Little update here.
After losing Silverback the Mankey, I return to Mt. Moon and beat down every trainer there with a combination of Gunshow, Aviator, and Venom. Team Rocket was no match for Venom's powerful Fury Attacks. After battling the nerd, I got myself a Dome fossil.
Out of the cave, I teach Gunshow Mega Punch and quickly run into the Grass. Ekans! YES! I catch Ekans, I name her Voldemort.
Now, I don't know how I could've done this, but I forgot about the rival fight near the bridge. So I was totally unprepared for Gary. His Level 17 Pidgeotto (Nice job hacking, Gary) was troublesome for a bit, but then Gary switched to his Bulbasaur while Gunshow was still out, trying to beat that Pidgeotto. Yikes. Aviator is switched in, but gets Sleep Powder'd while doing so. I switch Venom in, who eats a Vine Whip and proceeds to destroy Bulbasaur with Fury Attack. Next, Gary sends Pidgeotto out. I respond with Gunshow, who takes out Pidgeotto with a crit Mega Punch. Gary then sends out Abra, and I send out Venom for the experience to destroy Abra while it tries to Teleport. Next is Rattata, who is also taken out by a Fury Attack. Gosh, Venom is a beast.
Now, I knew I had to grind for Misty. Thus, I continue on to Nugget Bridge after a run to the Poke Center. I was switch training Voldemort on and after the bridge, and Aviator also evolved into a Pidgeotto in the process. I encountered an Abra on Route 24, but it broke out of my Pokeball and Teleported away. On Route 25 I accidentally killed an Oddish with Gunshow's Mega Punch. I wasn't sure if I was ready for Misty after getting to Bill's house, so I went south after creaming the Rocket Grunt that robbed the house. On Route 5, I caught a Meowth, who I named KooKat. I put him in the box in case anyone were to die or my whole team died. After grinding everyone except Voldemort up to Leveo 20 (She still needed to train), I proceeded to the gym.
The trainers were not that hard, but I was worried about Misty. I gulped as I proceeded to talk to her. The first Pokemon she sent out, Staryu, hardened for a while and then spammed Water Pulse. No problem for Gunshow, who Mega Punched for a bit but then bit the Staryu into oblivion after Misty used a Super Potion. Next was Starmie, which was what worried me. I send out Venom, as he had just learned Twineedle. Starmie first Water Pulsed Venom, but Venom's absolutely gigantic Sp.Def (Which is there for a reason I don't know... Venom has a nature that doesn't boost anything) made it take that like a champ. Venom countered it with a Twineedle, which almost got it to Red. I was worried that Misty would use a Super Potion, but she didn't. Water Pulse again didn't do much and I Twineedled it for the KO! Venom, you are a freaking BEAST. I have a feeling that she's going to be in my party for a while.
Team:
Gunshow the Wartortle, Level 20 - Mega Punch, Water Pulse, Bite, Tackle
Aviator the Pidgeotto, Level 21 - Tackle, Sand-Attack, Gust, Quick Attack
Venom the Beedrill, Level 20 - Poison Sting, String Shot, Twineedle, Firy Attack
Voldemort the Ekans, Level 17 - Dig, Bite, Poison Sting, Attract
Box:
KooKat the Meowth, Level 12
Dead:
Silverback the Mankey, Levels 7 - 7 - Died to a crit Tackle from a Pidgey
Razorfang the Rattata, Levels 5 - 10 - Died to a Weedle's Poison Sting that poisoned her
RIP
Does using an old rod in a town count as an area? If not i could just release the tentacool i caught in Dewford.
Yup, that counts. Towns and Cities count as areas. Unless you got a Pokemon encountered in Dewford before or encountered one there before but didn't catch it (HIGHLY unlikely, I don't think the gym counts), then you'll be able to catch one there using an Old Rod.
Edit: Voldemort just died... RIP.
