That rod and reel would be a good set up. Here on Ky lake, if you don't throw the rig often, you are missing out. I fish mine with a 7'9" MH and it makes casting way easier The longer the better. As for the reel on a c-rig set up, it is mainly for taking up slack, but I do like the fast ratio for getting a hooked fish up quick. I tried the braid for a while, and I didn't like it. Fishing on the bottom, you are going to get hung. You are just as likely to break your rod as you are that braid. You will definite feel a little more, but it won't last as long in the rocks, break (when you want/need it to), or cast as far as other lines. I like flouro or gamma copolymer as a main line, but I gave up on the flouro as the leader. Flouro sinks fairly quick, and you kind of want your lure presentation to suspend or slowly fall to the bottom, so I always use copolymer for the leader. I go with a 15# main line and a 12# leader and it seems to be the right balance for here on Ky lake - if it were much clearer, I would drop down to a 10# leader. If I was fishing a crystal clear no stain lake, i may consider a flouro leader, but otherwise, I wouldn't.