2 minutes ago, gall said:

I've done that along with the try to hold rod above water and do a weird one arm doggy paddle 

This is usually what I end up doing after trying the other two. 

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’ve put the rod in the back of my shirt to swim through long deep pools with both arms free. Also swam a long ways biting the rod blank. Neither are very comfy haha. 

Crocodile Dundee style. 

Just one rod, small backpack with few bags of soft baits, 1 small box of hard baits. Type of rod and baits depends on whether it is pike or bass I am going after and on season (there are spots I wade even in the dead of winter).  

I have never brought more than one rod when wading creek smallies. Usually a 7' M/F Spinning Rod w/ 2500 Reel and 15lb Braid to 6 or 8lb Mono Leader. Normally I'd use fluoro because I am primarily throwing Ned Rigs, inline spinners, small jerkbaits, and tubes. But I often also incorporate Pop'Rs or Zara Puppies into my attack plan, so I throw the mono on and just use that for the other techniques, as I don't feel like retying leaders while waist deep in a creek. 

Only 1 rod and just a few lures for me. Never saw anyone attempt multiple rods or even a carry handle tackle box when wading. 

On 8/11/2020 at 2:46 PM, Uncle_MC said:

I have never brought more than one rod when wading creek smallies. Usually a 7' M/F Spinning Rod w/ 2500 Reel and 15lb Braid to 6 or 8lb Mono Leader. Normally I'd use fluoro because I am primarily throwing Ned Rigs, inline spinners, small jerkbaits, and tubes. But I often also incorporate Pop'Rs or Zara Puppies into my attack plan, so I throw the mono on and just use that for the other techniques, as I don't feel like retying leaders while waist deep in a creek. 

What rod are you using for a true multi purpose rod? I'm on the hunt for a new one and would like a good multi purpose rod.

5 hours ago, gall said:

What rod are you using for a true multi purpose rod? I'm on the hunt for a new one and would like a good multi purpose rod.

The one I bring is a completely budget-minded setup, so not sure if its what you're looking for if you're trying to upgrade: a 7' M/F Berkley Cherrywood HD with a Shimano Sienna 2500 reel. I kind of wish I got the Lightning Rod instead, but this one has never let me down. In my largemouth arsenal, it plays the role of a wacky-rig/weightless plastic rod, and one of my most-used. It has caught well-over 100 fish this summer, as well as this 5lb 3oz largemouth from yesterday:

 

 

I have tried taking two rods, never worked out for me. It was just to much of a hassle. Like other's, I take one rod, usually light or medium light. I wear a vest like the trout guys use and carry small Plano's in the pockets.

I have tried taking two, and that generally is a hassle.  I have settled on using a 6'3" MLF Quantum smoke spinning combo.  I like the shorter length to make it easier while under overhanging trees.  I generally bring a lightly packed backpack, with just pliers, a few bags of plastics and a 3600 box.

One medium spinning rig when I'm wading.  Then I use clips for quick change of lures/baits.

On 8/11/2020 at 4:46 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

Walk until I find a spot I want to fish and then lay whichever one I'm not going to be using down on the shoreline.

Yes, that’s what I do if I decide to bring two (1 rod 99.9999% of the time) but I will hide it to minimize the risk of theft. 

One fly rod does the trick for me.

On 8/14/2020 at 2:18 PM, islandbass said:

Yes, that’s what I do if I decide to bring two (1 rod 99.9999% of the time) but I will hide it to minimize the risk of theft. 

Yeah I do the same I'll wade a ways with my gear until I find a safe spot to lay it down. 

On 8/14/2020 at 7:57 AM, volzfan59 said:

I have tried taking two rods, never worked out for me. It was just to much of a hassle. Like other's, I take one rod, usually light or medium light. I wear a vest like the trout guys use and carry small Plano's in the pockets.

I can pack an unbelievable amount of gear in my fishpond vest, it's the Wasatch if memory serves, the one with the integrated backpack. 

one rod, my st croix medium and the sv lite.  i have a belly pack to hold a handful of lures and terminal tackle. i leave the phone and wallet in the car.  that's the sucky part. i dont get to take many pics that way.

On 8/16/2020 at 6:07 PM, Sphynx said:

I can pack an unbelievable amount of gear in my fishpond vest, it's the Wasatch if memory serves, the one with the integrated backpack. 

That is one sweet vest! A tad pricey at $189.00, but I'm a firm believer that you get what you pay for. My vest is an old BPS, $20.00 deal from the late 80's. It is about time to replace it however, hhmmm.

5 hours ago, volzfan59 said:

That is one sweet vest! A tad pricey at $189.00, but I'm a firm believer that you get what you pay for. My vest is an old BPS, $20.00 deal from the late 80's. It is about time to replace it however, hhmmm.

I was suffering from a serious bout of buyers remorse for the first couple of weeks this winter after I bought it on sale, ($150ish if I remember correctly, still hardly cheap) and then got a nice clear morning and put it through its paces and it all went away, it's like having a fly vest, a Camelback, and a backpack with all the convenience and way less fussing with things, I'd buy this style of bag again in a minute whenever I wear it out, I also use the fishpond chest packs as a waist pack for trout, the Arroyo and the Waterdance are the two packs I have used and highly recommend for trips to known areas with limited need for gear, they carry plenty of stuff if you know ahead of time what your walking in to, but I wouldn't take those as a first choice if I were exploring new water or had no idea what the fish were likely biting.

The river I wade fish is 75-100 yards wide and I'm likely standing in the middle of it so leaving an extra rod/gear on the bank is not an option. So only 1 rod. It's either a ML/XF baitcasting rod or a ML/XF spinning rod depending on what baits I feel like fishing (lure weights on each rod are quite different). I carry everything I need in a small over-the-shoulder tackle bag (think smaller than a loaf of bread).

I always have two - a 6'9" medium/fast spinning rod, and a 7' medium-heavy/fast G. Loomis MBR casting rod because between the two I can throw d**n near anything. I have a holster on my belt that holds one rod and the other one is in my hand, that plus the shoulder bag I have for my tackle and I haven't run into any difficulties (though I'll generally only go waist deep when I'm wading). 

On 8/11/2020 at 9:40 AM, NYWayfarer said:

One medium light spinning setup. Sling pack with gear.

Exactly same as NYWayfarer