What rods do you carry in your small boat?

[Robbie Mackley]

I frequently fish from my 16’ canoe with electric motor. I’ve found that managing more than 3 rods, in my half of the boat, is really a pain. Currently carrying a 7’1” m/h a 7’10” m/h (that needs to be repaired or replaced) and a 6’6” med. spinning setup. Curious to know what other people carry in their small boats. Also interested in any small boat tips/tricks you all may be willing to share. TIA. 

-Mackley 

[NittyGrittyBoy]

I would personally ditch that 7'10" and just carry a one baitcast outfit and one spinning outfit.

 

You can only fish one at a time, and tying on a different lure should only take a min or so. To much clutter in already cramped space will make fishing miserable for you.

 

Always remember, less is more. 

[Scott F]

The number and type of rods I bring is 100% dependent on the kind of fishing I’ll be doing. I’m sure your decision on what rods you bring should also be based on the waters and lures you will be fishing.  Giving you good advise is hard without knowing anything about where or how you like to fish. 

[haggard]

53 minutes ago, Robbie Mackley said:

Curious to know what other people carry in their small boats. Also interested in any small boat tips/tricks you all may be willing to share. 

For me, in a 14 to 16 ft boat or 12 ft yak, it's usually 4 rods, all between 6'6 and 7'0. I'd rather not bring four; it's just what I usually end up doing:

 

MH/F BC

M/F BC

M/F spin

L/F spin (for panfish, if I'm getting skunked on bass)

 

I'd really like to get confident enough to bring only two (M/F spin, M/F BC), as simplicity really helps when in a small boat. I find it also clears my mind, not just clutter on the deck.

 

I wouldn't bring only one because I believe in backups/redundancy.

 

What makes a big difference in how many combos are comfortable to bring is whether or not you have a rod storage system. Four rods lying on a small deck can be a tangly hassle, but having them stored on holders on the gunnel or in a locker could make it very doable.

 

[Tizi]

I bring 3 in my kayak:  MH casting, M casting, and M spinning

[DHP]

I started kayak fishing last year. I hadn’t fished seriously for about 10 years but the kayak got me interested in it again. I started with a 7’2” medium fast spinning rod only. Just recently I tried taking 3 setups with me and it was more than I wanted to deal with. So wanting to be able to fish techniques not ideal for my spinning rod I bought a 7’6” medium heavy/moderate fast casting setup. Have not had a chance to use it from the kayak yet but in theory it should cover most heavier presentations I’m likely to use. 

 

The spinning rod is rated 1/16-1/2oz and the casting rod is a frog rod rated 3/8-1 1/4oz. I’ve got 20# braid on the spinning and 40# braid on the casting. Using appropriate leaders for different techniques. 

 

I’m hoping to get out some before weather gets bad to try this 2 rod setup out. I’m thinking it will work well. 

[Ksam1234]

18 hours ago, Robbie Mackley said:

I frequently fish from my 16’ canoe with electric motor. I’ve found that managing more than 3 rods, in my half of the boat, is really a pain. Currently carrying a 7’1” m/h a 7’10” m/h (that needs to be repaired or replaced) and a 6’6” med. spinning setup. Curious to know what other people carry in their small boats. Also interested in any small boat tips/tricks you all may be willing to share. TIA. 

-Mackley 

I fish from an15.5 ft canoe and carry 4-5 rods ha. I have a soft plastic rod, frog/heavy cover rod , jerkbait and cranking rod , heavy jig type rod and a spinnerbaits rod 

[OCdockskipper]

I have a 10 ft Pond Prowler and typically fish alone (from the front of the boat).  I carry 8 rods (all between 6' - 6' 9"), usually 5 spinning & 3 casting and have a system set up to allow me to switch between them easily without cramping the boat.

 

My tackle box & bags are in the middle to the back of the boat & I built a small brace that sits in the seat grooves directly behind my seat.  4 of the spinning rods are then in the middle of the boat, with the butts on the brace & the middle of each rod on the largest tackle box (I put a towel on it to eliminate sound & potential damage to the rods).  The other 4 rods are placed in the gunnels, 2 to a side.  Nothing tangled, all ready to go.

