I really like my ragwool/alpaca gloves I wear steelheading. Even if they get wet I'm still toasty warm. Ordered a set of those Kast gloves last week, hopefully I get them in the mail sometime soon.
Nice fish man! I missed a biggun when vertical jigging for bass out there about a month or so ago. Saw the hook come off bottom, one big thump, peeled line like crazy then gone.
I doubt you'll be able to return it to any shop because you don't like it anyhow, lol. These reels aren't overly complicated, have you ever fished one before?