How many rods on your deck?

[ChooChooSnakeMan]

Ok, I'm bored and want to get some insight about how you arrange rods and how many you typically have in your boat and on your front deck at any given time, on average.

It seems that I see some people with like 12 (6 on each side) all rigged and ready to go on the front deck while others seem to only keep 3 or 4 on their front decks while they are actually fishing. Let us know how you operate. I'm also curious about why you have the number of rods rigged that you use. For people who have a large number, is it because you have several of the same style rods for the same tactic but rigged with a slightly different bait. For example if you T-rig fish worms do you find that you have two or three with maybe different colors or maybe different sinker sizes all ready to go. Personally I think I'm going to try to reduce the number of rods I even take with me. I unload the boat each time after a trip and it is just more work having a bunch of rods in the rod locker and on the front deck. Most of the rods I may not even use or I may only use them a few casts. I could take two spinning rods, two baitcast rods, a specialty C'rig rod and cover everything with my limited fishing skills. I would have to take the time to maybe cut lures off and tie on a totally different type instead of having a dedicated rod for each lure type but I would be loading and unloading a lot fewer rods and I would have a clearer front deck space. Maybe you see the need to have a specialty heavy soft plastic rod and another heavy spinner bait rod for example.

What I'm after is:

How many rods do you usually have in the boat when you go bass fishing. This is total on the front deck and in rod lockers.

How many rods do you usually have rigged with baits and setting ready to use on your front deck when you are fishing.

All input / opinions are appreciated.

Thanks

 

[SoddyDaddy]

For me it depends on how I plan on fishing. If I’m targeting a specific depth or structure, I’ll only take 3 or 4. For example, if I’m fishing grass mats in the fall, I’ll have a couple of frog rods and something to punch with.
Other times, when they are transitioning, I’ll probably bring twice that many. I’ll have a couple for each depth I plan on trying that day.

As for the rod locker, I always keep a shakey head rod and a crappie rod in there.

Thanks for putting this out there. I’m interested to see what everyone else does. Since it’s this close to Christmas, I may need more rods!

Merry Christmas to all!

 

[Strato-G]

Too many for me…jmo…I admire those who have 5 or less on deck… emoPoke they evidently know much better than myself what their intentions are. I carry several on deck as I do not wanna stop, cut off & change lures. emoToast may it be my lack of knowing where, depth, current or slack water…I try to match my rigs to lake or geographic area I intend to attempt to catch emoSorry lately it has been tuff for me… emoUpsmile I read the guide reports & others to little avail as to assisting my results…occasionally I find I have correct lure & catch very well emoDance . Otherwise I am searching & guessing what the emoFish emoFish emoFish are wanting…I have told some who have comminuted that I came upon a yard sale on way to lake…lol emoDoh

Tight lines, be safe, see you on water emoUSA emoUSA emoGeezer

 

[31airborne]

Very cool questions. Looking forward to others' replies.

If I'm practicing or fun fishing, I'll have 15-20 rods on board (locker and on the deck). I may have as many as 12 on the deck for the first day or two of practice. As I develop/learn things I'll cull that down to the half dozen or so I'm most likely to use on TX day. My TX load will usually be 10-12 rods - half of these on the deck, the other half in the locker (spares for what I have on the deck).

 

[ChooChooSnakeMan]

Thanks for the replies thus far. I encourage everyone who sees this post to respond with what you do. Getting different ideas allows us to consider if our methods are really best and maybe seeing what someone else is doing and understanding their logic can make us better anglers.

 

[Fshn Cpa]

I agree that it depends on what you plan for the day. Can go as low as four but usually have 8 or 10 out since I can never figure out this lake. I you run across an unexpected situation you can always pull another one out.

 

[FishingwithRusty]

what i keep in the boat: as many as my boat will hold, which usually isnt all that i own. at this point i have technique specific rod for just about every techniqe. i could keep all my rods in my skeeter year round but my Gambler wont hold them all so im having to remove some of the seasonal stuff now. i like having the right tool for the job rather than trying to make a rod do a job that its reallly not as good at. given that im subject to go from 6" of water to 22' trying to catch a fish at any moment is why i carry so many.

as for whats on the deck: i typically only keep rods on one side of my deck as the net lives on the other side and dont want rods getting in the way if i need it. i do fish alone most of the time so i often throw rods behind passenger console if i get too many out of the box, its not uncommon for me to pull a rod and make 10-12 casts with it and then not touch it again until i put it away, it will get put in the passenger seat. i can confortably fish with 10 or so on the deck as i have moved my rod straps further back on the deck and out from under my feet. it not uncommom for me to keep 8-10 on the deck and they(baits) tend to be similar in depth range. its not uncommon for me when practicing to have every rod in the boat out of the boxes as im trying to keep an dopen mind and trying everything that i see or think. if you see my boat afer a tournament and ive got a BUNCH of rods out that usually means i struggled. from a competitiion stand point, those morning/days when ive narrowed it down to one or two, thats usually when im most dangerous.

