Sorry about the delay in answering. We still love ya. I personally have been bogged down in several time consuming and brain straining projects. I replied to your other question. Now I will take a shot at this one.
**I was born into a fishing family. I learned to fish spinners and bait using a fly rod and an automatic fly reel. But, it was a long time before I learned about flies. And, then I started tying my own flies by about age 7. Still tie and use a lot of flies, but my fishing arsenal has grown WAY BEYOND fly fishing. **
**In my “tackletorium” I have hundreds of large plastic boxes organized by lure categories…flies, hardbaits, spinners, spoons, plastics (several types), dressed jigs, jig heads, etc. One set of shelves has a large number of smaller “TRIP BOXES”…with assortments of lures arranged by types, sizes and colors…for specific waters or specific species. **
When I load up my tube for a trip, I may carry as many as five or six different trip boxes…with lures ranging from flies to spinners to jigging spoons to marabou jigs to plain jig heads and plastics. Similarly, on virtually all trips, I carry five rods. It is not often I take a fly rod, but I always have both spinning and baitcasting rods…of a size and action to best fish the size and weights of the lures I am taking, and in consideration of water conditions and the fish I expect to encounter (not always catch).
The good news, in my part of the world, is that most waters are multi-species waters. I can rig a medium light spinning rod with a small tube jig and I may catch several different species…fishing the same areas the same way. However, I am always attuned to any apparent patterns and can change or adapt to focus more on one species than another, depending upon current conditions and what I want to play with.
I suspect that you probably share my enjoyment of lighter tackle whenever you can get away with it. Unless you are targeting large pike or muskies, there is no real need for heavy duty baitcasting gear. Light to medium spinning tackle will handle any bass, walleye, trout or other species in your area waters. Just buy quality rods, reels and lines, and tie good knots. Then, balance the size of the lures to fit both your tackle and the fish you are after.
Hope this helps.
Otherwise, you are asking questions about which there are countless volumes in print and on the internet. Visit the library (for books AND videos) and fire up your search engine. I have my own personal library and spend lots of time on the Internet. I’d like to think I have a pretty good angling education, but there is not a day that passes in which I do not learn something new from somebody.