I'm in Fl. I just wear $20 water shoes with a hard sole. If your going to beach your yak and walk, then just bring a pair of tennis shoes with you, and swap back when you get back in your boat.

There is no way that I would attempt to try and fish 8 poles at one time, lol. Of course I fish out of a kayak, so 3 is more than enough for me. Good job tho. Looks line it should work well after your mods have been applied.

Every chance I get. Fishing is my passion.

Every chance I get. When the wife wants to go I have to change it over to live bait, lol

Well here in Fl on the saltwater side of things, color really doesn't matter, but yet sometimes it does. Basically what we do here in Fl is what we call "match the hatch" which means try to match as close as you can to the bait fish in the area. In clear water, the lighter the color the better. In dirty or murky water you want to use a darker color. Especially in darker water because the fish can't see per say, but they can decipher the darker shadows and the vibrations. While matching the hatch, you try and get as close to color as you can, yet you want your bait to stand out from the bait fish. Something with a gold or silver flake added. The fish wont hit the lure if it looks identical to everything else they are feeding on. But, as stated in previous comments, white body with a red jig head works very well here as well. Top waters are the same. Once you have mastered Walking The Dog, 99% of the time it's on. Nothing better than watching a big ole stud red or snook busting the water to hit your bait. As well, alot of it is you will just have to keep switching baits to see what there interest is at the moment. Nothing could be hitting on a paddle tail, but they are tearing the hell out of a jerk bait. For the most part, once you figure out how to master each type of bait you are using, the rest is second nature. And once you also learn how to read the water, success will follow.

I live in Fl and fish Saltwater. I only really use Power Pro down here. Yet, I know alot of bass fisherman who use Power Pro with their set-ups. Hope this helps

I am from White Bear Lake, but have been in Fl for 50 years, so I can't offer any advice. But I would think most any lake up there would be great.

I don't generally tie braid to the hook. I always use a double uni from my braid to fluro if I'm using artificials. If using live bait same double uni but to mono. If I'm trying to play with the big boys, I have a couple of reels spooled with mono, but I use a barrel swivel with an improved clench knot, and use a heavier leader using same knot. I live in Fl where 99 % of my fishing is saltwater. Fishing for snook they will tear up a leader by themselves. If fishing on or near oyster beds or structure for reds or snook, here in Fl you always want to have a leader instead of going with straight braid. Same goes for Spanish Mackeral and sometimes even speckled trout. By all means fish whatever makes you comfortable in your area and for what type of fish you are in search of. You will just have to figure out what works best for you.

I caught a couple last week. Focus on the drop offs, structure, and over oyster beds. The bigger bull reds are near the bridges and channels. Good luck

Most of my rods are Hurricanes, Calico Jack Series. Excellent rods, varied actions, from 7 ft to 7ft6in in length. Rods are extremely durable and I have never had any issues. Plus most of the Calico Jack line runs anywhere from $70 to $100

Hey Ron, I am game. I am an inshore fisherman, I just don't have a watercraft, so I'm stuck with wade fishing. Feel free to reach out. I live in Lithia, just east of Riverview

If I'm going to use 40 lb leader or heavier I'm using a swivel. I have brought in plenty of big fish wade fishing with 15 lb Sussex or Power Pro braid, and generally 20 - 25 lb test leader. 99% of the time I use 20 lb Yozuri flute for a leader. But as I said most of my fishing is done inshore. Alot of it depends on the type of reel you are using. If your reels have a good drag system you shouldn't have to go that heavy.

You actually have a ton of options. I live in Lithia, just east of Riverview and as well do not have a boat or Kyak ( still have teenagers at home, ) lol. Yet that doesn't deter me. I am not a fly fisherman nor have any knowledge of it but I've always wanted to learn. I mainly fish inshore with artificials, and occasionally live bait, and to make up for not having a water vessel, I do a ton of wade fishing. I can get into areas that some boats or the occasional kayak can't get to, and be very stealthy in the water while doing so. A couple of areas that I fish consistently is Emerson Point Preserve UK n Palmetto, E.G Simmons Park, the Southern end of Picnic Island, along the Gandy on the Pinellas side, Weedon Island, Apollo Bch Preserve, Piney Point, Cypress Point Park just to name a few. If fishing Emerson Point you have two options. If you fish on the north side you are fishing Terra Ceia Bay. If your fishing the south side your fishing the Manatee River. All of these places I have suggested to you are large open areas that give you plenty of room to practice your casting etc, as well as possibly catching alot of fish. And BTW, Emerson Point Preserve has some huge snook and reddish. Hope this helps

I wish I had a response to your post but I moved from Minnesotta to Fl when I was 3, and that was about 50 years ago, lol. Although I did finally go back to White Bear for a week in 2017, lol.

The only time I use a barrel swivel is when I'm using my heavy rods while attempting to play with the big boys that live quite deep. Other than that I always use a double uni or an FG knot to tie my leaders to the braid. As well as I always use a loop knot to tie my artificials as well as live bait. But that's just me, lol