Actually just the opposite, One Ought (not). HT's caught more fish in the SR in a year than you'll catch in a lifetime of expensive trips. Those reels are for Tarpon. Way overkill for fish under 40 pounds that don't exceed 30 mph.
A few may go fancy, the majority of us don't and do just fine. Spend all you want, respect is earned not bought. If you haven't noticed, mud shark fishing isn't taken all that seriously. It's fun, but not that difficult to snag fish running up river in packs. Lots of guys with white poles from Wal-Mart will be fishing those same flies and hooks as you do on 15 dollar white poles. Since most of us try to make it a little sporting, you don't fit in here.You might notice most of us actually fish together at one point or another. Think you'll get an invite? You might find people to mingle with on Yankee Sport's Shop Facebook Page. I think you and Dawn would get on very well. Buy the shirt, so you can say you were there. Have a great fall.