bare minimum. how FEW rods can you get away with?

[Darth-Baiter]

33 minutes ago, Bankc said:

One rod.  I can do anything I need with either a M/F or MH/F.  Some baits might be out of the question, but I can still catch the same fish with other presentations that will work with that rod.  In fact, it's not at all unusual for me to go out fishing with just one rod.  It makes me a better angler, focusing on how to get the most out of what I have instead of focusing on all of my options.  

Same with kitchen knives.  Give me good chef's knife and can prepare most anything.  It's not ideal for all situations, but I have 4 chef's knives for a reason, because they can do it all (and it keeps me from having to clean a knife mid prep to prevent cross contamination).  I've also got a bunch of specialty knives, but they get used to make the job easier.  They're not required to get the job done.  

there.  i knew there is a reason i felt we could be friends.  i agree on all counts.  crazy talk but yea.  

 

i could do it with one awesome chef knife.  okay, doenst need to be awesome.  just sharp.  a 10" chef.  because: watermelons. 

[Vilas15]

6'6" M/F spinning rod and thats all I need unless were going for something that isn't panfish/bass/walleye. I fish on the weekends so having multiple rods is mostly about spending my time on the water fishing instead of retying, and a little about having bait specific setups.

[thunderblack]

1 - 7ft medium Fast

[Choporoz]

What?

 

I almost sorta understood the part about buying fewer, better rods.  But even that lost me.  Ok if you mean skipping the years of trying to buy the perfect $60 rod...and then $100 rod....and then, ok.. $180..."ahhh wth...I need to see what a $300 rod feels like"...sure, you can end up with rods that aren't high on your list....those can be sold or saved for spouse, guests, kids, grandkids, etc...  I don't commit to a rod until I have used it a number of times.  It isn't unusual for me to spend a bunch on a rod, only to go out and spend on another for same technique. 

  Could I get by with 5 rods?  I suppose....but I have plenty of room for the dozens of rods I have and except for a maybe a half dozen, most get used most years.  

   I have downsized most stuff in my life...so I sort of get it....but while fishing remains a passion level hobby, I have no interest in paring back right now.

   (Those remaining few include a couple 80s era Ugly Broomsticks, other assorted old and or cheap rods...not counting vintage steel, bamboo, early fiberglass rods I have laying around.)

[you]

I love how this thread plays on conflicting instincts.

 

Do you want immediate access to a wide variety of presentations that lend themselves to specific situations? Do you want simple and versatile options that work regardless of location or conditions?

 

Personally, I would answer yes to both, so I think the best answer to the title question is: How many rods can you bring before they start getting in your way?

 

From personal experience, I've narrowed the answers to:

 

1. If you fish the bank after a decent hike in: 1-2 rods

2. If you fish the bank in easily accessible areas: 2-3 rods

3. If you're on a small/sit-in kayak: 1-3 rods

4. If you're on a large/sit-on-top kayak: 2-6 rods

6. If you're on a bass boat with rod lockers: a lot

 

I spend 95% of my time in #3

 

But, as always, the best rod is the one you have with you.

[Big Hands]

Usually 3-5, sometimes 6, but rarely. If I am dialed in on the bite, I usually opt for less rods to minimize clutter. Same with tackle

 

I have been working on a graphic for a thread topic for a future post for almost a year now. I figured I would have it ready for 'silly season' last year, but I keep coming up with more details I want to add to it.

 

I call it "The Bait Monkey Rod Matrix". I think Bait Monkey will be pleased.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

2 combos  1 light  action spinning  rod with 2 spools  mono and braid..6ft  and a 6 6 baitcast rod med with 2 spools  braid and mono 

2 combos  1 light  action spinning  rod with 2 spools  mono and braid..6ft  and a 6 6 baitcast rod med with 2 spools  braid and mono ...i did a rod count the other day i have over 80 rods from ultra light 4 ft rods to 12 ft surf rods and hardly ever  use more then 4 at a time lol

[flyfisher]

It is totally a preference.  When I am conventional fishing I could take 2 probably but I would be retying often.  Fly fishing I could use one but where is the fun in that.  Fishing from a kayak I would rather grab a new rod than retie to change presentations.  

I mean for me the bare minimum would be:

MF spinning

MHF baitcaster

 

i could do the vast majority of techniques with those two rigs even if if not best suited for them.

 

Fly fishing

smallies-7wt with a floating line

LM either an 8wt or 10/11wt with floating line would get the job done as long as i have all the various leader material to facilitate different presentations.

[leinad]

for me 3 rods (spinning) would cover all i do ; light for finesse , med  for slightly heavier jig heads , tx rigs and a med heavy for fishing areas with pads and and taller grass and weeds.

[santafish]

Honestly I bring a ton of rods every time I go out but 99 pct of the time I'm really only using my medium fast spinning setup and my mh/f casting. Other rods are really just for ease of throwing a different bait without having to retie all the time if I want to swap baits. I do find that a more moderate fast action helps because you can still get decent hooksets on single hooks but also get away with using treble hook baits whereas a true fast or x fast kind of rules out trebles.

[TLHSS]

I just fish with one rod. I easily and quickly change baits by using snaps. 
 

[HookInMouth]

Kayak or bank fish. I take two. A MH/F for bottom contact (Texas-Rig) and a MH/M for reaction (Chatterbait or Whopper Plopper). It's really all i need and I like to keep things simple. 

[Texas Flood]

I usually have a bottom contact and a reaction combo in my truck. Whether I bring one or both setups depends on the location, weather and mood. 

[Fishing_Rod]

Greetings All,

 

My angling adventures typically have 1 to 4 rigs at easy reach.

 

When using my kayak I'll have the 4 on board. Two in the vertical holders just aft of the seat back with the other 2 rods on deck.

 

Now when on foot, I'll simplify to one or two rigs just to keep things easy for me. This simplifies the support equipment, tackle, load too. I prefer to carry less to enjoy more. 

 

These configurations are typical for me and I'm comfortable with that range of options. I will add, my recent canal fishing adventures, I focused on exploration of the area(s) and my bait cast configuration. As such, I used the a single rig to gain experience in developing proficiency.

 

I do what I can to adapt to the situation in order to catch fish. Being a recreational angler, I'm focused on my fun factor for my goofing-off time. Your mileage may vary. Be well and cheers!

 

 

[Ryanralston07]

If I'm fishing from a kayak, I bring these:

 

7'1 MH/F with braided line for t-rigs

7'4 MH/M with fluorocarbon for bladed jigs

7' M/M with hybrid line for crankbaits

7' M/F spinning reel for wacky rigs and other light lures

 

If I'm fishing from the bank on a private lake, I like to fish like Mel Gibson's character in "The Patriot" combated Red Coats, putting combos around the lake where I'd fish those combos, and then I carry one in my hand and one on my backpack. I just have to remember to go back and pick them up lol

[TnRiver46]

Well it depends…. Wade/swimming in the mtns it’s nearly impossible to have more than one. Canoe kayak having 2-3 is nice. Usually 5-7 in the motor boat 

[Bazoo]

I am a minimalist of sorts; the minimum is 2 for me, a casting and a spinning. I think 3 of each would allow me to have all I could need for bass. I often take 2 fishing the bank, though it's a pain to drop one when I want to cast... but it's more better when I am anchored in a spot and want to switch from something hard to something soft. I rarely go without a soft plastic as backup.