This is EXACTLY the kind of thing I'm most confused about - what bait to use. There are just so many to choose from I'm completely lost!Keeping tackle selection simple, here are my top picks:
Largemouth Bass:
*6" straight-tail worm, green pumpkin color.
*7" ribbontail worm, green pumpkin color.
*Swim jig, 1/4 oz., shad color.
*Spinnerbait, 1/4 oz., shad color.
*4" and 5" soft plastic jerkbait, shad/baitfish color.
*4" and 5" soft plastic swimbait, shad/baitfish color.
*Soft plastic crawfish, green pumpkin color.
*Floating, walking topwater hardbait, shad/baitfish color.
*Lipless crankbait, shad color.
There are MANY more tackle options but these will cover the bases and produce bites everywhere, reliably, all year.
The soft plastics are rigged weedless (Texas) either weighted or weightless. Worms rigged on some style of worm hook. Craws, jerkbaits and swimbaits are usually rigged on EWG (extra wide gap) worm hooks, sometimes weighted but often weightless.
man you know your reelsFor the reel I'll suggest the same reel I have on my 6' 6" XX NE, the Shimano 2021 Twin Power XD 4000.
It's the toughest reel in the Magnumlite series of reels. Magnumlite reels have very lightweight rotors so the rotors start rotating/spinning with very little effort which offers less fatigue, quick start-up (and stop) throughout working a bait and fighting fish.
These newest Twin Power XDs are smooth as silk, tough, and an absolute pleasure to fish.
I'm suggesting the 4000 over the 3000 because the 4000 has a bigger body which houses bigger gears than the 3000.
Noteworthy: the 4000 and 5000 sizes have the same size body, just the 4000 has a smaller rotor and spool than the 5000. You won't need the extra line capacity of the 5000.
https://www.tackledirect.com/shimano-tpxd4000xgfa-twin-power-xd-fa-spinning-reel.html
Options are so endless it'll make a man dizzy.man you know your reels
BUT the OP said "inland freshwater" so I'd say he should be fine with no bigger than a 3000 series Stradic and 6 to 6'6 medium fast rod from most any maker as long as it's more than $75. TFO Pro medium fast/medium light and a 2500 Shimano Stradic can take on small panfish up to 35+ inch snook