Something dawned on me today.

[Bird]

Was fumbling around with all my dedicated rods, you know, a Rod for Spinnerbaits, rod for frogs, rod for jerk baits and on and on.

 

How much money could have been saved by taking the baseball bat approach...... simply CHOKE UP. ?

Sorry, been one of those days.

[Bankc]

My rule is six rods.  I have space for six rods in my kayak, so I limit myself to just six rods for everything.  All of my rods have to be able to do multiple techniques well to make the cut, or else they get replaced. 

 

I mean technically, I probably have fourteen rods total, but a few are old and sentimental rods that I inherited.  And a few are species specific, like for saltwater or crappie/panfish fishing that I rarely use.  And one is a spincast rod and reel for guests to break.  

 

When you voluntarily limit yourself to just six, it's kind of surprising how easy it is to get by with just those six and still be able to do everything you want to do well.  I'd hate to limit myself to five, because I feel like six is the bare minimum.  But then again, I'm betting if I put my mind to it, I could get it down to four and still feel like I have all of my bases covered.  

[Happybeerbuzz]

1 Casting Rod, 7', MH

1 Spinning Rod7', M

40 packs of snaps.  

 

Well, it didn't happen that way for me.  

[PressuredFishing]

 lol yup... ya gatta have so many rods, special reels, florocarbon for this, braid for that, 15lb for this but you cant use 12lb, it cant but 7"3 thats too long, you gatta have 6"11, etc etc. its all Marketing scheme and racket. Sold all my specialty fishing rods, Only have a few MH casting and a M spinning for bass, all use mono, I am so happy and am not looking back. I made the switch because gas prices+everything else  are asinine and I dont have the money to spend for wants as much anymore.  Sure I may not hook every fish on 12lb mono on a frog, but I refuse to fish the "right way" with the "right equiptment" and would say I am fishing the "right way" for my situation.

[LCG]

I have come to the same conclusion. I had a total of 7 combos, which isn't much compared to some here. But I never take more than two out with me.

 

Then my wife downsized her vehicle. I will also be downsizing my vehicle within the next year.

 

So I searched for high quality two piece rods. Found exactly what I wanted with a ML spinning rod and M and MH casting rods.

 

It's sort of back to basics and I like it a lot. ML and MH cover everything I need. The M covers a bit of both ends of the spectrum for when I want to bring just one combo.

[roadwarrior]

 

[FrnkNsteen]

Well, I don't "NEED" more than 2 or 3, but what's the fun in that?? ? 

 

I've got my main set of rods and tackle bins in our boat for my wife and I, plus some in the garage aling with a carry bag for when we go hit a pond or go with a friend in their boat.

[FishTank]

I have around 22 set ups now and I look at it in two different ways, tournament fishing and fun fishing.  Each rod to me has a different feel and personality, including a specific purpose, this increases my fishing fun. I pick the ones I want to catch fish on the day before I go and enjoy them with no real expectations.  

 

On the other hand, when I tournament fish I take 5-6 setups catered to what I think the fish are after.  Unless nothing is working, I try to stick with what I put on to maximize my time in the water.  If I had to do it all over again for my tournament setups, I would pick 5-6 rods from the same brand and the same lineup that are technique specific to me. I would pick one particular reel, made in the speeds I want for 3 or 4 of those setups.  The rest would be one spinning reel and one large, slow speed round reel for big crankbaits and swimbaits. 

 

 

[new2BC4bass]

2 hours ago, Bankc said:

My rule is six rods.  I have space for six rods in my kayak, so I limit myself to just six rods for everything.  All of my rods have to be able to do multiple techniques well to make the cut, or else they get replaced. 

 

I mean technically, I probably have fourteen rods total, but a few are old and sentimental rods that I inherited.  And a few are species specific, like for saltwater or crappie/panfish fishing that I rarely use.  And one is a spincast rod and reel for guests to break.  

 

When you voluntarily limit yourself to just six, it's kind of surprising how easy it is to get by with just those six and still be able to do everything you want to do well.  I'd hate to limit myself to five, because I feel like six is the bare minimum.  But then again, I'm betting if I put my mind to it, I could get it down to four and still feel like I have all of my bases covered.  

I fished with one for years because I didn't know better.  Now I have more than I can use.  Choosing 6-8 to take with me can be a conundrum.  Life would be so much easier if I only had about 10 combos.

