Gearing up for a tournament year

I've been talking with my wife about this for a while and it looks like it's going to finally happen in 2017 since I'll cap out on vacation time then. I'm going to spend this winter rebuilding my trailer with a locking box, fold down sides and rails to hold my boat. I'm also going to put a camper shell on my truck and put a platform with a bed in it inside ala Billydog. Then I'm going to try and hit at least 20 kayak tournaments in 2017. I'd like to hit a mix of fresh and salt kayak tourney's all up and down the coast. I need to rebuild my freshwater gear since I sold most of it off over the past 5 or 6 years as I got more into saltwater fishing.

On that note I'm looking for some advice on gear. I still have all my freshwater tackle but I need some rods/reels. I've got a calcutta and a stradic I was thinking about just tossing on some freshwater rods and using. I'd like to have a total of 5 setups so I'm not going to be switching baits all the time. I'd like to get 3 bait casters and keep it under about $250 for all three, but I have some wiggle room if needed.

As for rods I'll need one spinning rod for the stradic and 4 baitcasters. I'm thinking 2 plastics rods, a crank bait rod, a spinner bait rod and a drop shot rod. I'm going to be hitting up a bunch of yard sales in the next year looking for deals on high quality rods (G. Loomis, St. Croix and Lamiglas stuff), failing that I'll be buying new and would like to keep it under $100 per rod. I'm totally open to suggestions on this.

I've never done anything quite like this, I mean I'm an avid camper but I don't go out and camp quite this much. I'm planning to set the truck up so I can rest and sleep without the hassle of a tent etc. I'm brainstorming ideas to build a propane stove setup into my trailer to make my life easier. If anyone has any thoughts or ideas on setting my trailer up as a mobile kitchen/kayak transporter in one I'd really appreciate it.

For the trailer ideas FishingforaCure or shoprat both have crazy cool setups and are knowledge in this types of projects I'm sure ffac is typing something up right now!!

Sounds like a hell of a time your gonna have and I'm sure will see you on the water !! Good luck

For the trailer ideas FishingforaCure or shoprat both have crazy cool setups and are knowledge in this types of projects I'm sure ffac is typing something up right now!!

Sounds like a hell of a time your gonna have and I'm sure will see you on the water !! Good luck

I hope so, a big part of this plan is to head up north and fish with my NCKA bro's!

I'm envious!

In addition, keep your eyes posted on the classifieds here.  I hopped on a good deal for a couple bass rods not that long ago.  The deals are out there.  Just takes patience and a little bit of good fortune in timing.

Sounds like a normal year for lots of guys on here haha   but that sounds like a great plan. Hope to see ya up here on the north central coast. On the restocking of freshwater gear, I would start by getting something midrange price (like $50-80) that will pair with your Stradic or Calcutta. Use that setup a few times and you'll have a better idea what features you want in a new FW rod...then start looking at something that'll fit the bill (st croix triumph & shimano crucial are good rods for the price ~100).

I've got a shimano cumara crank bait rod I'm looking to sell.its pretty much new never seen water it's a 7'6" mh stick 150$ if you want it.if 150 is too steep look up the retail value[emoji106]

Alan, I've found the best way to transport a SP13 is on 2-3" abs/pvc pipe on a trailer as a sort of "rail" system that fits right underneath the twin channels of the hull.  Cheap and effective. Depends on your trailer set up though.

For the trailer ideas FishingforaCure or shoprat both have crazy cool setups and are knowledge in this types of projects I'm sure ffac is typing something up right now!!

Sounds like a hell of a time your gonna have and I'm sure will see you on the water !! Good luck

I hope so, a big part of this plan is to head up north and fish with my NCKA bro's!

Ur killin' me ... actually, I was looking for a pic of my setup but I'm STILL adding onto it sooooo....  Just picked up another batch of powdercoated goodies to mount to it today.  I'll snap some new pics of the rig this weekend.

A Harbor Freight utility trailer makes for a good starter platform upon which to build a box/rack setup for the yak, gear, cooler, chairs, etc...

Alan, I've found the best way to transport a SP13 is on 2-3" abs/pvc pipe on a trailer as a sort of "rail" system that fits right underneath the twin channels of the hull.  Cheap and effective. Depends on your trailer set up though.

The nice thing is, since I'm building the trailer out I can set it up for that. It was pretty much my plan to do a front and rear rail with 3" ABS pipe between to slide the boat on. It will actually be a 2 story affair since my buddy also has an SP13 and we may go do several tournaments together.

For the trailer ideas FishingforaCure or shoprat both have crazy cool setups and are knowledge in this types of projects I'm sure ffac is typing something up right now!!

Sounds like a hell of a time your gonna have and I'm sure will see you on the water !! Good luck

I hope so, a big part of this plan is to head up north and fish with my NCKA bro's!

Ur killin' me ... actually, I was looking for a pic of my setup but I'm STILL adding onto it sooooo....  Just picked up another batch of powdercoated goodies to mount to it today.  I'll snap some new pics of the rig this weekend.

A Harbor Freight utility trailer makes for a good starter platform upon which to build a box/rack setup for the yak, gear, cooler, chairs, etc...

I have a motorcycle trailer with a perm tag I picked up a few years ago. I'll be modifying it for the kayaks and as a mobile cleaning/cooking station. I'm probably going to lengthen the tongue by 3-4' to give myself some extra room and make it easier to back up. I hate short tongue trailers.

Here's a decent picture of the trailer: