Like the others, a 6'6" - 7' Medium Fast, or extra fast rod will work for what you are doing. For Perch, I've only used small minnows on a spreader set up, but a 2in. grub on a lighter jig head should work also. Colors for grubs that I like are pumpkin w/ chartreuse tail, smoke with black fleck, and fire tiger. For bass start with 2 Spinner baits. I like white with chartreuse, white with red, and any natural looking ones. Topwater lures are really fun to fish with, once you learn how to do it. For topwater, try a buzzbait, or something like a Rebel Popr. Buy some 1/4 oz. bullet weights. A pack of 2/0 or 3/0 offset hooks. And a package of green pumpkin, or watermelon/red Yamamoto Senkos in 4". The grubs on jig heads will catch bass too. One of largest I've caught was on a 1/8 oz. jig head, with a chartreuse 3" Zoom Fat Albert grub, that I was bouncing of the bottom around a pile branches submerged about 7 feet deep. As far as a reel, use what you are comfortable with, but you should try a spinning reel or a low profile baitcaster. As far as line. 8-10 lb. mono should be fine, unless you regularly catch 7lb. bass.
Brand and price are your preference. Everyone here will give their recommendations, and they will all be different. If you want a set up for around $100. try a Berkley lightning shock, a Shakespeare Ugly stik lite, St. Croix Triumph. Match with whatever type of reel to the type of rod you get. Spinning reels: Abu Garcia Cardinal. any spinning reel in a 2000-2500 size reel will be fine, plus they are lighter. Baitcast reels, what the others said. Like the others, read the articles provided here. They are very good and informative, and have helped me a lot over the years. Hope this helps.