I need help with rod/reel/line setups for a new guy

[coldfront]

Just don't make it so complicated that it isn't fun. Bass fishin' is supposed to be FUN.

Dale

was gonna chime in and add that never hurts to find a rod brand/type and stay with it ...

we do get caught up in 'how many rods'?  never can have too many rods...  mindsets.  but you ought to be able to do just about anything you WANT with the rods you have.

mono is a good/great line.  so too is flouro.  braid as well.  each just needs a different degree of care.

for instance:  check mono regularly for knicks/frays.  but even so, you can get in/out of some pretty gnarly cover ONCE with it.

braid is tough.  doesn't fray much or weaken too much.  but it also doesn't do well around rocks and shells.  I find flouro has better abrasian resistance in rocks/shellbeds...

play around.  have fun.  do stuff that 'everyone says you shouldn't'.  you might find out that it works great in spite of what I have to offer from the comfort of my keyboard.