First off I generally fish from the bank and I'm only 5'7" (if any of that makes a difference). i've got a couple of neighborhood ponds with some 5-7# bass in them. I'm wanting to play around with an A-rig and some 6-7ish inch swimbaits this coming year. I'm looking for advice on a rod that can do both, somewhere in the 150 dollar range. With my height, I'm not sure I want a super long rod but you all know more about this than I do. Can you all please provide me some recommendations on what you have experience with that might work well for me?

In addition throw in some reel ideas (I'm a Shimano guy) and line ideas.

Thanks Folks

If it were me, I’d get a 7’3” - 7’6” heavy rod, like a Falcon Amistad or Dobyns Sierra.

You can’t beat a Curado reel. I’d use 20-25lb flouro.