>>775936Lurk the fishing threads
>>775237Ask questions, research online, ask around at your local lakes and bait shops, and get out there as much as you can so you can find the good spots and learn what works.
There's too much to post here. It all depends on where you are fishing and the weather and season and all that stuff. Main thing I would say for bass is dawn and dusk are usually the best time.
And do a little research on the rods or ask somebody you know what they think. Depending on the weights and action of the rods, the 8' could possibly be a better match for bass than the 7' if the 7' is really heavy or something. Depends on the reel too.
For bass fishing and general lake fishing, I prefer a medium weight, medium-fast action 6'6" rod and a 2500-3000 size reel with 6lb-8lb mono or 10lb-20lb braid. There are tons of good rods for $40-$60, and rod and reel combos for $50-$100.
