All winter long, I fished with 3 rods.  Crank, jig, finesse. 
 

as spring approaches.  I think I need two more.  Punch, frog/top water. 
 

my wife was napping today and instead of messing with her, I tinkered in the garage.  

(She did a 10-mike mountain hike w friends).  I came up with this!   It works fine.  A bit cramped with reel handle pretty close together but it should work fine until I consider buying something manufactured. 
 

me. Five rods is my max.   Apologize if this in the wrong section. 
 

Well.....

I had 4 holders on my crate, 2 ram tubes along side my seat mounted on tracks and 2 rod troughs molded into the side of kayak for 8 total. 
For some reason while bored I figured I needed more. So I mounted 4 more rod holders onto my crate for 12 total. 
And like usual during a tournament I’ll probably use 3
 

I usually carry three, two casting and one spinning.  The spinning I usually have a tube or Ned rig on. One casting is for top water and the other is usually for everything else whether it be jigs, or cranks, or spinnerbaits or chatterbaits. I only have a Scotty rod holder mounted between my legs and two flush mounted ones behind me.  When I’m actively fishing though one is in my hand and the other two are laid between my legs within easy access. 

I saw a guy launching at a local no-motors reservoir one morning (we were coming back in) - he had 7 rods rigged.  

 

I'm normally kayaking the salt flats, and can get by with two rigged, an MM or MH plus an ML, though in the winter will usually add a 3rd long UL rig.  I always carry 3-pc rods in my bow hold, back-up spinning, back-up bait, and a fly rod or two.  

my lap hatch always has back-up bait reel and spinning spool (protected from the salt)

 

8

I'm not really constrained by space, and I've carried 10 at a time, but I usually carry 6 for the tidal Potomac and small reservoirs I fish around me.  For the river, 2 bait casting setups, a top water and finesse jig (although they certainly get used for other things) are the norm for most of the kayaking year.  I also bring 2 light to medium powered spinning outfits.  In the spring, I may substitute a crankbait setup for the topwater.  Anyway, that's 6 on minimal to no current water, and 4 on shallow slow to moderate rivers.  When I bring more, I just end up washing more line.

Three at most, two preferably, and I can have a great day with one. Using the kayak means simplifying for me so I try to streamline it so there's less to get in the way and/or kick into the drink.

I have 10 rod holders on my BlackPack but the most I've ever taken out was eight.  I usually bring 6-7 depending on where I'm going.  If I've never been to that particular water and it's a tourney is when I bring 8.  

 

What rods comprise my arsenal for the day also depends on where I'm going. 

Depends where I am going and for how long...anywhere from 3 to 8. 
 

I personally hate rod holders on the crate.  Always seems to get in the way for me .  When I am fly fishing anywhere from 3-4, conventional 6-8.  Winter time I go with 2 usually,  I use flush mounts on my kayak.

4 rods.   Because I'm so used to taking alot more than that in the boat, I had to have real conversation with my self about what the core 4 would be.  I had to be less specific with the rods and more universal.   1 - 7' M spinning rod, 1- 7' mh, 1 -7'3 heavy frog rod, (I use for everything heavy like jigs to frogs and ploppers) and 1 shorter rod, sometimes I take the 6'3 M Tatula, sometimes the 683 Endurance.  

1 hour ago, flyfisher said:

I personally hate rod holders on the crate.  Always seems to get in the way for me .  When I am fly fishing anywhere from 3-4, conventional 6-8.  Winter time I go with 2 usually,  I use flush mounts on my kayak.

Yeah I agree with the crate holders. I don’t fish enough open water to be able to use them.  They are useless on our local rivers with all the low hanging branches that drape across the water.  Would be getting hung up with rods sticking straight up in the air. 

3 hours ago, Choporoz said:

8

6 in two triple holders strapped to my crate; 2 in flush holders.

I only bring two, usually a heavy and a medium. Kayak fishing for me is about simplicity. I leave my pile of rods for the bass boat.

10 minutes ago, Michigander said:

I only bring two, usually a heavy and a medium. Kayak fishing for me is about simplicity. I leave my pile of rods for the bass boat.

Amen.  Although I typically carry 4. I've done it with 2 or 3 several times.  Last time I took 2, I took a 7'1 heavy tatula and 7'M OG tatula spinning rod.   Definitely makes you simplify what you do.

16 minutes ago, Teal said:

Amen.  Although I typically carry 4. I've done it with 2 or 3 several times.  Last time I took 2, I took a 7'1 heavy tatula and 7'M OG tatula spinning rod.   Definitely makes you simplify what you do.

I'm running 6' rods most of the time but I think the new heavy I just built for the kayak is a 6'6". I like shorter rods because they are easier to retie and I get stuck in less overhanging trees, lol. 

 

I have been thinking about adding another holder. Having a Medium Heavy would be really nice.....

As I think back to when I first started I had two rods and wondered why guys needed more than that.  Now I fight to keep it to 6-7! LOL

Granted there are a couple setups that I have two of but with different lures on them.  

22 minutes ago, Dens228 said:

As I think back to when I first started I had two rods and wondered why guys needed more than that.  Now I fight to keep it to 6-7! LOL

Granted there are a couple setups that I have two of but with different lures on them.  

Yeah, I am "down" to just six primary rods on my boat deck and two specialty rods (drop shot/punching) in the locker depending on the lake/river. Rod Mountain was getting out of control last year and I needed to get more streamlined.

I usually bring 3-6.   If it’s a new lake Or I’m going to be out on the water for the day I’ll bring 6.   If I think I know what to throw and can’t fish long I’ll bring 3.   
 

sometimes I try to work on a specific lure/presentation so that day I bring 1 rod.   

2 hours ago, Choporoz said:

6 in two triple holders strapped to my crate; 2 in flush holders.

I lost a rod out of my flush holes.  Same kayak.  Just punted it out with the paddle.  
 

im gonna not use those. 

 

out of curiosity. Can you take a pic of the double-3?

4 rods in the crate holders and 2 in the built in holders. I'll usually use all 6 of them too, it seems i'm always junk fishing trying to figure out what the bass want where when and why.

One of the things I really like about kayak fishing is the simplicity, so usually just two. I'll occasionally add a third, but never more than three total.

 

I don't even bring enough lures and misc. stuff to justify a crate. I have a small soft lunchbox full of soft plastics and another bag that holds two 3600 cases. I grab the cases I need based on location and season, and leave the rest at home.

 

 

40 minutes ago, They call me “Gaiter Salad” said:

out of curiosity. Can you take a pic of the double-3?

I didn't write that too clearly.   You can see one triple on the back of the crate.  There's an identical 3-rod holder attached to the front of the crate

1 hour ago, Choporoz said:

I didn't write that too clearly.   You can see one triple on the back of the crate.  There's an identical 3-rod holder attached to the front of the crate

Ahhhh.  Got it.  My reading comprehension is suspect. 

5-6 on a lake or large river outing, 3 for a small river float.