Sorry I didn't read the whole thread, I couldn't wait to share my opinion
Disclaimer: this comes from a guy that owns 17 rod and reel combos and fishes every single weekend most times regardless of weather.
Fishing is about fun. If you buy braid and a heavy duty rod and keep horsing them in, what fun will that be? My fun comes from losing some, you get that much hungrier for more. With that said, I NEVER fish with anything more than 8 lb for bass, most times I use 6 lb. I am a fan of mono because of the stretch to it, in my opinion you only need fluorocarbon if you target picky fish because it's supposed to be most invisible in water, and bass will hit absolutely anything so don't worry. If you don't like the stretch and memory of mono try nanofil. Mono is cheap, strip the stretched line and get more, that just means you are fishing and catching fish. Hell I fish for salmon with 10 lb mono, pisses people off when it takes me 15 minutes to land a fish, but screw em I'm there for fun, and that's the fight. Just set your drag right and don't fight against em when they run, that's where you acquire proper fighting skill.
Reels do not very much matter. Go to Walmart and get a shimano Sierra or sienna or whatever the $25 one is. Most drags nowadays are good enough that the difference of losing fish is negligible if at all. My one $500 rod has a $20 used classifieds reel on it, an old Mitchell, I catch tons of trout on it. Spend the extra money on a nice rod or tackle.
Bass starter kit: couple jointed rapalas, vary the colour for dirty or clean water. #1-3 mepps or blue fox spinner (#1 black fury for low clear water and a #3 Vibrimax chartreuse for opposite), 1 spinner bait, 1 5 of diamond's spoon, split shots, egg or bell sinkers for a Carolina rig, and most importantly jig heads with twister tails. Then you can supplement with some senko worms, cray fish, and frog plastics. A couple Wooley buggers or egg sucking leech flies won't hurt for under your bobber, which should be a slip bobber for those down deep basstards (see what I did there?)
And now on to my favourite part, the rod. Back to my fishing is all about fun comment: buy an ultra light rod. I will tell you there is nothing like pulling out fish on an ultra light with 6 lb test line. A 2 lb bass feels like a 5 lber, and a 5 lber will give you the fight of your life. Make sure your drag is loose and get ready for a 10 minute fight on the big ones, and let them run as long as they want like a trout. Most ultra light are medium action, which means your rod will bend like a U which is not only cool but absorbs a good amount of head shakes and get's you added sensitivity, plus protect's your line for those panicked crazy hook sets. Sure you can buy a 7 - 9 foot salmon rod with a bait caster full of braid and bring in everyone, but I find you will learn less this way. I have never in my life owned a bait caster, spinning is way way more versatile, I have no problem throwing things accurately with a spinning reel. Bonus, ultra light rods are cheap. I caught 10+ lb catfish on an ultra light from my canoe, best fights of my life, then I flipped the canoe in the river and lost the rod. It was an old Abu Garcia, next day I went and bought a st Croix 7 foot 1 piece ultra light, $150 and 5 year warranty, I choose that rod first anytime I don't need a rod that's 10' plus.
If you don't want an ultra light, and I understand, go with a shimano if you want, or spend the extra money and go with a st. Croix, best medium priced rod mainly due to the warranty, break it in anyway and they will replace it. Can't tell you how many times I've had a rod replaced under warranty.
Jeeze I can go all night, I am going to stop here. Chances are some of this was covered already but whatever, I just like to talk fishing.