 

[FishingwithRusty]

lol, on a side note, this thread reminded me, a couple of months ago i was at kentucky lake and planned on making a LONG run and had committed to a game plan. i kept 5 rods in the boat, 2 topwater rods, 2 jig rods and a worm rod, took EVERYTHING else that wasnt absolutely needed out of the boat to try and save gas and get more speed. still burned 53gallons of gas that day but my boat was almost 5mph faster.

 

[ChooChooSnakeMan]

Great insight Rusty, I appreciate yours and everyone's input. Your post made me think about how having or not having a partner in the boat influences not only how much gear you take but also how you deploy it. Very interesting and I like the fact you picked up not insignificant speed by not carrying a tackle store in the boat! I think most of us think that unloading all the extra stuff won't make that much difference but almost 5 mph is a good bit. Good Deal.

 

[Shadman]

4 on the deck 2 in box use too carry 12 not anymore

 

[trbr81]

usually start the day with 6 out and end it with 10-11

 

[KYRick]

WAY too many. Because I am always trying to figure out what to throw and what they will eat.

 

[Pop-R]

I will normally have about six on the deck couple search baits in different colors. Always a jig, texas rig, topwater & finesse rod. Rarely am I dialed in on one thing. Certain times of year I may just have 2 out. But, the locker is always full of what if's in case I come across something that triggers a thought of where they could be or something that looks good.

 

[ChooChooSnakeMan]

Pop-R - 12/18/2022 9:27 PM

I will normally have about six on the deck couple search baits in different colors. Always a jig, texas rig, topwater & finesse rod. Rarely am I dialed in on one thing. Certain times of year I may just have 2 out. But, the locker is always full of what if's in case I come across something that triggers a thought of where they could be or something that looks good.

Thanks for the input and especially the details about how you approach a day on the lake. I probably need to adopt some of your thinking about having search baits ready. I'm guilty of having a plan in mind and starting with that and really not being open minded enough.

 

[Fuzzy]

Max on top, 6. If I bring out another, one goes back in box. I’m getting older and don’t want to trip! Fished with a very talented young man who recently won a Toyota series event. When I fished with him years ago, he opened his boxes and he may have had 6 total poles and about 10 bags of plastics. Asked him if the boat was borrowed or something, forgot to put stuff in..? Told me it keeps him from “trying” things and forces him to use what he used in practice…pretty logical if not different.

 

[kickinbass35]

Well beings I haven't been I 5 years and just fixing to get back in it I'll keep 6 on deck 3 baitcasters 1 for jigs 1 for crankbaits and 1 for topwater 3 spinning 1 shaky head 1 drop shot and 1 wacky and that's all I take if I want to t rig I'll change one over that I've not gotten any hits on but that's jmo and the way I am the more I take the more I end up with on the deck and with just one leg now I don't want to make it where it's easy to fall out cause my boats usually clean wheni put in and full of tackle I've changed and more rods on deck when I pull out so now my moto is kiss ( keep it simple stupid ) I'm not able to fish long hour tournaments anymore if I end up fishing any it'll be a week day evening dog fight but after all I've been through health wise the last 5 years I'll feel like the luckiest guy on the lake if I catch a 10 incher

 

[ChooChooSnakeMan]

kickinbass35 - 1/9/2023 4:52 PM

Well beings I haven't been I 5 years and just fixing to get back in it I'll keep 6 on deck 3 baitcasters 1 for jigs 1 for crankbaits and 1 for topwater 3 spinning 1 shaky head 1 drop shot and 1 wacky and that's all I take if I want to t rig I'll change one over that I've not gotten any hits on but that's jmo and the way I am the more I take the more I end up with on the deck and with just one leg now I don't want to make it where it's easy to fall out cause my boats usually clean wheni put in and full of tackle I've changed and more rods on deck when I pull out so now my moto is kiss ( keep it simple stupid ) I'm not able to fish long hour tournaments anymore if I end up fishing any it'll be a week day evening dog fight but after all I've been through health wise the last 5 years I'll feel like the luckiest guy on the lake if I catch a 10 incher

Thanks everyone for the input and Kickingbass35 I'm sorry about your health issues but very glad to hear you will be getting back out there. I like your logic. I think having (3) rods on the right side and (3) on the left fits my style as well. I really intend to simplify what I take fishing in 2023. It takes too long to load and unload all that stuff that I don't use and besides like you said, if I need to change to a technique that I don't have a rod rigged for then just change one over. I need to retie more often anyway. Again everyone thanks for all the input and keep it coming.

 

[trbr81]

I think its great advise - especially as we get older and or fishing in the winter time