It sure sounds like you have the basics well covered. I would also recommend using Aberdeen hooks as the finer wire makes for faster more sure hook sets than a bait keeper style hook does.
To me rod and reel choice is secondary to using braid and Aberdeen style hooks. Some hook types would be Tru-Turn, Eagle Claw and BearPaw. Some with blades and some without. Myself I very seldom if ever use snelled hooks with the tiny blades and or beads but there are others that swear by them and still others that try both to see what works on any given day. I have switched my perch rods over to the Falcon BuCoo series model BCS-UL-15. With an ultra lite spinning reel spooled with left over braid from filling my trolling reels, over kill, most likely but I am using what is already bought and just set my drag like it is 8lb line instead of 30lb line.
http://falconrods.com/bucoo.html