Need your help with my gear!!

[RyanMac14]

So I am set on getting a bit more serious this spring so I have been shopping a bit. I am looking to set up 4 or 5 setups that each have their own specific technique to optimize effectiveness. I will lay out what I currently have and would appreciate what you think they woulf best be used for and what else I should get to cover other techniques. I will be targetting mostly bass and pickerel with chances for Pike. Here is what I have:
Reels:
Shimano Curado 201 E7
Abu Garcia Revo Toro Winch 60
Shimano Calcutta 251(might sell to get something more freshwater friendly)
Pflueger President Cabela Tourney Combo
Rods:
Abu Garcia Vendetta 6'6" MH
Abu Garcia Veritas 6'6" MH
Abu Garcia Veritas Winch 7'0 Medium

I figured the toro winch on the winch rod would be a good setup for strictly cranks. I figured the curado on the veritas would be good for my top water? The pflueger for my soft plastics? So I need a reel to put on the vendetta because the calcutta is probably too much for it. Im just looking for any advice I can get lol. Sorry this post is similar to one from a few weeks ago. Thanks guys.

[UglyStick]

A few questions:

What specific techniques are you looking to cover - you mentioned cranks and topwater but what kind of soft plastics fished in what manner (i.e. senko rigged wacky, carolina rig, swim baits, jig & craw, frog, etc?) Also what other techniques are you interested in specifically setting up for?

What rod do you have with the Tourney combo (length, weight, action)?

[RyanMac14]

I believe the pflueger combo is a 7 foot medium fast action but it might be mh. I domt have it in front of me. The only soft plastics I used last year were texas and wacky rigged senkos but as I learn more I figure ill get into some jig and trailer techniques. The techniques I will be using will be 1)topwater (mostly weedless frogs but occasionally jitterbugs and hula poppers). 2) crankbaits 3) soft plastics 4) spinner/chatter/buzz baits 5) jerk and swimbaits for larger targets. I mean i am not set on absolutely needing a seperate setup for everything, but if it is necessary I would try. My preferred technique is topwater so I would like my nicest setup to be that.

[Lard Almighty]

Just my opinion, but based on what you already have, here's how I'd set it up and what I would use with each outfit:

Pflueger combo: light soft plastics, small cranks, small jerkbaits - spool with 8 lb fluoro
Winch/Winch: heavier cranks and jerkbaits - spool with 12 to 14 lb fluoro
Curado/Veritas or Vendetta: spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, buzzbaits, topwater plugs - spool with 14 to 20 lb mono

I don't think any of your current equipment is great for frogs. If you were to buy one more setup, I would recommend a 7-0 or 7-6 heavy or even extra-heavy rod, and a reel with a gear ratio of 7:1 or higher. This would be good for frogs, heavy Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, and big jigs. Put at least 30 lb braided line on this setup.

[RyanMac14]

Thanks for the advice. Guess I am going to have a couple of rods go to waste. Would it be really that big of a difference in using a mh for frogs instead of heavy. I know you want backbone to get it out of heavy shit but is it thay much difference ?

[lennysky]

I use MH and M for frogs all the time with both bait casting and spinning setups. Just need a decent line or braid and tighten up on a drag. Setting a hook is a technique in itself, but im sure you will manage