How Many Rod/reel Combos Do You Really Need?

[Oldbritguy]

For years I fished with just one 7' spinning combo and one 6' baitcaster combo.  (I'm very much an 'average Joe'  bass fisherman, not interested in tournaments, etc.).

 

Now I seem to have accumulated about a dozen spinning combos, and about 8-9  baitcasters - of various lengths, strengths and actions.. . 

 

I try to limit my daily arsenal (in the boat)  to just four rods  And I always seem to have a problem deciding which four to put in the boat when I go out.  Despite the fact that I usually fish the same water, within a mile or so of my house. 

 

Sometimes I say to myself:" Just how few of these outfits do I REALLY need to take today"?    

 

My guess is that  - if I wasn't too lazy to keep switching lures - I could probably manage with just two!  

 

What do some of you guys think?  How many combos do you own.  How many do you really use " a lot" .  And how many combos do you take out each time, in the boat?

 

Might be interesting to hear . . . . . 

 

 

[jacob95]

I don't own as many as most guys on here. ... yet. But I'm also only 18. I have around 6 now. 4 bait casting and 2 spinning. I can see the benefit of having multiple setups for the same technique. Like have one setup for throwing jigs in thick cover and having a different one for fishing them around rocks, swimming them etc. It's only money haha!!!

[Grizzn N Bassin]

Im 22 so funds are tights for me still in school. I have a frog rod, jig n worm, a crank and top water rod which is a 7' mh . I have a spinner bait rod, and a swimbaitrod. I have 6 bait casters . And 3 spinning rods for bass.

I have 3 big spinning gear rods for stripers .

I can fit 6 rods in my yak and thats all i really need . Sometimes i just bring a couple but ita nice have a small variety of rods to choose from.

[John G]

In reality, I only need three, maybe four for freshwater. I fish from the bank and the area that I fish has lots of weeds along the edge so for me, a H/F bottom contact rod that can also throw spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and smaller swimbaits. A topwater rod, a rod for weightless plastics and maybe a rod for shallow running cranks. But my wants have taken over my needs and I have combos that I rarely use.

[Jar11591]

There is a pinned topic at the top of this forum called "Rod Selection: The Basics". It's pretty helpful. I normally roll with 4-5 but probably more this year.

[Master Bait'r]

I'd say I would be ultimately satisfied with 5 really dialed and well executed setups.      

 

One UL between 5'6"/6' ...  Ideally a Presso casting combo someday.  

One ML/XF spin setup in the low 6' range...  13 *** Black w/ Floog Supreme XT currently.  Love it.    

One M/M or /MF casting setup in the 6'8"-7'ish range...  Hopefully a Dobyns Champ 784CB or 704CB.  Undecided on the reel of course

One MH/F casting setup around 7'3"...  Currently a *** Green w/ Lew's BB1 Pro but hoping someday to upgrade to a 735C or NRX.  

One H/F casting setup right around 7'...  Thinking a real pig wrestler like a Loomis TWFR854C or something.  Not positive though.  Time will tell.    

[Inglorious Basser]

3.

[Missourifishin]

There is a pinned topic at the top of this forum called "Rod Selection: The Basics". It's pretty helpful. I normally roll with 4-5 but probably more this year.

 

That thread basically says that 3 combos will get the job done. I have 4 combos dedicated to bass (2 more for catfish, plus my little ol zebco). 2 spinning setups, one bc setup for treble hook lures, and another one for general purpose/everything else. I'm a bank fisherman, so I only take 2 or occasionally 3. I wish I had a boat so I could take 4 or 5. I don't think I would ever need more than that.

[EvanT123]

2 bank 4 boat. Could and used to do 2 on boat but wheres the fun in that

[mjseverson24]

For me I carry 25-30 combos with every day, typically 5 spinning and 25 casting... How many do i "Need"??? I would say that i could catch 80% of what i currently catch using 30 rods with only 15 rods... i could catch 60% with 10 rods, 50% with 5 and 40% with 3... three rods for me would be the minimum I could do it with, 1 jig/frog/t-rig rod, 1 reaction bait rod and 1 spinning rod for DS/shakey head... but why would I want to limit the number of fish I catch, because of the number of rods I want to bring... some days you can get on a pattern and use 1 or 2 rods all day, others all 30 of mine get used. I love to junk fish, its just a ton of fun... 

 

Mitch

[SirSnookalot]

Not counting dust collectors I have 2 freshwater set ups.  ML spinning for ponds and Med spin for high banked canals, I use the same lures on both set ups.

I have quite a few inshore set ups, wind and location dictate what I take with me.  I use pretty much the same lures on all my setups.  The size of the fish has very little to do with my combo selections of the day, I usually fish with one, but at fixed position like a jettie I'll have 2 plus my barracuda set up.  Everything I have is spinning general purpose rods, nothing heavier than mh.

[*Hootie]

Actually, none. I could always take up bowling...lol.

Hootie

[Catt]

Top Water

Sub Surface

Med Depth

Bottom

4 but I carry 5

[bigbill]

I have many setups. Five+ for shore fishing and many more setups for boat fishing.

My shore setups average from a light 5'6" setup for smaller lures to a heavier setup for topwater action. I vary my line test on all my setups. Most crankbaits will have a tighter action with a heavier line test. I want to get the most action out of my crankbaits. I use a lighter line with a ball bearing snap swivel as a hinge.

