Setup recommendation for co-angler

[stk44]

I'm going to be fishing a 1000 acre natural lake that I've never fished before. From what I've researched there is significant weed growth and most weed lines drop off into 8-10 feet of water. The average depth of the lake is 19 feet and the lake has Both LM and SM. The latter would be found in he numerous offshore humps in the 8 foot range.

 

The issue is since I am a co-angler, and my boater is randomly selected, I don't know whether I will be spending more time on or offshore. Not to mention I am limited to 5 rods. 

 

Here are 6 setups that I want to bring, but one needs eliminated:

 

-7' dobyn's champ mag heavy, 50 lb braid- pitching

 

-7'1 MHF LTB , 30 lb braid, Texas rigs, buzzbaits, worms. 

 

-6'8 MF LTB- 12 lb flouro, senkos, wacky, finesse jigs, shakey heads 

 

- 7-3 MHM dobyns champ -

spinnerbait, mod- deep diving cranks

 

-7'4 mojo MM glass crank- cranks 

 

-6'9" axid x - MLXF- drop shot

 

- do you think I should drop the pitching rod, and take the reel with 50 lb braid in case I end up in the thick stuff, in which case I can  put this on my MH LTB and take my MLXF for finesse applications (since I'm fishing behind the boater) or do you think I should stick with all of my baitcasting setups and dump the only spinning (MLXF)???

 

the touney is tomorrow so please let me know what you think ASAP! Thanks!

 

[Dtrombly]

I wouldn't dump the spinning rod, if the bite is tough that rod might save your day. I like your first idea, leave the pitching rod behind and if need be use your MH for that purpose. 

[WRB]

The 7'4" MM crankbait outfit will be marginal IMO for a shallow weedy lake, the spinning rod is good for several finesse presentations so keep it. If the lake has lots of docks your front seater may choose to pound the shore line and target docks. The spinning outfit can easily skip 4" Senkos under docks giving those bass something different.

Tom

[stk44]

5 minutes ago, WRB said:

The 7'4" MM crankbait outfit will be marginal IMO for a shallow weedy lake, the spinning rod is good for several finesse presentations so keep it. If the lake has lots of docks your front seater may choose to pound the shore line and target docks. The spinning outfit can easily skip 4" Senkos under docks giving those bass something different.

Tom

 

Tom, I'm glad you mentioned that.

 

I'm considering ditching the MM, I could get away with using my MF if I need to throw shallow cranks, and I could snap it out of the weeds more efficiently.  

I was checking out the navionics chart, and there are literally docks around the entire perimeter of the lake. There's a good possibility I'll be skipping docks at some point during the day.

Thanks again, I always appreciate your expertise!

[jr231]

Lol idk about throwing senkos at docks being different... But I do agree that the spinning rod is essential nearly every time out . For me anyway. 

[fishballer06]

Is this for Conneaut? Let me know and I can make some suggestions. 

[stk44]

1 hour ago, fishballer06 said:

Is this for Conneaut? Let me know and I can make some suggestions. 

Yeah it was. I fished docks, lily pads, and weedlines. The boater didn't want to fish the wind so we were confined to the bays mostly. I missed one fish on a buzzzbait and and missed another on a t-rigged craw. The remainder of the fish wanted a 5" senko thrown in he pads and around stumps. 

The first place guy weighed in around 16 lbs fishing a ned rig on a 12-14 foot weedline. 

 

I'd love to hear suggestions for the next time I fish it. I hadn't fished that lake since I was a kid.