I have fished a 7wt around galveston bay area for 28 yrs for reds & trout never felt outgunned unless really big reds or sharks showed up. If that happened I pulled out the 10wt. The last 12 yrs I have been on NTX lakes & river fishing with no problems and you are correct big enough for lake bass and can get to pan fish, definitely over kill but I would always smile catching whiting on a surf rod too. Casting to wind is more technique than strength, a weighted streamer will cut wind better than a hair bug or something that resembles 1/2 a chicken. Refine your casting and approach to desired results. Your mileage may vary.

Here is Cabela's take on rod selection

Suggested rod weights for popular species

Species Rod Weight
Panfish 0-4
Average-size trout 4-6
Smaller trout in small creeks 0-4
Smallmouth Bass 5-8
Largemouth Bass 5-9
Carp 6-10
Steelhead 7-9
Salmon 8-10
Northern Pike and Muskie 8-12
Grayling 3-5
Bonefish, redfish 7-9
Striped bass, false albacore 8-12
Peacock bass, golden dorado 8-12
Tarpon, roosters, giant trevally 10-12
Mahi-mahi 10-14
Bluefin 12-14
Sailfish and marlin 14

I have a 4wt for the panfish. Even smaller ones are pretty fun on it.

I was able to make it over to Living Waters in Round Rock today.

After talking with one of their guides, I walked out the door with a TFO BVK 9' 4wt. I am confident this will help me get some longer casts for the smaller fish in the city ponds around where I live, rivers with smaller bass, and when targeting sunfish on lakes.

I am probably going to get a 6wt or 7wt later on for the surf and places where bigger bass roam. If I do a short rod, I'll probably just get a St. Croix Mojo Bass Fly Rod and go with a 9wt.

I'm going to see what I can do with the BVK first though.

I don't think you can have too many rods, at least within reason. YOLO.

I agree!

What I like about fly fishing is I may only need 2 rods when I go fishing depending upon what I am doing. When I go bass fishing with my conventional gear, I have at least 5 rods lol.