I've watched all of Scott Martin's videos, whose home lake is the Big O. Man, that guy uses his heavy rods, and he strains them so much. You can hear the rod straining on the hookset. I would get a heavy rod and spool it w/ 65 pound braid if you're doing the mat/grass/pads approach.
No local experience, but I'd bring spinnerbaits, flippin' and swim jigs, worms, frogs, and craws, to start off with.