Fishing at Rolly Blunks one spring for white bass, when I was a kid, my Dad told the Agent "If you want to see my license, wade on out here to where I'm fishing."
Was getting dog food from there but found the local farm store Race Brothers is cheaper. Did get a good price on a gun safe from them couple of years ago.
I'd try one medium, with 8 and the other with 10. Like has been said I've caught 20+ pound drum on my medium crankbait rod with 8, 15 pound flathead catfish out of a tree on dropshot rod with 8 also. If you don't trust your drag learn to back reel. Good line is hard to break unless nicked, stretched or has a bad knot ( I use a Uni for almost everything).
Let me be the first to throw my name in if anyone needs a partner. Haven't been able to fish this event for a couple of years, don't know if I'll ever get my boat back in the water.
Sad to hear, Jim was my first draw in the old CPAA, had the pleasure of fishing with him a couple of times. Got a lesson in early winter fishing docks.
When I was young and fished in the cold I layered under my 100 MPH if it was gonna be moist, and had a cheap snowmobile suit if it was dry. You can't beat a snowmobile suit, it's not bulky, since it needs no layering and has a nice seal against the wind.