What should my arsenal be as a co-angler?

[Klbassin]

My first ever tournament as a Co-angler in a boat is this coming April. My current arsenal is:

7'2" medium heavy power fast action casting rod with 15 lbs copolymer/fluorocarbon. Im using this as a very versatile rod (spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, texas rigs, etc.)

7'1" medium heavy power fast action casting rod spooled with 30lbs braid for some topwaters and any situation where the copolymer wont do so well

7' medium power fast action casting rod spooled with 10-12lbs fluoro/copoly (jerkbaits, lipless cranks, squarebills, senkos etc.)

6'9" medium light fast action spinning rod spooled with 12lbs braid for finesse situations like dropshotting etc.

Ill soon have a 7'4" heavy power fast action casting rod spooled with 65lbs maxcuatro braid (froggin, pitchin/flippin heavy cover etc.) 

i know all of these combos arent completely and totally totally made for what im going to use them for, but i need versatility. 

So my question is... What other combos would you reccomend I get? I want to be able to generally cover all spectrums as a co-angler. Thank you.

[WRB]

Always fish your skills, to do that you need to talk to your boater to determine where and how he or she plans to fish during the tournament and what tackle to bring. Take a back up outfit for whatever the primary presentation is planned so you don't waste time re rigging.

Team tournament fishing requires that you and your boater fish as a team to be successful.

Tom

 

 

[Deeare]

You have a good selection of set ups.   I'd worry more about what to throw on them.    What do you know about this body of water?   Not sure where you live but in the northeast it's most likely going to be cold.   Jig/bladed jig.   Jerk bait.  Rattletrap to name a few. and if your partner misses a bite throw a wacky worm right on top of him!!!  Lol

[Bluebasser86]

I'd try to talk to your boater if possible to see what their planning on fishing. Do some research on the lake you're fishing to find out what the popular techniques are. I'd try not to bring any real specialized gear unless you're really sure you're going to use it, because it will most likely end up just being in the way. I think you have it pretty well covered with the combos you listed. Like you said, versatility is the best option when selecting gear as a co-angler. 

[fishnkamp]

I think your arsenal is well thought out and should meet your needs. As others have said learn what your body of water fishes like in spring. If you can strategize with your boater he should have an idea about what he expects to fish lures and techniques.

 

I would have a jig and trailer set up on your 7'1" rod.  I might use a 4 foot fluoro or P Line 10 pound CXX leader on it especially if it is a clear water situation.

I would keep the 7'2" ready to use for your spinnerbait/chatterbait or even a Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper.  Fish it on either a belly weighted swimbait hook or a 3/8 to 1/2 ounce swimbait jighead ( look at Picasso swimbait jig heads), they look like a fish head on a hook. This choice depends on the depth of water you are fishing.

Your 7 foot medium rod would be ready to fish a rattletrap, jerkbait, small to mid depth crankbaits, etc.

I like your ML spinning rod for fishing Sencos, drop shotting, make sure you have some Ned Rigs too. It is a great bait to go behind another angler with and it can be fished in 2 feet or 30 feet of water.  Everything eats them.

I doubt the new 7'4" heavy power rod will come into play for this tournament.

If I added anything it might be another spinning rod, say 6'8 or 6'9" medium rod for light texas rigs, grubs, tubes.  This also makes a great follow up bait rod if it is needed fast.  I love to have a 5 inch Kalin grub on a BPS Perfect Finesse Worm Jighead. It is a one piece texas rig with the Gamakatsu EWG hook and a worm weight all in one. No need to peg a weight.

 

Good Luck

[TxHawgs]

I've been fishing as a co-angler for a yr and a half now. And like the guys mentioned above I always call my boater the day before and find out what his game plan is, what's he gonna fish and what kind of water does he plan on fishing. The best scenario would be to pre fish with him. I started buying my rods and reels shortly after starting to fish the tourneys. I have 22 rods and 11 reels right now but almost never take more than 5 because it's just a pain and they get in the way. So after I talk to the boater and do all my online research of the lake then I decide what I'm going to throw and put 5 rigs together. Then I bring 40lbs of baits and fish 3 or 4 cuz I'm too lazy to re tie lol. Good luck and most importantly have fun, learn, and it's always fun to whoop the boater who has lived on the lake for 15yrs in his 70k rig. For some reason they never see the humor in that lol.

