I fishing my first tournament series with a buddy this fall and what to have the right setups with the limited amount of gear possible. If it has an *, it means it's a future purchase. My questions are:

1) Do I cover all my angles here?

2) What rods would you recommend for the setups with an *?

Setup #1: Crankbait

*Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier: 5.2:1                  

*Crankbait Rod: 7ft baitcaster moderate action medium power            

Setup #2: Topwater

Browning Citori: 6.4 to 1

*Topwater Rod: 6'0 to 6'6 casting rod of moderate action with medium power      

Setup #3: Jigs/Rigs

6'6 Shimano Convergence Graphite Power: Medium Action: Fast

Shimano Callisto: 6.2:1

Setup #4: Weightless

6'10 Bass Pro Shops Spinning Combo

You may want to look at  getting a Mh-H rod. Never know if your gonna have to through into heavy cover/slop. I've pulled some of my bigger fish out of heavy cover.

What kind of setup would you suggest for that? I also think that the areas we are fishing are mainly river channels and not much heavy cover/slop on the water; but I maybe wrong.

Perhaps a spinnerbait rod?

Roadwarrior, hit him with the three setups he needs.

What kind of setup would you suggest for that? I also think that the areas we are fishing are mainly river channels and not much heavy cover/slop on the water; but I maybe wrong.

All depends on what you can spend. I have a Dobynns champion series flippin stick 7'6" heavy paired with a revo stx 7.1:1.  But like you said if you dont have any heavy cover were your fishing than you prob dont need it  most of the places i fish are full of weeds.

I would get something for texas/flippin and pitchin

crankbait/spinnerbait/carolina rig

top water

and i would go with one more and get a light rig just in case.

I'm not able to pitch/flip yet, I'm still pretty new at all this. I'm trying to limit the amount of rods/tackle I take. I'm limiting myself to one tackle bag which will hold 4 plano boxes, and 4 rod setups. So I'm trying to find the best set-ups for my limited resources.

I'm in between these rods for my crankbait:

Bass Pro Shops® CarbonLite Trigger Rods

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_10205012_175003000_175000000_175003000_175-3-0

Bass Pro Shops® Tourney Special® IM-7 Graphite Rods - Trigger

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_44528_175003000_175000000_175003000_175-3-0

St. Croix® Mojo Bass Trigger Rods

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_104145_175003000_175000000_175003000_175-3-0

I'm in between the same rods for my topwater, just in between 6' to 6'6 instead of the 7', any suggestions or thoughts?

Here is what I would do

Setup #1: Crankbait

*Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier: 5.2:1   

*7'M BPS Cranking Stick 

Setup #2: Jigs and Rigs

Browning Citori: 6.4 to 1

*7'MH-H F-XF rod within high end of price range, I would recommend a 7'MH Pro Qualifier or7'MH or H Powell or Dobyns Saavy for $100-160; $100 or less 7'MH BPS Extreme or Bionic Blade or 7'MH or H Vendetta, Veritas, or 7'MH Fenwick HMX, HMG, or Eagle GT 

Setup #3: Topwater

6'6 Shimano Convergence Graphite Power: Medium Action: Fast

Shimano Callisto: 6.2:1

Setup #4: Weightless

6'10 Bass Pro Shops Spinning Combo

Here is what I would do

Setup #1: Crankbait

*Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier: 5.2:1

*7'M BPS Cranking Stick

Setup #2: Jigs and Rigs

Browning Citori: 6.4 to 1

*7'MH-H F-XF rod within high end of price range, I would recommend a 7'MH Pro Qualifier or7'MH or H Powell or Dobyns Saavy for $100-160; $100 or less 7'MH BPS Extreme or Bionic Blade or 7'MH or H Vendetta, Veritas, or 7'MH Fenwick HMX, HMG, or Eagle GT

Setup #3: Topwater

6'6 Shimano Convergence Graphite Power: Medium Action: Fast

Shimano Callisto: 6.2:1

Setup #4: Weightless

6'10 Bass Pro Shops Spinning Combo

I would be a little careful about getting an XF tip if you're going to throw heavier jigs with heavy gauge wire hooks though. Makes setting the hook somewhat harder - you won't be able to get away with just a quick snap of the wrist as much.

X2

on adding a spinnerbait set up.

