Darren.

URL is ****'d out, which means the link is either not allowed, or the words in the link match words not allowed. Why does the site or product name I posted show up as "another site" or as ***? First it has nothing to do with competition. In most cases, it has something to do with the points above - site owners not abiding by the rules of the forum, or over-zealous pro-staffers spamming the forums. In some cases, however, the site owner specifically requested that we do not link to their site. If your post contains ***, then that means you may not discuss that brand here. Your post will likely be deleted, and you may get banned (see the next paragraph below).

My condolences, sympathies, empathies.... Been there, done that. Have had too many giants taildance within reach of my net, or mere feet of my kayak only to spit the hook and laugh all the way back to the depths. And like @A-Jay said, at least you had a witness! Only twice have I had witnesses. The biggest that was almost in the net my youngest was holding out was easily over 8 pounds, possible much over, and not only did he witness it, but a fishing buddy did, too. So yeah. Painful, but there's always next time!

I've got a Legend Tournament Walley 6'3" MLXF that, when it was actually 6'3" fished extremely well for my techniques - wacky and drop mostly. Now it's lost about 5", it fishes more like a MXF, which is a tad stiff for what I like -- with St. Croix. I also have a 6' MLF Premiere that is much more forgiving in the tip. I've actually had to adjust my style just a tad for the F tip, but I'm liking it just fine for Ned rigging.

Welcome aboard, Ric!

Go for it! Can't hurt to try it out. I was all spinning all the time, but after coming on this site back in 09, I got the itch to try baitcasting (BC). The itch got to the point I wanted to use it for everything I used spinning for, so I went that route. Bought two Chronarch 50e models, upgraded them, and got quite proficient at everything I wanted to throw. Problem was, spinning was just better at some of the techniques for me. Accuracy? Great on both platforms. Wind? Could do it with a BC, just better with spinning. So over the last year or so I have been going back to spinning for most all of my bass fishing. Sold one 50e, kept the other along with 2 rods, a ML and MH to swap for different techniques. Point of my story is to address your statement that you don't really "NEED" to go this route. I didn't either, but neither do I regret learning it. I kept one setup and use it still.

Welcome aboard! And a happy Senko de Mayo to you, too!

Welcome aboard! I won't give specifics, but I'd have 4" Senkos or Stik-Os some Shad Shape Worms (Yamamoto), various hooks wacky, TX, Ned jigs, TRDs. All soft plastics. Oh and some drop shot weights.

I normally will use a weighted wacky jig, but I have used a bullet, a split shot and other stuff when I didn't have any on hand. Much prefer the jig. Just feel it performs better, guess you could say I'm more confident in it.

I, too, prefer 7.1:1 ratio for baitcasting, good all-around gear ratio (IMHO). Your setup thoughts look good otherwise, though I have no experience with Dobyns. I can recommend Bass Pro Carbonlites, St. Croix Premiere, among brands I use....

Welcome aboard, Greg!

Welcome aboard!

And welcome to the forums!

Banjo minnow among many other purchases before I "figured out" the baitmonkey thing...

Welcome aboard! Do you mean a "no boater club"? I'm sure Oklahoma folks will chime in soon.

My 2nd oldest boy caught a gorgeous 4 pounder from shore when I was teaching him to drop shot. Can't quite remember how young he was, but he was in elementary school (high school junior now). His very first cast with a drop was that 4# bass. Awesome.

No experience in the area, but welcome aboard!

Well, to wet or not to wet... @Team9nine mentioned proper tying and slow cinching. The slow means less heat generated by friction of the line tightening against itself. So yes, done that way, you can skip the wet. I've done it, too. Just that for me, wetting the knot is habit, and I still go fairly slow when cinching down, but not as slow as when I don't use saliva. So @RoLo, the credit goes to the one tying the knot, wet or dry!

So many good rods in the $100 range. In addition to those mentioned above: St. Croix Premiere Bass Pro Carbonlite I own both and really like both in the ~$100 space. I prefer shorter rods, so 6'6" is the max I use. My Premiere is 6' MLF, Carbonlites are 6'6" MF. Carbonlites are lighter than the Croix, but both are very sensitive.

Senko BPS Stik-O Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm Zoom Finesse Worm Zoom Trick Worm others... Quite the versatile technique.

Not me, but to me it would be the same as saliva, i.e., it'd work fine.

Some really nice bass, Kevin. Nicely done!

Welcome aboard, Ernest! I had trouble with several packs of Daiichi hooks having a not-fully-closed-but-closed eye, and did suffer several breaks using a snell knot. I ended up going back to my trusted Gamakatsu brand and haven't had issues. Tying a palomar, or uni knot on the Daiichi was a cheaper solution, but at the time I was snelling everything, LOL. Snelling Gamakatsus was not a problem as the eye is properly closed with no sharp edges.

I suggest a fishing vest with pockets. I'm using the Bass Pro Ascend model, but it is $99. Goes on sale often. But my first vest, and one that will be just fine to get you started is a Field & Stream model pictured below at $59.

Welcome aboard, Gage! I'll be fishing wacky, drop shot, and now, a lot of Ned rigs! All year, baby!

It's that time! Find your happy place, find your happy place!