[RoLo]

Any spinning outfit with a T-rigged 4" Slider Worm (junebug) with a 1/16 oz bullet sinker

 

Roger

[Klbassin]

3 hours ago, TxHawgs said:

I've been fishing as a co-angler for a yr and a half now. And like the guys mentioned above I always call my boater the day before and find out what his game plan is, what's he gonna fish and what kind of water does he plan on fishing. The best scenario would be to pre fish with him. I started buying my rods and reels shortly after starting to fish the tourneys. I have 22 rods and 11 reels right now but almost never take more than 5 because it's just a pain and they get in the way. So after I talk to the boater and do all my online research of the lake then I decide what I'm going to throw and put 5 rigs together. Then I bring 40lbs of baits and fish 3 or 4 cuz I'm too lazy to re tie lol. Good luck and most importantly have fun, learn, and it's always fun to whoop the boater who has lived on the lake for 15yrs in his 70k rig. For some reason they never see the humor in that lol.

Its hard because the boater that I will be fishing with different every tournament and my boater is chosen randomly at the start of each event.

[fishnkamp]

Start here. What body of water are you going to fish?  What state is it in? I ask because some lakes and rivers run through more than one. Do you know which launch you will go out of?

 Knowing these answers I would start my research right on this site.  Go down to the forum that covers your state and region the water is located in. Open that forum, for instance if the lake is in Tennessee I would do a search in Southeast Bass Fishing.. Use the search box to look through all of the posts about that river or lake. Then if I can identify somethings about the lake in April I write it down. Remember some parts of the country is having a mild winter and some are not so spring conditions will matter in fishing lure choices.

Next I would make a post "Help Please can anyone here tell me about this lake or river in the spring". This will help a lot.  Next go to the web and google the lake. I bet you will find lots of info about if a lake has largemouth only, smallies and or Kentucky spots.  Lastly go to a website like Angling Technologies and view the lake. I learned a lot the first time I travelled to a Tennessee lake, just by viewing the lake. I learned where the bridges may be, where there were rock bluffs, where there was lots of downed wood. these help identify your lure choices.  Your lure choices help decide your rod choices.  The puzzle pieces begin to fit. 

[WRB]

Are you fishing a club blind draw or a local prize money circuit with a blind draw? Doesn't sound like a team event where both anglers share 5 bass total weight.  Blind draw usually is each angler fishes against the other by sharing front seat time.

Tom

[frogflogger]

You can mess around in the back of a boat with the ned rig and do amazingly well without being in the front of the boat's way.

[Poolshark]

Your combos look pretty well thought out. how many combos are you allowed? I think 5 is a good number. It's not too much and you should be able to have your bases covered. 

I have a core 4 combos I always bring and I adjust the fifth based on where and what I'm fishing. 

I like a 7 to 76 heavy fast rod with a high speed reel and braid. 

A 73 mmf glass rod for topwaters, jerkbaits and crank baits with 12 to 14 mono

a 7 ft mf spinning rod. With 20 lb braid/Floro leader  or 8 lb mono for finesse

A 7 ft mhf rod for bottom baits and utility. 14 to 17 Floro 

 

If im fishing clear water and finesse is key, I'll bring an extra spinning rod

if I'm fishing heavy cover in summer, I'm bringing an extra  flipping rod

if it's fall and they are chasing shad, I'll bring an extra cranking rod  etc....

 

everyone has different preferences so I hoped I help somehow. 

 

Good luck! 

 

 

[WIGuide]

I think what you have will work well for you. It seems like you have your bases covered and you can adjust what you're throwing on the fly. I'd stick with what you've got and would worry more about what to throw than what to throw it on. Best of luck to you in you're tourney, but I'm just giving you a heads up...if you like it, you WILL be hooked haha