Here is what I would do

Setup #1: Crankbait

*Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier: 5.2:1

*7'M BPS Cranking Stick

Setup #2: Jigs and Rigs

Browning Citori: 6.4 to 1

*7'MH-H F-XF rod within high end of price range, I would recommend a 7'MH Pro Qualifier or7'MH or H Powell or Dobyns Saavy for $100-160; $100 or less 7'MH BPS Extreme or Bionic Blade or 7'MH or H Vendetta, Veritas, or 7'MH Fenwick HMX, HMG, or Eagle GT

Setup #3: Topwater

6'6 Shimano Convergence Graphite Power: Medium Action: Fast

Shimano Callisto: 6.2:1

Setup #4: Weightless

6'10 Bass Pro Shops Spinning Combo

I was thinking of the crankbait I picked out because it's light weight and I was told it won't wear you out throughout the day. Our league is from Oct to Dec, and my partner told me that the Oct/Nov time frame will be cranks for a large portion of the day. the Nov/Dec will be jigs/shakey heads, depending on weather.

X2

on adding a spinnerbait set up.

Which setup could I add the spinnerbait to?

you could use #2 or #3 for spinners, but I'd recommend a 7' MH/MF for my spinnerbaiting. Also I like as high speed a reel as I can get.

Ok, I think I'm going to use my Shimano for topwater, but this means I need a good jig rod. My partner said come Nov/Dec we'll be looking at alot of shakey head/jig applications. Any suggestions?

For a higher end Jig rod I would definetly get a 7' H/F Powell Max rod.  I love mine and you can get in for less than $150.  For a cheaper rod, I would look at the Vendetta series.

If you got the money and/or the will to spend in lure/technique specific rods ---> I 'm the first one to tel you should go for it.

You don 't have the money or the will for lure/technique specific rods ---> don 't sweat it, you only need three rods for most of your lures/techniques ( you can even be more frugal, you only need one rod but let 's not take it to that extreme ):

1 M / F rod ---> 1/4 oz > light weight soft plastics, cranks, topwaters

1 MH / F rod ---> 1/4 - 1/2 oz soft plastics & jigs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits

1 H / F rod ---> 3/8 - 1 oz soft plastics & jigs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, frogs, small swimbaits.

Which style you prefer ( spínning or baitcasting ) is entirely up to you.

For a higher end Jig rod I would definetly get a 7' H/F Powell Max rod. I love mine and you can get in for less than $150. For a cheaper rod, I would look at the Vendetta series.

I have a Powell Max 7'3" M/XF spinning for soft plastics and jigs. I am VERY happy with it. It's no Steez or NRX of course (not that I fished with any of those ever); but for it's price, it's an excellent rod. You won't be sorry if you invest in a Powell Max.

I hear fantastic things about the Dobyns Saavy series as well.

I guess this is my position. I have $400 dollars to spend on gear for this tournament series. The thing is, after this series, my gear will be sitting around collecting dust until spring 2012. While I would love to spend $150 for a rod and again for a reel, I'm not sure if this is the best idea. I would like to limit myself to 4 setups for fall/early winter fishing in KY. I need a crankbait setup (rod and reel) for certain.

The gear I do have:

Combo:

6'10 Bass Pro Shops Spinning Combo

Rod:

6'6 Shimano Convergence Graphite Power: Medium/Action: Fast

Reels:

Browning Citori: 6.4 to 1

Shimano Callisto: 6.2:1

Where do I go from here?

Use the Converge for crankin.

Shimano Citica ( 120 ) + Shimano Crucial MH ( 130-140 depending upon length ) = $250 -$260 you got 140- 150 dollars left.

Cabelas recently had the Prodigy Baitcasting rods on sale for $59.99 and they are normally $100. They still have some in store for the sale price and I picked up the PDC705-1 7' MH/MF 1/4-1oz as my crankbait rod and its been perfect. I now have a Prodigy PRC201 baitcasting reel on it spooled with Fireline Smoke 30#/12. The reel works great with 1/4oz cranks and the rod has just enough flex and give to be able to set the hook and not rip the trebles out of mouth of the fish. The rod is also very solid and doesn't feel wimpy at all.

I would check them out if you have a Cabelas near you.

Cabelas also has the Quantum Catalyst on clearance for $69.99 and it should suit your needs for another reel.

You a righty or lefty?  There are some AMAZING prices on some lefthanded reels right now.

I'm a righty, however, I perfer to fish as lefty because I have better rod control/action for my presentations.