Newbie with a new rig looking for line

[Dr G]

Howdy folks, I’m new to the forum and pretty new to fishing too. I’ve been a backcountry canoe freak for years and years but only on the rarest occasions did I ever bother to fish. Probably haven’t had a rod in my hand for 15 years and then only for an hour or two. That is until recently. Me and the missus are planning a trip up to Quetico Provincial Park (northwestern Ontario, just north of Boundary Waters MN) next summer for 3 weeks or so of back-in-the-bush wilderness canoe tripping. And she says to me, “Why aren’t we catchin fish and eatin em fresh?” And I thought, “Because I don’t want to be draggin 20 lbs of fishing gear over mile long portages 3 times a day.” But the idea really got into my head. No kiddin, I started dreaming of catching bass. So I started reading and researching and planning. I mean Quetico is some of the best northern smallie fishing in the world and the only way to get to it is by canoe and I already know how to do that. I’m not really interested in going after lunkers, I’m really after eatin fish, bass around 1-2 lbs and maybe the odd walleye just ‘cause they taste so good.

So I’ve started getting gear together. The first thing I got was a rod. A guy I met online tuned me into a fantastic deal on an Albright 4 piece Explorer pack rod, (6’6”,M, 4.5 oz.) Though I’m sure it isn’t really worth what it’s listed at - $300 – at $79, I couldn’t resist. It seems like a real pretty rod and I can’t wait to start practicing flippin off the deck in our back yard. Then I started looking around for a reel to match and got a good deal on a Shimano Saros 2500 which should be arriving any day. So what about line? There’s a lot to choose from, I’m guessing I want like 4 -10 lb test. Anybody recommend a good choice? Plus would it be worthwhile putting a different line on the spare spool or just back up what I’ve got on the first. I’ve got about a million questions about tackle and assorted gear. I know the way I’m fishing that I have to be pretty selective since I’ll be in the bush for 3 weeks or so and can’t afford to be dragging a ton of gear around. I was pretty set on going just with worms but I’ve since read that north country bass don’t seem to go for worms the way they do south of the Mason Dixon for some reason. But one thing at a time. Any suggestions for what kind of line I should be using?

Many thanks folks. I know there is no such thing as a dumb question but I’m sure I’m going to be testing that truism so have patience.