strugling still

[bassfix7]

when i first started bass fishin, maybe a month ago, i just loved it. i was out at an irrigation district resivoir. id been there a time or two. using nightcrawlers to catch trout i quickly be came discouraged couse the trout tend to swallow the hook realy hard making it impossible to save the fish. i mean the fish give me somthing so important to the way i feel about life that i have an un wavering respect for the life of the fish i catch. i dont feel good about harvesting more than ill eat in a week. so tired of killing trout i decided to try a texas rig my step dad tought me a year ealier. in a takle box filled with stealhead stuff my parents gave me as a b-day present they threw in some bulletweights, a pack of doublebend hooks, and some tequila sunrise worms. i put it together, got out in my float tube, worked the worm(clumsy as hell) and produced a catch. i couldnt beleive it. once i hooked a bass, bass got their hooks into me. i love bass fishin.
so ive been on a search for the right gear, techniques, knowledge and so on since. ive looked intoalot of higher end gear and i know i definantly dont need to and probably shouldnt spend like that, especialy when theres alot of value brand equipment that would suit my expierince just fine. but honestly i feel like geting some real nice gear and learning the truest form of the techniques i use and gaining a verry intimate knowledge aboout this fish is a mannor of showing them the respect i beleive they deserve. i probably couldnt spend enough to match what they give me.
you have all given me some realy great advice since ive been coming here and it feels nice to talk to others in the know, it takes alot of the lost feeling out of all this.
so to begin on my path of procuring my equipment ive decided to purchase a 7'3" carrot stix mh/f, LTX casting rod with an abu garcia revo sx casting reel wound with p-line halo flourcarb. its my first major fishing purchase goal. not such a big deal to others but im super stoked. even if im disapointed in the equipment i think the experience around it all has been just what i needed. refreshing.
so if anyone would like to comment on this combo, pros or cons, id like to hear it all. thanx again to every one. bassfix7