I just started bass fishing about a year ago. I bank fish both in the pond at my apartment complex and in New Orleans City Park's ponds/lagoon system. Both are very shallow. I'm usually fishing in 1' to 3' of water, and they're  6' to 7' at their deepest with a lot of grass pretty much everywhere. Right now I'm basically throwing strictly soft plastics and I'm looking to venture out into some new techniques, but I need some advice on new rods and reels. Currently using a Team Daiwa S Spinning Rod - 7'2" - MH - EF paired with a Daiwa Exceler 2000SH spinning reel with 8# P-Line Flourocarbon. That has been my only rig for bass fishing. All of my others are set up for speckled trout fishing in the South Louisiana Marsh. I'm a big Daiwa guy and I've been using their stuff for the past 2 or 3 years so I'll probably stick with them, but I'm not exactly sure what I should get. I've tried some spinnerbaits and crankbaits and I've caught a few fish on them, but I seem to be missing a lot of bites. I'd like to get 2 new rod and reel setups. One for spinners and cranks, and the other one is still undecided. I bank fish for bass, so 3 poles in my limit. I also strictly use spinning setups. At some point maybe I will pick up a baitcaster again, but for now I like my spinning gear. So what kind of setup should I look for in a spinnerbait/crankbait pole, and what are some ideas for a third rig? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I am a big Daiwa reel guy too, I think you would have to go far to beat their quality for the money IMO. I also like me some Carrot Stix, it's hard to beat the Carrot Stix Daiwa combo, I have three combos of those brands, and they match up really nice.

 

1st set-up I would go for would be a Daiwa Fuego (I love the 8.1:1)  on a 7' Medium Carrot Stix.  This would be a good "All Around" combo.  It could handle a pretty wide array of lures topwater, moving baits, jigs, ect. 

 

 

2nd combo would be the Daiwa Lexa 6.3:1 gear ratio on a 7' 6" Heavy rod.  Since you're in New Orleans, you should really look into a frog/swimbait rod.  You are probably in an area with bigger fish and excess vegetation.  So, I would suggest something you can throw frogs on, and medium swimbaits on (Hudd 68's/S-wavers).

Thanks Big C. Already looking at a 7'6" Heavy for frogs. I was thinking I could use that setup for dropping a big jig down through the grass as well. But I'm wondering if I should do the 7' Medium or the 6'6". And I'm also unsure about the action. That would probably be my spinnerbait/crankbait rig. Should that be Moderate, Fast, or ExtraFast? And would that style rig be good for a swim bait like a Fluke? I feel like my current setup doesn't do well with a swim bait.

Are you missing them or pulling the bait away from them?  Look into the a crankbait rod.  I know they have Tatula XT line and a M or MH in a 7' lenght would work for both.  If you're missing them from pulling the bait or pulling hooks the crankbait rod will help with the softer action.

You will open up your options a lot more if you include baitcasting gear.  Most bass spinning rods are geared more toward finesse techniques.

3 rods for your situation i would say

1. 7' MH/ F - 7.1 gear ratio probably your most versatile set up... Jigs, soft plastics, buzz frogs, but can basically throw anything you want

2. 7' MH / F - 6.3 ratio another very versital combo... Spinner baits, chatter baits, cranks

3. 6'6" to 6'8" medium - moderate to moderate fast- 6.3 ratio here's a good shallow crank bait rod but you can throw weightless flukes, small spinnerbaits or what ever you want

7'6" rods are a great tool to have but can see where that may be a hassle when your bank fishing...

Btw I live in Baton Rouge but my best friend lives in New Orleans so I'm there once a month or so.. Been wanting to try to fish where your fishing

@gulfcaptain. I'll look into a crankbait rod. I'll get them at around 1' to 2' and when they come up to the top I'll pull the hook as soon as I see them. From the research I've done on the net I think it's because of the MH setup I'm using. I think a medium setup will help me with that (or at least I think lol)