Take this from someone that went down this road. Do. Not. Cheap. Out. On. Baitcasters.

I have cheap rods. I have St. Croix All Stars. I have Custom rods I built. They increase in personal value.

I have cheap reels. I have good reels.

I HATE HATE HATE using my cheaper combos. They don't reel right. They don't cast right. They don't fight right.

So....custom rods won't be in youd budget(I could buid you one for around 200), although they are FAR superior. But a good baitcaster combo that can do alot of things IS in your budget.

St. Croix All-Star in 6'6'' to 7' Med/HVY fast tip

Shimano Citica 200E

(ASsume that you can and will go to Dicks website or some similar site and save 20% in coupons. You are just lazy if you don't)

Suffix Elite 10lb

Couple of Terminator T-1s in white and chartruese

Lucky Craft Sammy

Lucky Craft RC 2.5 sext shad

" " DD in same

Done.

I guess in order to really assess your situation, I would need to know what combos you do currently own and your level of satisfaction with the gear. 

Secondly, knowing what lures you currently have, what you like to use, what you plan on trying out this year would help determine your needs there.

You already said that you have 2 fishfinders which you are not all too familiar with.  I would learn to use the fishfinders before considering upgrading the units.  Only because if you do not know how to use them, who is to say that you would gain any benefit from new units? 

I would likely aim at perhaps 1 new combo and the rest on lures and tackle.  If you are happy with your combos, and have sufficient comboes to handle different situations, then go all out on tackle to be as flexible as possible.  I would think that in tournaments, you would need to be as flexible as possible in order to tailor your approach to what the fish are telling you they want on a particular day.

JMHO.

BM

Spend the $300 on trips to the lake where you can learn to read your depth finders...for every bass you catch on the bank there are 5 behind you on deep water structure.

If you have problems reading your depth finder just ask someone here will school ya

I need some advice on how to spend $300. Here's what i have:

Boat with 2 cheap fish finders, but they work. I might also add that i'm still trying to figure out how to read them.

I have about 3 or 4 baitcasters combos...the nicest reel cost about $50 and the same with the rod.

1 spinning rod/reel (cheap)

I have some basic tackle

Should i spend it all on a nicer fish finder or a couple of rod/reel combos? Or should I beef up my tackle selection? or split it up between any combonation of the 3?

Thanks

Cart before the horse.

Let the waters you fish dictate what you need. Read, fish with people, and get out on the water with what you have. The deficits will make themselves known.

faceplam

I didn't even think about this...but HIRE A GUIDE!

I would say a fishfinder, I think a good fishfinder if you can find one is very valuable.