[Tim1]

PMFJI chaps, this a thread which passed me by...

May I introduce myself? I've been lure fishing for saltwater fish in the UK for 30 odd years. For bass and shore pollack I normally used either an 11' or 9' fast taper 1-3 oz bass rod and abu 6500 / 5500 reel. 11lb sylcast line was great. It was a 'hard' mono and cheap too so it both resisted abraision and could be cut back / reversed / changed without significant cost. I caught lots of fish...

These days, carbon rods are the norm and their relative stiffness keeps better contact with the lure. Add braid and you are in virtual direct contact. Power Pro is good and is quite a stiff braid better suited for multipliers (IMO). Softer braids works better with fixed spool reels.

From the shore, I now tend to use Normark blanks of around 9' with an optimum casting weight of around 15 grams, teamed with a fixed spool and 30lb braid. 10-15 lb mono would be fine too. I have never found the need to use a 'rubbing trace' of hiegher strength / diameter but keep and eye on the condition of the last few yards of your line.

From the boat a similar weight, carbon rod (I like Dave Lumb's baitcasters) of about 7.5' with 5/6000 multiplier is perfect with 50lb braid and a short mono leader.

Use floating poppers / chuggers / walkers for calm conditions surface work, shallow and deep diving plugs (in silver, blue, red head, mackeral pattern work well), and for deeper work use leaded gills and shads (with additional lead).

Fly fishing is a whole new subject.

For bass about a 9 weight shooting head, fast sinking line is a good starting place. Its easy to cast a heavy, wet fly. Avoid baits which take up water as they are a pig to cast. Tie your flies with weed guards and keep knots smooth with an application of super glue to ward off weed. Smaller fish, ie. Mullet, will require lighter lines, perhaps a 5 weight forward taper. Use cheap lines in the salt.

You don't need deep water to fish bass. I have often stood out with my chest waders / dry / wet suit and cast into the shore!

I could go on and on... but I hope this helps.