Let me start by saying that I'm no expert but started doing this last year and I'm having fun with it this year. The rods will do well for both pushing and pulling and I think would be a good choice in the lengths stated. I use BGJP's and they wont stand the added weight that I have been told some use while pushing, up to 6oz. Mine are 8, 10, and 12'(2 each) and I use spinning reels with 8lb line, but most use 10. I keep the 8' rods short, the 10's a bit longer and the 12's a good long cast from the boat and seldom get tangled on one another. My rods stick out at 90* to the boat, and the next is a few degrees further back and so on, creating a spread almost 30'wide. I have Bandit 300's mostly and some 200's also. Color is dictated by the fish, some that you wouldn't think would do well will surprise you. Speed and track on the gps help a lot also. Somewhere between .8 and 1.5 gets the most action for me. Flats with irregularities can be found on maps and maybe cut down on the trial and error. another post on here somewhere has the depth chart on bandits that will tell you how deep the with go at what length of line. Good luck with it, you're gonna have fun.