How many rods do you have in your boat (per person) ?

[SkeeterJohn]

I'm trying to take my bass fishing a lot more serious this year and i have quickly found having several rods pre-rigged makes life a whole lot easier.

For those that don't have a selection you're probably finding yourself using the same baits too often because it's too much hassle to change... or perhaps you're even losing out on fish because you can't follow up a missed strike with another bait.

This year i'll have 7 rods in the boat that should cover everything from a stiff flippin' rod to a softer action for cranks. Last year i only had 4 and at times i'm sure i lost out on fish because i couldn't grab a certain setup when i needed it.

Ed (toobinator) at Paddletales has a great saying "You don't play golf with one club so why go fishing with one rod."

So how many rods do you have in your boat (per person)? and what do you normally have pre-rigged?

[BASSSTALKER]

I have up to 8 depending on how many folk are with me.

[MichaelVandenberg]

Usually have 6...I don't have a big boat for more than that it gets messy...

[banjo]

I seem to have 5 usually. 2- baitcasters, one being my spinnerbait rod, and one being more of a flipping stick texas rigged with something(although I don't find myself flipping too often ) And I seem to always take 3 spinning outfits- 1 short stiff rod rigged with a tube, 1 longer more limber rod rigged with a topwater, and another stiff rod rigged with anything from a spoon to a plastic depending on what I seem to get misses on. Anytime I miss a strike, I go to this rod pitch out something different. More times than not that fish will strike.
Usually that's enough rods to clutter the boat nicely

[eye-tracker]

Rigged and ready to go...

2 Trolling rods for Cranks 8 ft
2 Trolling rods for Cranks 9 ft (Light action)
4 Bottom bouncing rods with live bait rigs and spinner rigs
2 Baitcasters for tossing into weeds or casting cranks
4 spining rods for jigging all rigged with different line and set-ups

...and if I am on a lake with suspending eyes, add downriggers and 4 9 foot dowrigger rods and 4 8ft Planner board Rods

You have to be real good at keeping a clean boat with all of these rods in the boat

-et

[Markus]

I'm with ET. I hit the water...the wind changes, or my target species has lock jaw, or I stumble onto a school of something....so I wanna be able to quickly change my style of fishing without traveling all the way back to the dock.

[SkeeterJohn]

Usually that's enough rods to clutter the boat nicely

You have to be real good at keeping a clean boat with all of these rods in the boat

The last thing you want to see is a rod being kicked over the side. Lucky for me i've only done this once and thankfully it floated Then of course you run the risk of standing on one

[banjo]

When canoe tripping I have put a 1' piece of pipe insulation (sliced down one side) on my rods while not using them, incase they (or me) go over board... they'll float. I never really do that in the boat... but it might be a good idea for someone. I have also done the same after my nephew casted the whole rod into the lake from the dock . After snorkling 20 minutes to find it... my option was to tie the rod to the dock or put on a round of this stuff

[Tony G.]

I carry 10 to 12 rods but then I'm into competetive Bass fishing, I am trying to crack into the Fishawk series and will have to count on you guys for info as to what I should bring in the way of rods
The rods I carry and use at present are as follows

2 worming rods 1 of which is offset both are of the spinning species
2 shoot thru rods which I prefer for Spinnerbaits and or Crankbaits
1 Nuese Riv. Spinning rod with an ultra light reel spooled with 30lb. test
5 Baitcasting Rods and reels the rods are all in the medium to medium heavy range which I use for mainly for 10 in. worms large tubes and those funny cigar shape things.

The first five listed are my main go to combos when they don't work for me I wil leave the fish catching to my new partner right Daryll

Tony G.

[Tony]

- My go rod is the "senko" one which I use a medium action spinning combo for.
- One Topwater rod
- One Tube Flippin rod
- One Jig Flippin rod
- One Worm Flippin rod
- One Spinnerbait rod
- And maybe one more spinning rod rigged with just a hook for floating plastics.

Most people would have a crankbait rod to, I think the important thing is to have one rigged up with each presentation you're good at. That way you're not wasting space with rods rigged up that you won't want to use.

CAN'T WAIT FOR END OF JUNE!!

[Hoser]

1 ultralight spinning
1 regular spinning
2 baitcasters
couple of spares in the storage compartment in case I step on any of the above

[Scum Frog]

I have 4 rods/reels but generaly only bring 2-3 in the boat depending on what I am targeting:

1 6'6" MH with Abu C3

1 7' M with Quantum spinning

1 8' MH Downrigger rod with Penn Level Wind

1 6' ultra light with Abu Cardinal 100

oh ya I have a Shimano Chromica that I need to pick up a rod for.

[JP]

Depending on the waters I am fishing for Bass I bring 10-12 rods.
1 Baitcaster on a 6'6" with 15lbs P-Line for Spinner baits
1 baitcaster on a 7' with 20lbs P-Line for Senko type baits
1 Baitcaster on a 7'6" with 65lbs Power Pro for rats and frogs
4 Flipping sticks 7'2"-7'10" with 65lbs Power Pro and 20lbs Mono
-Jig and pig
-6" tube
-texas rigged 10" black worm
-texas rigged craw
1 Spinning combo 5'6" rod with 30lbs Power Pro for skipping tubes under docks
1 Spinning combo 7' rod with 8lbs P-Line for 4-7" worms no weights
1 Baitcaster on a 5'6" rod with 17lbs P-Line for topwater

Having a good selection of rods helps me save time in tournaments. the key is to be organized and if you are not using it, put it in storage. A clutter free deck is a great tool during competition.
Y so many rods people ask, I use the Golfer's terms. U can put with a driver, but a putter works much better for that situation. Same goes for the selection of rods at your disposal.
Cheers

[GamblerSteve]

For now I have 11 rods not sure if more will be on the way.

1. 6'8" Medium Top Water/ Jerkbait Rod
2. 7' Medium-Heavy Spinnerbait Rod
3. 7' Medium-Heavy Crankbait Rod
4. 7'3" Medium-Heavy Dock Flippin Rod
5. 7'3" Extra-Heavy Slop/ Deep Water Flippin Rod
6. 7'6" Medium-Heavy Tube Flippin Rod
7. 7'6" Medium-Heavy Jig Flippin Rod
8. 7' Medium-Heavy Senko/Sluggo Rod
9. 7'10" Heavy Frog Rod
10. 7' Medium Small Tube Rod /Spinning
11. 6'8" Medium Tube Skipping Dock Rod/Spinning

[Wall-I-Guy]

This year I'll have 6 for Lake Ontario and a different 6 for around and about the area here

Usually go for 2 per angler More than enough I don't mind re-rigging if it calls for it Besides, don't like the clutter myself