Rowboat Users Only

[*Hootie]

Those of you who have to use small rental boats like I do, just wondering, how many rigs do typically take with you. I know you bass boat guys can carry dozens on your boat, thats why I aimed this question at small, have to take your stuff to em boats. I usually have 4 rigs, tackle bag, and small cooler. Have been pondering taking a couple more rods

Hootie

[0119]

I dont use a rental row boat but i use a kayak. Never take more than 2. And one stays stored in the hatch. Even on my buddies bass boat I never see a need for more than 2. One spinning one casting. I never understood the logic of bringing multiple rigs just to avoid tying a knot. I dont believe in these supposed technique specific rods either.

[MN Bassin' nOOb]

I've rented over the past year; and I take 3.

Curado 200E5: deep crankers, shallow slow roll cranks, spinnerbaits

Daiwa Zillion 6:3:1: all purpose

Curado 200E7: jigs, topwater (buzzbaits, frogs, etc.)

[Kabar]

I'm taking max 3 setups....no need for more at least for me.....+ tackle box, some drinks.....etc.

[jerzeeD]

I have a 12' lowe angler that I have customized (pedestal swivel seats, casting decks with hatch, fishfinder, downrigger, rod holders, etc.) and my buddy and I can carry 4 combos each with no difficulty. Any more and it gets hairy.

[Marty]

Haven't been in a rowboat in a while, but I take three in a canoe or john boat. But if I were you I'd go for the six and see if they can avoid tangling. Whatever works.

By the way, about 30 years ago almost all of my non-shore fishing was from rented rowboats. But in those days I mostly took took one combo, sometimes two. Things have definitely changed!!

[smalljaw67]

I had a 14' jon I used to float fish the river during the mid to late summer when the water was low and I would take 2 set ups with me and a tackle bag along with a small cooler. The way I would do this and still be effective was to take a set up that was pretty much all purpose and a set up for cranks and jerkbaits, my big boat tackle bag was at home while my traveler was on the boat. That bag had 3 plano 3700 utility boxes that I would switch out based on body of water and /or season. For example in the summer I would have a box that had 1/4 football head jigs, 1/4 casting jigs, 1/4 flipping jigs and 1/4 trailers. The second box consisted of 1/4 deep diving crankbaits, 1/4 shallow cranks, 1/4 mid depth cranks, and 1/4 topwaters. The third box is terminal tackle like hooks, bullet weights and that kind of stuff and in the side pockets I would keep a bait binder with 8 or 10 bags of plastics and another binder with spinnerbaits. Now if I was fishing the river in the summer I would have a box that would have mostly floating jerkbaits instead of deep diving cranks. The same thing applies when I go on my friends bass boat, I limit myself to 4 setups even tough there is room for 6 and I do the same thing with the bag set up, the key is getting a good all purpose rod and reel and I recommend a graphite cranking rod that isn't too whippy so you can throw topwaters and jerkbaits with, and a good 6'6" or 7' MH-F rod you can cast jigs or pitch jigs with or maybe texas rigged worms or spinnerbaits. If you put some thought into what you are going to do you can really limit your tackle and still not feel like you're missing anything but you need to think it through.

[WookieeJedi]

I have taken as many as 5 with me in the canoe when fishing alone. In the kayak, the max is 4. I would rather have just one or two, and I shrink the number of rods when I think I can get away with it.

[von]

When I did rent, I'd take up to 5 setups. You just have to be careful where everything is laying on or across.

[hike4steel]

Take what you feel you need to get the job done. I'm kind of gear junkie and carry 8 plus a lagre tackle bag. I dont move around in the 14' Laker. Just stand in the back by the trolling motor to steer. Put a foot switch in line for a little easier controll. When my buddy joins me, he will bring 4 with a small bag and we each take a side for rod storage. Now, this being said, Stix jackets are the best inestment to make this hassel free. They do a great job of protecting rods and prevent tangles. As long as I am careful I will keep the boat rask down to a minimum on the reels. Don't Capsize!

[21farms]

i rented a row boat to do my fishing for ten years. i'd take 3-4 setups with me and it was fine. me and my partner now have a 20-foot bass boat but i still prefer to only have 4 setups with me. having fewer forces me to make good decisions and to stick with something i have confidence in longer than flitting around with different lures/baits, which has paid off for me.