 

On the plus side I got them before prices on everything started skyrocketing.    All my current funds can go to put food on the table and gas in the car.  Which is no small feat these days considering work mileage is just over 530 miles per week. 

[Choporoz]

I'm limited to eight in my kayak the way I'm set up now.  I'm having a heck of a time narrowing it to just eight for a tournament tomorrow....facing a couple game time decisions 

[Bird]

29 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

I'm limited to eight in my kayak the way I'm set up now.  I'm having a heck of a time narrowing it to just eight for a tournament tomorrow....facing a couple game time decisions 

Take 9 so you can call an audible ? 

Oh and good luck in the tournament.

[WRB]

Back when I had a bass boat it carries a minimum of 15 combos ready to fish. I also added 3 big swimbait/wake/glide 7’9” to 8’ combo’s. My boat was a floating tackle shop.

Basically 18 rod-reel combos ready to fish. Several where duplicates, just OCD wanting to be ready if needed.

If I was invited to fish with someone else’s boat I tried to determine what the bite was and take 4 or 5 combo’s and 1 or 2 bags of lures and terminal tackle.

Fast foreword to today I have 2 bait casting combo’s a  MHF JWR and MF. I also have 3 spinning outfits for finesse fishing; MLF and 2 MF combo’s. I only back seat now (when invited) and take 4 combo’s and 1 tackle bag. 

How times have changed!

Tom

 

[Catt]

I can get by with 3; topwater, mid-depth, & bottom contact.

 

My preference is 5:

Texas Rig

Jig-n-Craw 

Frog/punching 

Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, lipless 

Crankbaits 

[BrianMDTX]

I need several of each, so I can punish a rod by leaving it home when I get skunked. Serves it right. 
 

“Sorry, Mr. MH/F casting rod! You blew it! I’m taking your cousin out tomorrow! Enjoy the garage!” 

[Bird]

2 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

I need several of each, so I can punish a rod by leaving it home when I get skunked. Serves it right. 
 

“Sorry, Mr. MH/F casting rod! You blew it! I’m taking your cousin out tomorrow! Enjoy the garage!” 

I happen to agree, it's never us, it's the stinking rod...... when will rods catch up to the talent level of the fisherman ? ?

[padon]

its not a matter of need i mean lets face it few if any of us are fishing to put food on the table. i could probably get by with 5 or 6 combos. but i like rods and reels. i have 4 medium heavy casing outfits. i have 4 medium action spinning rods.i have 4 medium light spinning rods. i have 3 cranking rods etc, etc. i dont take them all with me all the time but they are my toys , my passion. im sure in the next year ill add a couple more. i work hard. i have money in the bank. i have money set aside for retirement. all the bills get paid every month. i  work in a major hospital, i see people my age or not much older on the edge of death every week i like fishing tackle , and i buy more than i need and i dont apologize for it.

[Bass Rutten]

@bait__Monkey just a heads up, some crazy talk going on here…

[PaulVE64]

I am on foot off the bank in ankle deep water.

I cover water and carry maybe 10 jigs. 

Most importantly i carry one rod. I hand select the location, then the gear, then the lures.  

I tie my own and some of them work really good.

But more importantly the water requires only a few techniques to smash smallies.

 

I think the right amount of maribou and a balance between the lead wt and the amount of deer hair for lift can help a jig almost float threw a run or dive into a pool.

  

[Clumsy fisherman]

16 hours ago, PressuredFishing said:

 lol yup... ya gatta have so many rods, special reels, florocarbon for this, braid for that, 15lb for this but you cant use 12lb, it cant but 7"3 thats too long, you gatta have 6"11, etc etc. its all Marketing scheme and racket. Sold all my specialty fishing rods, Only have a few MH casting and a M spinning for bass, all use mono, I am so happy and am not looking back. I made the switch because gas prices+everything else  are asinine and I dont have the money to spend for wants as much anymore.  Sure I may not hook every fish on 12lb mono on a frog, but I refuse to fish the "right way" with the "right equiptment" and would say I am fishing the "right way" for my situation.

