I have 5 setups. the wife gets a couple of them when we fish together.

Two spins finese lite  3 baitcasters cranks jigs T rigs C rigs top water 8-)

The one I have in my hand at the time but I have 17 but that includes fly rods and surf and pier rods.

My wife likes it that I collect rods instead of girl friends. ;D

I usually fish with 8 rods and I have another 8 at home that I don't use much.

Do I need that many? Of course not.

Do I want more, lots more? Absolutely!!!

One of the great things about building rods is that when your wife/girlfriend/mother asks you why you're building another rod, you can say "well, I didn't get the last one quite the way I want it and I really could use the practice, hopefully this one turns out right or I'm going to have to build another one"  

I suppose you could say one only needs one rod and reel to fish with.  

That's not fun though.

I am comfortable with three but I prefer five.

I ended up climbing into this rod specific boat for a ride too, I think I bought more rods in the last 6 months then I have in over 30years, and today another arrived. A GBlanks custom spinning rod 6.6MXF

Man I dont need all this stuff, looks like a yard sale soon.

I always carry 3 and think thats to many sometimes.

i have 3 now.

one 5'6 UL with a president 6725

one 7' M with a president 6740 (its a bit too heavy for my liking and i think ill pick up a MH rod to throw it on or trade for a 6735)

and just got my citica thats going on a 6' M compre.

Carry 8 own 36, you should see my wifes purses that lady is a sicko.

Own a bunch, use 1

7'11" Crucial MF H

I can get by with 4 (for Bass fishing)

1 - Worm/jig 7' MH (or St. Croix M) BC

2 - Spinnerbait/buzzbait (3/8, 1/2oz) - 7' MHF BC

3 - Jig - 7' MHF BC

4 - Crankbait - 7'MM BC

I like to include a couple others:

5 - Light crankbait/spinnerbait (1/4oz) - 6'6" MF BC

6 - Finesse plastics - 7' M Moderate action Spinning

Depending on the season, Non-tournament 2-4

Tournament 7-8.  

I carry no less than than 12 in my boat at all times, usually 3-5 on the deck at all times. Do I "need" that many.......no, but It's sure nice to have them rigged up and ready to go. There are times when the rods on my deck are the same for weeks at a time. For instance, in mid summer, when the grass flipping bite is on, it's nice to have a couple  of rods rigged up. One with a 3/8 oz weight for pitching into holes, one with a big 1 oz. sinker for crashing the mats, and one for frogs. You can do this all with one rod, but if you can afford it, why not save yourself the time and hassle of retying.

For everyone who said "3", could you tell me the length,power, and action on them and what kind of baits you fish with them?  Thanks.

I use one but, I'm starting to feel like I need many more.  

I really have expanded over the last year. I am up to 12 setups and still would like to have a couple more (a few more crankings stick would be nice).

For everyone who said "3", could you tell me the length,power, and action on them and what kind of baits you fish with them?

If I had my own boat I would surely have a lot more. As I mentioned earlier, I am a lot more comfortable with five but space constraints limit me.

This is what gives me the most versatility:

Rod 1: Casting Rod - 7' Medium Power with a Moderate Action - Most Crankbaits, Hard Jerkbaits and Top Water.

Rod 2: Casting Rod - 7' Medium Heavy Power with a Fast Action - Shallow Crankbaits, Spinnerbaits, and Buzzbaits.

Rod 3: Casting Rod - 7' Heavy Power with an Extra Fast Action - Jigs, Texas Rigs and the occasional Carolina Rig.

These are the techniques I fish the most and the above Rigs fit me pretty decently.

3, basically along the lines of what Catt stated. I have 6,( one is a bacup) usually have 3 in the boat. Exception , fishing Snag Proof type frogs then I bring a 4th specially set up for that, Could actually do it with 2 one Med and one Med hvy.

if i only had 3...

7' spinning ml xf (1/8-3/8oz) - dropshot, shakey, split shot, 4 inch t-rig worms, 1/8oz jigs

6.5' spinning m/mh f/xf (3/16-5/8oz) - t-rig, 1/4-5/16oz jigs

6.5-7' baitcast mh f (1/4-3/4) - 3/8-5/8oz jigs, heavy t-rig, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, crankbaits

many would choose a moderate action rod for cranks, but with only 3 rods id just use a fast action.

keep in mind, a 5lb fish is pretty big here in VA. FL fishing might require heavier set ups....

At the moment I need 14 but Bass Pros spring classic is coming up so who knows what I'll need that week

3 or 4, give or take on a good day    

In the summer months, here in S.Florida, I use the following.

7'1 m/h with #15 mono.  This is my worm rod

7' m/h with #12 moo.  This is my Fluke rod

7.5 M/h with #17-20 mono. This is my jig/flipping rod.

That's pretty much the only baits I fish from May-Oct. If it's tournament day then I add another worm rod.

Nov-April I add the following but may leave the 7.5 from above at home..

7' med with #10 mono.  crankbait rod

7' m/h with #15 mono.  topwater (spook) rod

7' m/h to H with #15-20 mono.  spinnerbait rod

I'd say 3-4  baitcast setups.

rod 1 - cranks

rod 2 - cranks (I crank a lot)

rod 3 - worm & jig / swimbaits

rod 4 - spinnerbait / chatterbait

Those would be more than enough to cover the lakes here in North Central Texas

A fishing rod is not a need, food, water,  and shelter are needs, after that everything is gravy, but I like lots of gravy ;D.

In an Ideal world a rod setup for all the techniques you could be presented with on your particular body of water. For me this is about 5 setups, but as I tell all my friends that are casual fisherman.  A 6'6" to 7' Med/Medium Hvy Spinning Rod with a 3000 SeriesReel should cover pretty much all your fishing rod needs.