Congrats, welcome to the dark side..
put a lanyard on all your gear, rods and esp paddle!
go out on a back pond or very calm shallow waters and flip it, and re-enter. Also, wear your vest and test it out, it should hold your haed above water!
Lots of different ways to rig them...here's mine...
http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...ad.php?t=35056