I’m a bank angler that’s fishes my neighborhood ponds. I’ve been having a lot of success recently throwing soft plastic paddle tails parallel to the shoreline. I’ve been rigging it very simply - a 1/8 oz keel weighted 3/0 hook and a ~4 inch keitech/rage tail/etc. I’m wanting to get a rod/reel set up for this technique. Right now I’m using a 7 foot mh rod with a 7.5.1 reel and 50 pound braid. It seems overkill and that I might be leaving something on the table. 
 

If you were to set up a rod/reel for this purpose, how would you do it?

I throw the Megabass Hazedong Shad 4.2 and Spark Shad 4 a lot, both rigged on an Owner TwistLok Light 5/0 3/32oz. Tatula SV on a 7'1 MF. Right now it's spooled with 8lb Sufix Advance as the water is still somewhat open. Once the veg gets a bit heavier I'll kick it up to 10-12lb line. If I'm working those baits through pads or when the grass is really heavy I'll kick it up to 30lb J8 braid.

I use the same rod and reel configuration as the OP, but 15lb Invizx flouro.

I throw them on the same rod as I would for a swimjig. 7ft 1 MH XFast.  10 lb. Tatsu.

7' Medium Power/ Fast Action

7:1 reel

12lb line

My bread and butter set up for 3-4" swimbaits.

I throw em on my spinnerbait rod. 6'8-7' ish mh. 7.xx gear reel. 

I think 1/8oz swimbait hooks on a ~4" paddle tail can go either way, depending on hook thickness.  I throw nail-weighted Fat Impacts on a Loomis 782c, so a lighter M/F, on 12lb Sniper.  But I use lightwire Owner twistlock hooks.  When I use the heavier/thicker weighted Owner hooks I prefer to step up in power a bit.  The 2 power works well enough of them but the hooksets are not as solid.  

4 hours ago, jdr99a said:

I’m a bank angler that’s fishes my neighborhood ponds. I’ve been having a lot of success recently throwing soft plastic paddle tails parallel to the shoreline. I’ve been rigging it very simply - a 1/8 oz keel weighted 3/0 hook and a ~4 inch keitech/rage tail/etc. I’m wanting to get a rod/reel set up for this technique. Right now I’m using a 7 foot mh rod with a 7.5.1 reel and 50 pound braid. It seems overkill and that I might be leaving something on the table. 
 

If you were to set up a rod/reel for this purpose, how would you do it?

I think your just about spot on only thing I would change is the line I’d go to 14 lb line I like suffix siege. 

I dont think you have to get to specialized for these... either a medium or mh.  

If the the rod is rated for as low as ~1/4ish oz but you still don't think it's sensitive enough, maybe try going down to 30# or 20# braid. In my experience I feel more on that lighter braid. If that's not what you're talking about then ignore me completely

Loomis 843. 12 lb ish fluoro. Copolymer or braid and leader are also fine. Treat paddletails very similarly to other single hook moving baits. 

No need for anything fancy.

7' M St Croix Premier/Triumph rod for 3-4"  or 7' MH for 4.5-5.5"

 I think the 7x reels are to fast for these type lures though.

You didn't put a price but I throw that on a MegaBass Orichi XX Diablo SpecR and a Daiwa Tatula Elite with 30 lb braid. 

3 hours ago, zell_pop1 said:

No need for anything fancy.

7' M St Croix Premier/Triumph rod for 3-4"  or 7' MH for 4.5-5.5"

 I think the 7x reels are to fast for these type lures though.

 

Same here, either a 6'8" Avid MF or my Dobyns 734c depending on size.

 

What ratio reel do you use? 6?

For paddle tails that size, I've been using a Dobyns Champion 703c, Tatula CT 6.3, and Powerpro Spectra 20# to 10# mono leader. The 703c is a MH, but it seems to fall on the lighter side of MH.

 

I just swapped in a Curado 70 7.2 reel on the 703c, which balances nicely, but I haven't had a chance to try it yet.

17 hours ago, TBAG said:

 

Same here, either a 6'8" Avid MF or my Dobyns 734c depending on size.

 

What ratio reel do you 

Yes a 6.3 Fuego currently even with that I reel slow depending on the cover.