How many rods to bring?

[Teria]

I was just wondering how many rods should you bring when you go fishing? I only have two. I have been focusing on just one until I get the feel of things better. I feel like I waist to much time on the lake changing my bait.

Teria

[roadwarrior]

You only need three rods to cover almost every technique:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1196114229

8-)

[hawgchaser]

Well once you start buying them, there is no stopping. Then you will start tying on the night before and end up with 7 or 8 rods in the boat.

However, I have to have a M casting, MH casting, and M spinning to make me happy when fishing most situations.

But you can certainly make do with whatever you have.

[fishfordollars]

I carry 8-12, but I'm an extremist. I try to rig each one with a different type, line diameter, and depth to keep me from having to change up so often. During prefish I have rods all over the place. If I have figured them out I am down to about four the first morning of the tournament. If not, there is no telling how many are on the deck.

I have kicked more than one over the side at one time or another.

[Tin]

Usually 3-4 MH for Jigs/Spinnerbaits, a medium fast action for treble hooked baits, and a couple spinning for finesse fishing.

[Davis]

I usually bring at least two with me.

Always bring my Avid M extra fast spinning rod for plastics.

Then usually my Shimano MH for jigs or Falcon MH for Spinnerbaits. Depending on what body of water I'm fishing.

Sometimes I'll bring four if I'm fishing a place where I can walk 10 yards to my truck to change up.

[Redlinerobert]

Loaded question.

I typically have no fewer than 6 on deck in addition to the rod I am using.  I don't like changing lures unless I absolutely have to.  Cuts out down time completely.  Sometimes I may even  have two rods rigged with the same lure, incase one gets snagged or lost.

[basser89]

Depends on where I'm fishing.    If I'm on my boat, then I usually bring the full arsenal (which is 11). I have a couple of duplicate set ups (ex. 2 spinnerbait rods, 2 crankbait rods, 2 flippin sticks), if one bair isn't producing then its just a matter of picking up another rod instead of wasting time rigging up another bait. If I'm fishing from shore or on a friends boat, I try to limit myself to 4-5 max. I have friends that ask me why I have so many rods and I tell them I like to fish, not tie!  

[islandbass]

As RW said, 3 rods can cover most situations.  I usually carry at least 2 and maybe 4 and this limitation is because I am shorebound.

What I am noticing however is that when I bring 3 or 4, it seems that most of the time, only 2 of the 3 or 4 are used and the others never get "called to duty".

[tennwalkinghorse]

I bring one casting for heavy lures and a spinning rod for lite stuff Teria just beware of the bait monkey it sounds like he is whispering in your ear :) and may I add you are a very pretty young lady but I'm sure you know that, but a girl still likes to hear it. Lots of Luck

Walking Horse

[The_Natural]

It just depends on if you can spare the time to tie on a different bait.  I can't.  If I am going down a bank, I will be working a moving bait until I hit a laydown.  I'll drop my crankin' rod and pick up my jig rod or T-rig rod.  After working that I may see some activity behind me...looks like shad are being busted.  Time to pick up my spinnerbait rod and fling it out there before the action stops.  I may also see a ledge or break that has fish all over it, and want to drop a C-rig down there real quick.  See what I mean?

[Ballpark Frank]

Here lately I usually have 6 rigs; 4 baitcasting and 2 spinning. The spinning don't get used much. I always have a spinnerbait rig and a crankbait rig, those are my confidence baits. The rest of the rigs are for plastics and jigs, baitcasting for heavy and spinning for light. I don't mind changing baits. When I open my tackle box, I'm like a kid in a candy store.

[Catt]

I carry 4 total  

Texas Rig with either 3/16-1/4 oz bullet weight

Jig-N-Craw

Rat-L-Trap

Spinner/Buzz Bait

[lubina]

I carry 8-12, but I'm an extremist.

I have kicked more than one over the side at one time or another.

Same here

[Teria]

It looks like I might need to go shopping. Darn I hate that! Thanks for the advice.

Teria

[The_Natural]

It looks like I might need to go shopping. Darn I hate that! Thanks for the advice.

Teria

Need may be a strong word.  I fished tournaments all through high school with just 4 setups and did just fine.  Granted, it is really convenient having a few more.  

[Bassyak]

I typically carry 8 in my Tracker with me, mostly baitcasters with one spinning outfit,  But if I'm in my kayak, I'll only take 4 and I usually only use 2 or 3 regularly, because it's harder to switch them out.  If I'm fishing from the bank, 2 is usually my max because I have two hands and that works out well when carrying them along as I change positions.  Bottom line...if it's easy to carry a lot of rods and rapidly switch between them, I'll carry as many as I can get away with, so I can quickly change presentations to maximize my number bites.  If it becomes a hassle to carry all I want to, I can easily make do with about 3 rods to cover pretty much all presentations.

[JayW]

You only need three rods to cover almost every technique:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1196114229

8-)

I couldn't agree more!

[tyrius.]

I've got 4 setups, but 3 that typically get used (this year I've been focusing just on 2, a worm rod and a jig rod).  The one that doesn't is a light spinning outfit for throwing small rapalas that are less than 3/8 oz.  I'd like to add a spinnerbait setup, but I mainly fish from the bank so I'll spend more time tieing than fumbling with more rods.

[muskyxl]

bass fishing....4-6 rods, generally 3 or 4 baitcasters

musky fishing....8 rods, all baitcasters

[Jake P]

When i first started i thought it was ridiculous to have more than 1 or 2 rod/reels. Now i think its ridiculous to have less than 2. I use the following

6'6'' MH/F Baitcaster- T rigs, spinner/buzzbaits

6'6'' MH/M Baitcaster- treble hooks

7'' MH/F Baitcaster- jigs

7''M/F Spinning- SOME weightless plastics, tubes, shaky head rigs.

I would like to have a rod for flippin and pitchin but i don't have much heavy cover where i usually fish so there is no need for one at this moment. Beware, once you start buying them you will not be able stop...... Trust me.

[Teria]

That is what I have heard. Thanks

[wagn]

as other have said depends on what you are doing. Shore fishing usually 2. Bank fishing at night from the ramp i usually bring 4, so i don't have to change lures and re-tie at night and on my boat anywhere from 4-10 depending on what i think i may need and if i have anyone else on the boat. Each rod will be rigged differently I may bring 10 but my goal is to narrow down my rods too 1 or 2 once i figure out what the fish want.

If i'm going out to learn a new technique i only bring 2 rods though rigged with the same bait in case i get a real bad backlash or something.

So the answer is, anywhere from 1-24 rods is the right answer. It depends on what you are trying to do, and what kind of angler you are.

[David P]

1.  765 - jigs / beavers

2.  766 - Frogs and other top water

3.  806 - Big swimbaits

4.  734 - Senkos and other T-Rig plastics

5.  702 - Drop shot / Shaky head

Most days I only throw 1-2 rods for the most part, but occasional pick up one of the other rods for a few casts.

[Brian_Reeves]

Granted, I fish out of a canoe now, but when I was tournament fishing a few years ago...it was the same deal.

I own a good bit of rods and reels.  I only take 2 out with me

MH 7ft baitcaster

MH 6ft 6in baitcaster

If I have a bunch of rods, I end up fishing my one or two favorite ones anyway.  By the end of the day, I'd have 2 flukes, 2 jigs, and two hula grubs on anyway.  I'd look at my rods and be like "what in the heck happened to my crankbaits and spinnerbaits???"

So I just simplified it.  An everything rod and a heavy cover rod.  Works for me.