Prep for Braidwood Tournament (Part I)

It is the night before my first tournament and I am glad to say that I am all packed and ready to hit the water tomorrow.  There is a chance of AM thunderstorms but should clear up by the afternoon.  Winds are expected to be 10-20 mph and the temperature change will be from 58 degrees in the morning to 79 in the afternoon.  So I better be prepared to fish in wind, higher temps, and rain.  My BPS Pro Qualifier rain suit and a couple of layers of clothing should do the trick, I can always take them off later on if need be.

My rod and reel choices continue to change depending on the fishing situation but for tomorrow I settled on the following 6 rod and reel setups...

1) Topwater/Jerkbait : Baitcasting

Reel: Lew's Tournament Pro Speed Spool (7.1 gear ratio)

Rod: Shimano Cumara 7' 0" MH Moderate Fast Action

Line: P-Line CXX 12 lb test

Starting Lure: Rapala Shallow Shad Rap (Black/Silver)

2) Spinnerbait : Baitcasting

Reel: Lew's Tournament Pro Speed Spool (7.1 Gear Ratio)

Rod: Shimano Crucial 6' 10" MH Xtra Fast Action

Line: Seaguar InvisX Flourocarbon 15 lb test

Starting Lure: 1/2 oz Strike King White spinnerbait with white painted willow/colorado blades

3) Flipping/Pitching : Baitcasting

Reel: Shimano Curado 200e7 (7.1 Gear Ratio)

Rod: FSA Custom Hydra Rod 7' 3" MH Fast Action

Line: Power Pro 50 lb test

Starting Lure:  3/8 oz California Reservoir Lures Pro Series Jig with Netbait Paca Craw trailor

4) Squarebill Rod: Baitcasting

Reel: Shimano Chronarch 200e6 (6.5 Gear Ratio)

Rod: St. Croix Mojo Bass Rod 7' 0" MH Moderate Action

Line: Power Pro 50 lb test

Starting Lure: BPS Egg Shallow Diver (Texas Shad) w/ upgraded Gamakatsu No. 4 treble hooks

5) Rat-L-Trap Rod: Baitcasting

Reel: Lew's Tournament Pro Speed Spool (7.1 Gear Ratio)

Rod: St. Croix Mojo Bass Rod 7' 0" MH Moderate Action

Line: Power Pro 50 lb test

Starting Lure: 1/2 oz Strike King Red Eye Shad (18K Tennessee Shad)

6) Texas Rigged Plastics/Finesse Plastics : Spinning

Reel: Shimano Saros 2500F (6.0 Gear Ratio)

Rod: Shimano Crucial 7' 2" MH Fast Action

Line: Fireline Smoke 10 lb test

Starting Lure: 3/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook (Plastic: TBD)

(Part I of II)