I am a try new things fisherman. Yo-yo'ing Traps with 50# braid in thick grass with a heavy frog rod, for example. Beads on a Tokyo rig for extra sound in grass. Contrasting colors on trailers when i throw skirted lures(chatruese trailer on a green pumpkin or black and blue...works). I'm a firm believer in Yo-Zuri Hybrid line, despite all the hate! I'll buy 3 spools for the price of Sunline Shooter and be just as effective. Speaking of line, Bass Pro Shops fluorocarbon is extremely underrated! I've heard rumors that Seagar makes it and puts BPS logos on it. You'll save in the end. I like to gear down 8 speed reels, because I like the handle length...it's a superstition of mine. Junk fishing is my favorite way to fish. I'll bring 6-7 rods to a pond and get to try everything. Get dialed in and have a fairly effective day. I think traveling light limits you. I'm a weekend angler and set aside a Saturday or Sunday to 5-6 hours of intense fishing. My goal is to catch 3 or 4. When I'm out there I'm learning. I don't have forward facing sonor or technology, so I feel the water for cover and make mental notes. I don't think there is anything wrong with technology, but the game is called fishing, not catching, I digress. I will buy original chatterbait baits and will take off the line tie and put on snaps to replicate the Jackhammer. The snaps make the lure run more true and you can feel it thump. To me the vibration is the deal and if your chatterbait isn't thumping you might as be fishing a swim jig. I like 12# monofilament on my spooks and topwater, I like the stretch. I do believe in buying higher end lures, when warranted. You can't beat Megabass, the S Crank is the best squarebill made and it's not even close. I will buy quality sunglasses with glass lenses! I'm guilty of liking Googan Soft Plastics. They just work. The Dean Rojas Fighting frog is the most versatile creature bait ever! Firm believer in it! I'm glad that Big Bite Baits is making a huge splash in the soft plastic market, I have used them because of the price, but the public is picking up on it and it's just a matter of time, before my budget friendly go to is priced like Zoom or Yamamoto. Academy hooks are awesome! I will put them against any Owner, Japanese hook, VMC, etc. I wish they carried weedless style #2 Finesse hooks. Those hooks are the deal for wacky rigs. Speaking of stick baits, Yum Dingers and Strike King Ochos are just as good as the Original Senko. In fact, the Ocho skips better than the Senko. Tubes work in Southeast Texas. The stupid tube hooks are so good and should be a staple in tackle boxes everywhere. If you take some scissors and cut an inch of the base, you can use a 3/0 EWG hook and go weightless. EWG hooks are the deal with tubes. Yo-Zuri jerkbaits are underrated. That's about the extent of my fishing experience