Blue,
Close quarters fishing is one of the reasons I like the light rod so much. The short length is easy to handle. Much of my carping is done in tall grass, cattails, and flooded trees and brush. Don't sell yourself short, the water you're fishing sounds like a prime candidate for a small rod. Bulk up your tippet to 2x or 3x, and target some smaller fish to build your confidence in the light rod's ability. For what you describe, a light rod might actually be an advantage. I have found that with heavier tackle, if you put steel to the fish and apply a lot of pressure right away they will fight back much harder initially. A bit of finess in the opening moves of the fight makes them easier to control.