Best thing a newbie fly fisherman can do is hire a guide.. He'll teach you how to rig, what to fish, how to fish, and give you a little insight into the local trout population.
Money well spent.
Kemper, are you straightening hooks or just popping them? My hookup/landing ratio is pretty good.. If I get hooks into them, they rarely if ever come off.
Although my Loomis IMX and IM6 is nothing like that XST, lol!
My fav thing to toss in Florida is a Doc's Goofy jig and half a shrimp. Have caught pretty much everything on that.. Pomps, whitings, ladyfish, sheepheads, bonnet head sharks!
Geez dude, 35.5in? That thing is a monster!
As far as thick wire hooks, Diiachi X510 in 10's, 8's and 6's.. You'll never bend them regardless of tippet.
Peter, give some sucker minnows a try. Fish are on the feed, a big snack is exactly what they are looking for. I've caught 12in walleyes on 4-5in sucker minnows, not to mention some big snakes!