The rod should be okay, just don't get to comfortable and try to actually cast.
In regards to the baits you list, I wouldn't go with the Anacondas or anything which have a lot of appendages as they tend to wrap around the vegetation and not go to the bottom.
As for location, try holes in the weeds, where other structure maybe, in general any place that has some type of change to it. Whether its type of weeds, bottom structure, cover, any differences attract bass.