DFWO

My two teenage boys and I started fishing this summer, using some tackle borrowed from a friend. Older baitcasting and spinning gear. It seems like something that we're going to stick with, so I'd like to surprise them with our own stuff. We don't have a boat, so we're fishing ponds and rivers from the bank. We started with live worms and bobbers, and caught sunfish, bluegill, some channel cat, and a couple of bass. I've since started using a slip bobber and punch bait for catfish, and occasionally a small hook and bobber for panfish. I know the boys want to mostly fish for bass. I've tried to do my homework, and I've read through a bunch of similar threads here. It seems they usually recommend two things; 1. 2500 size spinning reel, something like a Shimano Sedona or Daiwa Fuego, and a 7' M/F rod. Budget about $250 for both. 2. Shimano or Daiwa baitcast reel, and a 7' MH/F rod. Budget about $300-350 for both. Would those two cover most of the fishing I described? And I realize I don't have a lot of details about the type of bait we'll be using, I just don't know. I've stopped at BPS a couple of times for tackle, and asked the same questions. The sales guy wanted to know if I'm fishing drop tubes or frogheads, Texas Neds or weightless wiggle worms. I must have looked like he just asked a caveman how much RAM he needed on his new laptop. I thought I'd get two rods each that we can use for eating size catfish, start fishing for bass, and still catch panfish. I don't think we want to carry more than a couple of rods each. So, three identical pairs of combos.