I only take two rods out at a time. A ML-F spinning and a MH-F casting if I am serious fishing. Those two combos cover most things I throw.

 

If I want to go light, it's a M-F casting rod rated 1/8-5/8oz that can dabble in both territories.

 

If I have time to check weather conditions and know exactly where I am going, then I may take any combination of the above. All of these rods are high quality two piece rods for maximum versatility.

Traditionally I am a three-rod guy for bank fishing. One for topwater, one subsurface moving bait, one bottom contact. Generally that's Whopper Plopper/Spook, lipless crankbait/chatterbait, and Texas rig/jig. However, this year I didn't throw topwater that much, so it was generally replaced with the jerkbait throughout the year as my third (and primary) setup.

 

Lately, I've haven't been throwing bottom contact that much either, so it was usually two rods: jerkbait rod and either lipless crankbait or chatterbait.

Well, it just so happens that I'm going bank fishing tomorrow and have 3 rods rigged up and ready to go.

 

• 6'8" medium 802S JWR rigged with 15lb 832 to an 8lb fluoro leader for neds, dropshot, little 2.8 Keitechs on a tiny head... Anything finesse, really.
• 7'1" heavy-ish 854C JWR with straight 17lb fluoro for jigs, spinnerbaits, and medium-sized underspins.  Normally I'd take the 844 MBR with 40lb braid to a 12lb leader but I really wanna try out straight fluoro on the next couple of outings. Aside from crankbait fishing I don't really do straight fluoro on any of my setups, especially not for bottom contact.
• 6'10" medium Zodias with 20lb regular Power Pro to a 10lb leader for jerkbaits, tailspins, smaller blade baits, smaller lipless baits like the TN60, small squarebills, etc. It's moderate enough that it can handle moving baits just fine and if I pick them right saves me the trouble of carrying a dedicated crankbait rod for that.

 

 

 

Depending on the season or what I think I'm throwing that day I might switch up slightly, like swap the 802 for the 852, or the 844 for the 854 like I did this time, but it's always a combination of a ML to M power fast action spinning rod, a M power moderate-fast to fast action baitcaster, and the MH to H power fast action baitcaster. That will cover 95% of the stuff I throw from the bank.

Just one rod.  And the rod will change depending on what I want to throw that day.  But to me, bank fishing is all about simplicity and finding the right spot.  And the more gear you carry, the less likely you are to go hunting for the best spots.