My setups;

All spinning reels

1. 6'6" topwater med/hvy action w/12# test

2. 6' Carolina rig/plastics & jigs med action w/14# test

3. 5'6" Spinnerbaits setup med action w/10# test

4. 6' Crankbait setup med action w8# test

5. 5'6" small lure rod or action w/6# test

I also carry a crankbait setup for jigs it depends on where I'm going that trip.

[new2BC4bass]

What has "NEED" got to do with it?  I have more than I 'need', but nowhere near as many as I 'want'. 

 

Bank fishing I'll carry two with me.  In my little boat it will be 4 or 5.  However, I always have 8-10 in the car when I leave the house.  Max number of spinning is normally going to be one outfit with the rest being baitcast combos.  I try to vary which rods go so I can put all to use during the year. Even so there a few rods and reels that haven't been used in a couple years.  I am hoping to remedy that this year.

[Inglorious Basser]

I have to open a tackle shop! You guys are crazy! 10-20-30 combos. Really you need that many? 

[daiwaguy]

I really need 100. But I can get by on tournament day with 12-15. 4-6 If I am going as a non boater.

[*Hootie]

I have to open a tackle shop! You guys are crazy! 10-20-30 combos. Really you need that many? 

 

 

You may have just opened a big 'ol can of worms...lol.

 

Hootie

[5dollarsplash]

I've got about 7 I really like to take with.

 

I could probably cut that down to 4 if boat space was a issue.

 

Less than that and I can manage, I've gone out with just 1 or 2 before, but It seems I always find myself wishing I had a different rod available that was left at home.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

2 ,baitcaster and spinning.when i was younger 1 did it all salt and fresh. Simple is great

[Maxximus Redneckus]

2 ,baitcaster and spinning.when i was younger 1 did it all salt and fresh. Simple is great

now if i put all my combos togather id have 50+ and still only use 1 or 2 .

[mjseverson24]

I have to open a tackle shop! You guys are crazy! 10-20-30 combos. Really you need that many? 

I will give just one example of why i carry as many as i do... i was fishing a local lake mid summer early in the morning I was catching quality fish (2.5-4 lbs)fish lights out on the outside weed edge on t-rigged brush hog's with a 1/4 oz weight... about an hour later all i was catching was 12-15 inch bass, stil pretty often but the quality was gone. I have 9 rods for bottom contact, typically 4 jigs and 5 t-rigs, each has different weight and line... i grabbed a different rod with a 1/8 oz weight and a baby brush hog, and started immediately catching the bigger fish again, and at great frequency... 20 min later the bite changed to the little ones again... switched to a 3/16 weight with rage craw started catching lights out again... this continued all day... more options gives your more room to fine tune your presentation... you can do it with one rod, but you will spend a lot of time cutting and retying instead of fishing, especially i the bite is tough...

 

Mitch

[Inglorious Basser]

I will give just one example of why i carry as many as i do... i was fishing a local lake mid summer early in the morning I was catching quality fish (2.5-4 lbs)fish lights out on the outside weed edge on t-rigged brush hog's with a 1/4 oz weight... about an hour later all i was catching was 12-15 inch bass, stil pretty often but the quality was gone. I have 9 rods for bottom contact, typically 4 jigs and 5 t-rigs, each has different weight and line... i grabbed a different rod with a 1/8 oz weight and a baby brush hog, and started immediately catching the bigger fish again, and at great frequency... 20 min later the bite changed to the little ones again... switched to a 3/16 weight with rage craw started catching lights out again... this continued all day... more options gives your more room to fine tune your presentation... you can do it with one rod, but you will spend a lot of time cutting and retying instead of fishing, especially i the bite is tough...

 

Mitch

what ever makes you happy, keep telling your self that to justify it. I just think as recreational fshermen you dont need that many setups, but that could just be me.

 

So your honestly telling me you could not do what you are doing with maybe 3-4 rods??? You are talking about 1/8-1/2 oz of weight difference, so your saying there is no rods that can adapt to that?? Weird.

 

I can understand have more tackle, but all these combos just seems crazy, to try and catch fish.

[5dollarsplash]

what ever makes you happy, keep telling your self that to justify it. I just think as recreational fshermen you dont need that many setups, but that could just be me.

 

So your honestly telling me you could not do what you are doing with maybe 3-4 rods??? You are talking about 1/8-1/2 oz of weight difference, so your saying there is no rods that can adapt to that?? Weird.

 

I can understand have more tackle, but all these combos just seems crazy, to try and catch fish.

 

If Mitch has the financial stability to do so, why not have different weights tied on and ready to go?  Save a minute or two tying on a new bait.  I'm sure he or anyone else with a lot of gear could get by with less, but their priority is to maximize their time with a lure in the water.  To a lot of peoples way of thinking, you can buy rods/reels/line/lures/etc, but you can't buy time on the water.

[Inglorious Basser]

If Mitch has the financial stability to do so, why not have different weights tied on and ready to go?  Save a minute or two tying on a new bait.  I'm sure he or anyone else with a lot of gear could get by with less, but their priority is to maximize their time with a lure in the water.  To a lot of peoples way of thinking, you can buy rods/reels/line/lures/etc, but you can't buy time on the water.

Think about what your are saying, spend hundreds or thousands of dallars to save a minute or two???? WOW.

 

Honestly i agree with you people can do what ever they want with there money.. it is there money. But the topic is how many DO MANY SETUPS YOU REALLY NEED, it is not about bragging how many you have, and then justifing why you have so many.