Welcome Big AL. Yes it is an addiction but of a good kind.Plenty of great guys here, so enjoy your stay. I'm no expert,just a fisherman like you,so here some stuff that works for me:
Fall Bass: Look for the birds and some useful lures are the Avas, Crippled Herrings,Hopkins and similar metals.2-5oz. are a start.
Plugs: pencil poppers,surface and divers,metal lips and such. Colors:Blue over white,black over white and school bus are a good start.
Boat and Bait: Bunker and Eels.Look for the lumps and bumps and schools of bait the bass will be around(blues too).
The guys on the site will jump in with their favorite stuff once they read your post.
Good luck,Catch em up, and Pass it along to others.AJ.