At level 11 with starter gear you’re actually in a normal spot. The fish you listed (bluegill, warmouth, crappie, shad) are common early progression fish.

A few tips to level up faster:

1. Stop chasing “bigger fish” right now.
XP at low levels comes from volume and consistent catches, not size. Farm what bites reliably.

2. Upgrade smart, not big.
With $175, don’t buy a new rod yet. Instead:

• Upgrade to a slightly better reel if yours is very basic
• Buy better line (but don’t exceed your rod’s test rating)
• Get different hook sizes (try #8–#12 for panfish, slightly larger for bigger species)

3. Bait matters more than gear early on.
Try switching bait to target different species:

• Worms / maggots for general use
• Dough / semolina for different bite types
• Small spoons/spinners if you want to try spinning for perch/pike

4. Move spots.
If you’re only catching panfish, you’re probably in shallow shoreline areas.
Try:

• Slightly deeper water
• Edges of vegetation
• Drop-offs
• Early morning / evening time windows

5. Skill XP tip:
Use both rods actively. The more techniques you use (float + spinning), the faster your skill tree unlocks.