gulfcaptain

That's what I do....but agree, not trying to start the which line is better. A longer rod might help as will move more line quicker.

But that is a nice swimbait set up.

Bass are bass. They need cover and food. So look for areas that have ample cover with some structure and has some forage. You say you came from a panfishing family, find the bluegills, you will likely find the bass just outside of them.

Maybe pick up a spinning set up to fish lighter baits.

Hold the reel between my pinky and ring finger. A-Jay, spinning rod, not swimbait stick.

Just remember, this rig does work great when the conditions are right for it. Right now you have the rght conditions but from my experiences summer it tends to slow and not be nearly as productive. Fall it will pick back up when the shad school and the bass go on their feed. Enjoy it while it lasts. Congrats on the PB as well.

Fish their Bio Tubes, Kriet Tail Worm, use their 3" shad bodies for my Umbrella Rigs, and caught fish on all of them.

Coontail, or hornwart does form dense growth, but under that top layer that blocks the light the bottom areas thin out and become hollow...you just have to find them. And this stuff doesn't produce dense roots, it kinda just grabs the bottom but can also be free floating so if there are mixed aquatic plants, the edges are great places to look......I new working in the aquarium field and cleaning fishtanks that useless useful information I learned would come into play sometime. If bait can get into it the bass will too. Some of the places I fish have this stuff and it's full of grass shrimp, smaller baitfish, the bluegills make their beds in it and the bass hide in it as well. It will grow up and float creating holes and channels below that those fish will use.

My opinion, I'd go with the Lowrider 20 series myself in the MH Mod Fast or the M Mod action although both are 7ft rods and not 6'8". But then like I said, that would be my opinion.

20lb for baits under 8" and then 25lb if I'm throwing anything 8" or better.

I prefer tungsten, but if you can't afford it or can't see spending the money on them, lead is fine. Looking to jika rig fish this year and that will probably be lead.

Go ahead and drop it thru.....Agree if they can hide in it they will. Go in and get them.

Make sure you don't loose any of the pieces.

Thanks. Tried to give general guidelines. Abu Garcia's are fine just look into the details and the IPT on the reels and pick Rod brand you're opening up to all kinds of opinions. Bottom line is YOU are the one that is going to be fishing it and not knowing your price range then it's hard to give you any suggestions.

Here is a quick guideline. Don't fish any Abu products so I can't advise anything except basics to look for. Reels: Jig/worm reel look for a reel that picks up somewhere between 26-30" IPT. Don't get hung up on gear ratio's look into the details. Cranking reel look for something in the range of 21-24" IPT. If you're not going to do any deep cranking and mainly fishing squarebill style baits, then 24-26" IPT will suffice nicely and not wear you out. Rods: Jig/Worm, I'd say something in the range of 7'-7'3" in a MH say in the range around 1/4oz to 3/4oz or 3/8 to 1oz range will cover most of your needs. I'd go with a fast action(my preference). Cranking look for something in the 7'-7'4" in a moderate action. Depending on the baits you're going to use will dictate what rating. 1/4oz 5/8oz I'd say a Med, if you're gonna be fishing bigger baits say 1/2oz to1oz I would opt for a MH. Action of the rod states where the rod will bend and shut off. XF normally about 12-18" from the tip. Usually have a softer tip. Fast normally about a third of the way down the rod before it shuts off. Then you have Moderate which basically means it's quite parabolic and will bend about two thirds down the blank which is great for cranking and helps absorb the impact and help keep from pulling hooks.

Comparing your fishing equipment to her shoes didn't work very well did it? IT NEVER WILL. Only thing that will get you is a night on the couch. I suggested you go buy her shoes(with your money). That way she feels like you're spending some money on her too, not just your fishing equipment.

easy......ask her this "would you rather have me spending it every night in the bar or out fishing?" There are much worse ways to spend your money then on fishing gear. And if that fails, take her shopping and buy her some shoes.

I still use a dropper loop when I fish a floating worm on a small hook with I dropshot as I feel it gives it more action. Was using a dropper loop to with a Porko longer then 15yrs ago to catch calico's and sandbass off of S.Cal.

Wow, can't believe someone actually produced those for sale.....but that is funny.

Sounds like you're fine to give it a go.

To each their own. If you can afford it buy it. I have upgraded a lot of my gear in the last year from what I had reel wise with quite a few rods thrown in. I can say having improved my gear has made fishing more enjoyable which lends to catching more fish since it's more comfortable to fish over longer periods of time. If it makes you happy with what you have aquired then don't let others judge what you fish with. Enjoy what you worked hard to aquire and let the haters hate. Just smile and walk away.

If it is an SCI instead of SC1 then it is possibly an S-glass rod. Look at your guides, are they stainless looking? As long as they aren't plastic you should be fine. Odds are you will be fishing lighter braid in the 10-15lb size with light topshots of FC in 6-8lb which you aren't going to have a lot of drag on your guides. Just make sure they aren't plastic. Other then that I'd say you're probably safe to use braid.

X2

Sounds like your right on the money with a realistic guess. Once again nice fish. Congrats.

Yep it is expensive. But now they offer scholarships for fishing teams at certain schools. You fish for your school as a team, do the right things to get some local businesses to help with expenses by sponoring and donating to the team then makes it a bit more manageable. Sorry correction, freshwater biology. But say if you wanted to work for any of the state fisheries that have saltwater fishing as well then it wouldn't hurt to have some marine biology background as well. Gotta think back up plan incase the Pro Angler pipe dream didn't pan out.