That's a quality reel you purchased. I would look at buying a Johnny Morris CarbonLite rod. I prefer a heavy action or a medium heavy action. I would buy a 7 foot rod just because it is ideal for long accurate casts and gives you the backbone to drive home hooksets. You'll be sitting down in a kayak so you are going to want to a rod with enough backbone to set the hook. I'm 6'5 and almost all my rods are 6'6-7'6. I think you would be pretty happy with that set up.