Not knowing what you are fishing for I would suggest a 5wt rod. Light enough for panfish and medium size to larger trout. With it you can throw small nymphs to medium streamers

Turning the reel around is only half of the procedure. At this point the drag will not function properly. You will need to unscrew the knob holding the spool to the reel body . On the inside face of the spool you will need to remove the cam in the center , flip it over and reinsert it. Replace the spool into the reel body. If the reel was loaded with line, you will need to strip off the line and rewind it onto the spool for left hand retrieval. I know this because I have had to do this procedure twice in the last month on two of my reels.

No difference with fly fishing. For the most part fly reels are able to be set up for left handed use. You indicated that you are very dominant lefthanded. If you are casting and reeling with your left hand then you want the reel set up for a righty. Most reels come set for right handed people.

Friendly, would be two Leinenkugal Creamy Darks not Bud Lights (yuck).

Mine is a 10'6" 4wt from Cortland. I like it.

3x may be fine depending on the type of fly you are throwing. A size 8 or 10 streamer would do well on 3x. Larger nymphs also. If you want to go lighter on the tippet just tie on to the end of the 3x another 2or 3 feet of 5x or lighter and attach your fly.

For the dings and dents you may be able to fill them with Bondo. Call a body shop or the help line at Bondo and ask if Bondo will adhere well to aluminum and any special prep that is recommended.

I have recently learned a very quick and simple method to tie a clinch knot. Place hook on line. Hold tag end in dominant hand and other section in other hand with hook in between. Roll the line between the fingers. The line will quickly twist on itself. Run tag end through the loop created . Hold tag end against hook , lubricant and pull line taught. Takes seconds to tie . Done correctly you have minimal tag end to clip.

If you're catching trout with the intent of releasing them you MUST have a net. Handle the fish with wet hands and return the fish carefully to the water. There are you tube videos on proper handling of trout. They are very fragile fish.
Another thought, if you are going to grab any fish connected to your hook or lure , you better have a well stocked first aid kit handy. You will eventually end up with that hook or lure buried in some part of your anatomy.

Can use leadhead jigs with plastic baits or a minnow for walleye. When you feel the take wait a couple of seconds before setting the hook. You can also use live leeches in place if worms and minnows.

For clean crisp edges on the stripe use the green painters tape not the blue. The green has a bit of stretch. Once the tape is applied run something smooth (screwdriver handle, small piece of wood) over the tape to solidly secure the tape edge to the boat This will create a tight seal along the edge . When you are ready to remove the tape run a fresh blade utility knife along the edge of the tape to separate the paint from the tape before removal. Slowly pull tape parallel to the surface not perpendicular.

You don't need to sand much beyond 150 grit. Using finer grits may not provide enough tooth to allow the new finish a strong adhesion to the base. Check with the manufacturer of the product for their recommendations.

I think it is wrong to place the blame solely on" wealthy" non resident hunters . The bad players are not all from out of state with money to burn. Next time check licence plates and I think you will find most of the culprits are locals and the vehicle's may not be expensive vehicles. These last couple of years has seen an increase in public land usage by city dwellers with an entitlement mentality who were not raised to have respect for others and their property including public property. It's the "all about me" mentality and that is not limited only to "out of staters".

Same here in Ennis Montana!

Contact Trout's fly shop in Frisco CO .