have success, I could never get it to hold using 10 or 15# braid and leaders from 6-15# test. I have one rod with micro guides, my SC Legend Tourney. I normally use smaller diameter lines with it, and the uni-to-uni goes through just fine, so long as the tag ends are tightly cropped. Just FWIW. Meant to add that part of the issue people have with using a leader, and being concerned it is the weak link, is the breaking strength. Those tests you see online are not, shall I say, real world tests unless your drag is locked down. Point being, a properly set drag will go a long ways toward keeping that "weak link" attached. I can't remember the last time I broke at the leader knot. Honestly. The entire system, from drag, to rod strength, to lines is important.

I'm curious why the BG over the Fuego LT with Mag Seal? This has puzzled me, too. Not just the Procyon, but the Lexa. While I'm a big fan of Daiwa, it feels to me like they have trouble making up their mind when it comes to mid-range spinning reels. Shimano had the same lineup for ages, then only recently changed/added up with the Nascii, etc. Not saying Shimano is better, but it left me with the feeling that if I buy a Daiwa now, it may not be around by the time I add a second one. Parts, etc. would be tough to find. Granted, the same can be said of buying one model of Stradic, then the next one is gonna be different... I'm quite intrigued by the Tatula LT models, though I have heard great stuff about the Fuego LT, as well.

When I lived in NY, I never got checked, ever. (Clarification: I always bought a license and was keenly aware of how tough they would be if I were caught w/o one. NY is tough, I just never got checked.) Here in VA, I've been checked at least a half-dozen times, not just for license, but for launch permits, and so forth. Our Rangers don't mess around, I've seen some get caught for even fishing in areas not designated as "shoreline" fishing. One thing they could do better, IMO, is clearly mark areas for "boat launch only - no fishing from shore" etc. As for carding to buy fishing gear, I would say it is a much bigger can of worms than for say, alcohol. I'm all for smart regulations, though. I second the thought of an anonymous tip-off to the local authorities on the poacher....

Mmmm. Riiiiibs. Man, hate it when a rod breaks because of something I did...had it happen to several, worst being my SC Legend Tournament spinning rod...very stupid mistake and *snap*.

The sizes are for braid, specifically, bolded/red below. You can see the mono sizing is 2, 4, and 6 capacities, so they're equivalent to PowerPro diameters of 10, 15, and 20, respectively. ITEM CODE POWERPRO LINE CAPACITY (#TEST/YD) MONO LINE CAPACITY (#TEST/YD) WEIGHT (OZ) BEARINGS LINE RETRIEVE PER CRANK (IN) GEAR RATIO MAX DRAG (LB) ST1000HGFK 10/95,15/85,20/65 2/270,4/140,6/110 6.9 6+1 31 6.0:1 7

12# test Yo-Zuri Hybrid.

You'll be fine with 15 on your reel. I use 10 and 15 on 1000 size Stradics, never an issue. As far as backing, the heavier the backing the less you need. So if you're using 10# mono backing, you can put on enough to cover the spool once. Basically there's no fast rule for how much backing you put on. Put enough on so it doesn't allow the braid to slip when you're spooling it.

It all depends on the kayak, really. What you will be up against is the amount of additional weight you bring - i.e., is your gear, combined, going to be 30 pounds, etc. So add your weight and the gear estimated weight and you'll have a good idea of how much you'll be adding to the kayak. This might be of some help to you: http://www.yakangler.com/blogs/on-the-line/item/3067-weight-capacity-explained And here's another to consider. The writer lists several kayaks with high weight capacity. Used would be your best bet for these: http://the-crafty-designer.com/how-to-buy-a-kayak-for-a-fat-person/

Length is really up to you, 10', 12', 14' or more. My first yak was a 10' Pelican model for about $299 or so at a warehouse club. It is still in use by my sons for fishing and is a durable, lightweight yak, easy to car top. It came with a paddle (heavy, bought new one once I could afford it), and everything I needed to car top it. When I had enough to buy a better yak, I went with a hybrid in the Native Ultimate 12. Still using it today. Also light when empty. In your price range, Craigslist would be a great start, but if you have a Sam's Club, Costco, or BJ's nearby, check them for deals. And when buying used, look for cracks around scupper holes, and on the bottom back where it would have been dragged. Scratches are normal, as are some gouges, but too deep and you could be looking at a future problem. And do not skimp on a PFD. Get one that fits and plan on wearing it 100% of the time. I see too many people on the water not wearing one - while it is legal, you only have to have one on the boat with you - it will only work if you have it on .

We (family) did it at a lake from a dock. As long as you can cast out to a good spot, it'll work from shore. The scent may help a little more.

There may be a little bit of action with the subtle currents in most bodies of water. Though I've not tried these yet, so I don't know of their bouyancy or heaviness. In years past we've fished wacky rigs under a float and had lots of success. So I think it'd be worth a try, for sure.

I almost did...great technique for bass.