 

What this does is keep all of the rods behind me, out of my way.  A half turn either way gives me quick access to any rod, which is real handy for fast followup casts.  All other gear that I grab (pliers, scent, additional soft plastics, etc) are all around the front of the boat, easily accessible whether I am sitting or standing.

[Hook2Jaw]

Fishing from a 14' sit on top kayak, a Hobie Pro Angler 14, I can carry six rods on the crate, two more in the rear rod holders, and six more in the rod storage.

 

I'm planning on fishing some kayak tournaments this year, so I plan to have 6-8 behind me and two on the deck.  The two on the deck are multi-use setups to mimic whatever pattern I can identify.

 

I'll learn what to carry and what not to carry as I go, but the Hobie can carry a lot of junk and keep it organized very easily.  Planning on modifying my crate so I can store the rods in the rear horizontally for bombing overhead casts without worry of blowing up a reel when a bait contacts a stowed rod.

[NYWayfarer]

I fish a small sit-in kayak with 2 rod holders. Not really enough room for a milk crate. I realized I was holding the paddle upside down after this pic was taken.

 

 

I take one spinning combo, medium rod with a 300 size reel or medium light with a 100 or 200 size reel and a baitcasting combo, medium heavy fast action rod. Rods I use are from 6' to 6',10" for easier management in tight spaces.

 

I use the spinning for dropshot, wacky and ned rigs. I use the baitcaster for cranks, topwaters and t-rigs. I find that's all I usually need on the water. I carry that in a small Plano tackle bag that sits between my legs.

 

My favorite tactic is to use the baitcaster for topwater and if the fish misses the bait, I immediately use the spinning to throw a wacky rig in that spot.

 

 

[Catt]

Regardless of what size boat I carry a maximum of 5 but most generally 3.

 

I carry a worm rod, jig rod, & topwater or mid-depth depending on the body of water.

[flyfisher]

I usually carry 6 in the summer on my sit on top kayak.  Winter time or for specific areas, i take less.  Usually it is 4 bait casters and 2 spinning.  I hope to get out this weekend and will probably be taking 6.  I find it less of a pain to change rods than baits.  

[Mobasser]

We sometimes fish from ou 17ft Osagian canoe. Usually 3 rods. 2 casting , 1 med spinning, and a small tacklebox packed with lures, which we change depending on season. Love the small boat fishing

[WRB]

When fish from someone else's boat I take 3 jig & worm rods, 1 spinning and 1 crankbait or swimbait depending on what the bite is. My own bass boat is only 17.5' and it is my rod locker with about 15 outfits ready to fish and keep only what I am using out on the deck, maybe 3 rods.

When I had my 14' aluminum boat I used the same rod combinations noted for fishing someone else's boat and made horizontal rod holders between the seats to hold rods I wasn't using out of the way. Can't stand a cluttered boat with rods and tackle everywhere, like to keep things organized if possible, especially at night, then only the rod I am using is out on the deck.

Tom

[Boomstick]

I usually carry just two rods with me when I rent a rowboat or a canoe. My three rod setup (that covers most baits very well) is a 6'10" MH/F rod, 7'2" glass MH/MF rod for moving baits and a 6'9" ML/XF spinning rod for finesse baits. Which three depends greatly on the lake I'm fishing and conditions.

[haggard]

6 hours ago, DHP said:

I’m hoping to get out some before weather gets bad to try this 2 rod setup out. I’m thinking it will work well. 

The weather already is b---- oh wait... You're in California :D

 

[DHP]

5 hours ago, haggard said:

The weather already is b---- oh wait... You're in California

 

Ya no kidding haha! The weather is great right now to get out but work schedule not so accommodating. 

[thinkingredneck]

I usually fish for a few hrs after work in my kayak.  I usually fish soft plastics and take 2 rods.  Can carry up to 6.  Sometimes, for long days I take 4,. Less is more.  

Fly fishing, I take 2.

if it can catch or tangle, it will.