You could also look into the Pflueger push button reel/rod combos. Very good quality. Smooth as silk and durable. Bought one for my wife and was amazed at the performance.
I use soft swimbaits all season. Very versatile. Rig weedless, weightless, on a jig head. Presentations are limitless. Oh yeah, they catch fish too.
Pick one of those lakes and go fish it late afternoon through evening. Throw wacky rigged senkos around docks. This should get you started with some action. Then you will really be hooked.
Night fishing for bass is a blast. I will pick a clear water lake that maybe has some heavy recreational traffic during the day. Once it is dark or near dark I will fish flat areas in from good drops that have nice deep weedlines. The only bait I throw is a chatterbait with a craw trailer. Slow and steady retrieve. They will rip the rod out of your hand so be ready. Good luck!
Used to always answer a tube to that question. Recently I have become partial to a soft swimbait.