I really doubt that the weight of the line and weight of the lure makes that much difference to the function of the rod as manufacturers want us to believe. So, you can use 12lb, but not 151b for line or 3/8, but not 1/2 for lures? I refuse to believe that the rod tolerances are that precise unless, maybe, you are talking about a $600 rod. For that matter, I bet there is some variation of line weight among brands and even within brands. Does anyone think that different spools of fishing line that is, for example,12lb test, is always the same weight, test, and diameter?  Think there isn't any variation between the actual weight of a lure and the weight shown on the package when you buy it? I wouldn't bet my house on that. Sure, between extremes, it does matter. You're not going to use a heavy action rod to cast a 1/8 spinnerbait. Just call me a skeptic on this different rod for every kind of fish or lure idea.

 

I also doubt the fish really know what kind of rod or reel you are using.

 

 

[new2BC4bass]

3 hours ago, Clumsy fisherman said:

Think there isn't any variation between the actual weight of a lure and the weight shown on the package when you buy it? I wouldn't bet my house on that.

I've only weighed a few lures.  The 5/8 oz. Storm Wildeye Swim Shad weighed an even ounce.  A 1/2 oz. War Eagle Spinnerbait weighed .82 oz.  These were the extremes of the few lures I weighed.  All lures weighed more than listed with the exception of the two frogs I weighed.  The furthest off was a 5/8 oz. Live Target Koppers at .462 oz.

 

[flyfisher]

Just get into fly fishing and you can have one rod do everything you need and do it well, at least for bass anyways.  it is nice though to have 3 or 4 of them though ready to go with different presentations.

[new2BC4bass]

9 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

Just get into fly fishing and you can have one rod do everything you need and do it well, at least for bass anyways.  it is nice though to have 3 or 4 of them though ready to go with different presentations.

Trying.  I didn't take your advice.  Bought rods over the winter.  One 5wt, one 6wt (mostly for streamers), three 4wts (two 9', one 8') and one 3wt (8'6").  Already had a never used 7'6" 3wt and a 9' 8wt that has only been lawn cast.

 

Don't have an 8'4", 9'6", 10' (or longer), no 7'9", etc.  What's a guy to do? 

[FrnkNsteen]

8 hours ago, Clumsy fisherman said:

I really doubt that the weight of the line and weight of the lure makes that much difference to the function of the rod as manufacturers want us to believe. So, you can use 12lb, but not 151b for line or 3/8, but not 1/2 for lures? I refuse to believe that the rod tolerances are that precise unless, maybe, you are talking about a $600 rod. For that matter, I bet there is some variation of line weight among brands and even within brands. Does anyone think that different spools of fishing line that is, for example,12lb test, is always the same weight, test, and diameter?  Think there isn't any variation between the actual weight of a lure and the weight shown on the package when you buy it? I wouldn't bet my house on that. Sure, between extremes, it does matter. You're not going to use a heavy action rod to cast a 1/8 spinnerbait. Just call me a skeptic on this different rod for every kind of fish or lure idea.

 

I also doubt the fish really know what kind of rod or reel you are using.

 

 

I don't think anyone ever said you need a different rod for every kind of fish or lure, or that they only worked if the 1/2oz lure weighed exactly .500oz.

 

For me, it's a combination of a couple things coming from when I used to fish tournaments. One,... Like padon said,... I like rods and reels!! Two,... I hate stopping to retie if/when I want to try something different, so I carry a jig setup, and a skipping setup, and a T rigged worm, and a chatterbait,... Etc, etc, etc.

 

Like padon said... Hard work = bills paid = retirement plans,....  Then,... Fishing Stuff!! ??

[NYWayfarer]

22 hours ago, Catt said:

I can get by with 3; topwater, mid-depth, & bottom contact.

Ditto.

 

However I usually carry 4, the 4th being a finesse combo. I call it the skunk beater. 

[flyfisher]

6 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Trying.  I didn't take your advice.  Bought rods over the winter.  One 5wt, one 6wt (mostly for streamers), three 4wts (two 9', one 8') and one 3wt (8'6").  Already had a never used 7'6" 3wt and a 9' 8wt that has only been lawn cast.

 

Don't have an 8'4", 9'6", 10' (or longer), no 7'9", etc.  What's a guy to do? 

I didn't say you HAD to only have one rod   I don't even know how many I have now but I am guessing over a dozen of varying weights, sinking lines etc.  Picked up a glass 3wt well, just because and to use on smaller streams for brookeis and panfish.  So far that rod is a blast to fish.