Shortman,Welcome and where are you Freshwater Fishing ? Out here in the Ozarks,USA, you can use 4-6 lb line with light,ultra, or Med light rods,( in summer the trout hit the 4 lb line easier, this was on the bank, if you are on a river boat ,then you need heavier lines, with like reels.
I helped a Friend , on leave from the Air Force, buy a nice Spinning Shakespeare ,Dimension with 10 bearings, for 39 USD, what a nice smooth reel for the money it is a dandy.
If you can afford the Okuma reels, some are reasonable costs( we are on a budget so we are careful) they have good reviews , i want to try one next. Choose a good rod if you can afford it , i have a Graphite from when they started making them by Lamiglass-Graphiteer,(way over twenty years) and yah know i broke the tip once, it got forced in the back of my Truck, fixed it with a kit, and it is as good as new, this Rod is a great investment, so pick out one you like and has good rep. There are less expensive rods that are fine, i would try the Shakespeare line as well as Ugly sticks for Bass,Comfort is important consideration.
On the lakes for Bass, we are using 10-20 lb line, with med duty Rods and reels for trolling, if you are on the bank you can try lighter lines like 6-8 but if you hit a large one, you know you will have to work that Fish carefully to bring him in. Don't forget to ask your local Bait shop that you trust, and be sure to speak to fishing guides and local papers,Visit the local Fishing resorts and ask around.Look for good clean water to fish.... We also have a State site,( here in Arkansas,USA), that even emails out weekly report. The more info you have , the better chances are you will start to improve you catches. This was my 2 cents worth, use it as you may and Keep on gaining experience and your skills will shine!
Best Wishes, AJ
If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles.