How many poles does a guy need?

Geez, I'm in the minority here. I've got probably 5-6 rods of various actions stashed in my shed, but I really only use 2 (and one is just a heavy backup) fishing saltwater from the kayak.

When I go down to SoCal in a couple months to try for WSB I'll bring 3 setups:
-7' m rod with an abu, spooled with 30lb braid (bait squid & bass) (yak go-to)
-7' mh rod with a daiwa 50h, 40lb braid (jigger for rockies or wsb)
-6.5 mh tiger stick with a penn something, 30lb mono (live bait) (yak backup)

I've got a nice 6-12lb rated fast action spinning rod I used to use for a fish called a t-r-o-u-t, but I haven't fished with it in years. I think the last fish I caught with it was a 17lb silver up in AK, so that would be almost 10yrs ago...
...I guess I ought to try some more FW fishing eh?

My experience so far has been the more I learn, the more gear I realize I "need"...

Makes me wonder how I got by with 1 rod and reel for the first half of my life.  I did catch a lot of fish, but now I prefer to go light as possible for maximum fun.

I think I could get by with one rig for sturgeon, halibut, and rockfish...  two each for bass and trout, (one for trolling, one to cast), and a couple steelhead rigs if I ever get to try that...  That's seven. 

But of course I have more.

I guess I am just old school. I have 4 and really don't see the need to have more. Then again I get my reels at garage sales. Good old penn producte no one wants anymore. 60 rods doesn't make me any better than I am. Cripes. Well occasionally I treat myself to a shimano reel.

60 rods doesn't make me any better than I am

Yeah, but I could use the help.  At least 50 would make me better

For winning AOTY I used

1 striper rod/bass/smallies ($12.00 Walmart Shakespeare rod with a Cardiff)
2 rockfish/halibut/sturgeon rods (Trevala w/ Revo and Kunz w/ Revo or Sealine)
2 salmon/steelhead (Lamiglass 8-12# and 10-20#with Revo)

I went through a MOUNTAIN of Izorline respooling for each fishery.

Just tell your wife you need one less rod than she has pairs of shoes. 

.......I went through a MOUNTAIN of Izorline respooling for each fishery.

One reason to stick with the spinning kits - multiple spools for quick change. I know I am compromising other "features" but that one thing has kept me with spinners. I also don't catch as many fish as Sean does! 

I went through a MOUNTAIN of Izorline respooling for each fishery.

I think that the desire not to be constantly respooling is what has lead me to having so many different rods and reels. I have 2 rods I built specifically for trolling for trout, 3 rods for bass, 2 rods for freshwater striper, 1 rod for halibut/saltwater striper (but I'm thinking of adding another in this class), and 1 rod for rockfish/ling/sturgeon. I have more fishing rods and reels than this, but those are mainly loaners for friends and I don't use them that often.

I am not AOTY but here is what I use -

#3 freshwater spinning rods 6#, 8#, 8# for trout, crappie and bass
#2 Saltwater rods 15-25#, 15-40# for rockkfish and halibut
#1 rod for salmon 20#
#1 rod for steelhead 10-12#
#1 rod for stripers 14#
#1 5 weight fly rod for trout
#1 8 weight fly rod for stripers

For Baja - I have #2 travel rods both 20# one spinning and one casting.

Of course I have more rods but these are the ones I use most frequently. My wife asked me many years ago when do you call it a "pole" vs "rod". I told her that any rod I build myself should never be referred to as a "pole".   

scott

I guess it's the redneck showing...  we call em fishin poles!

Just wait and see what happens when you start turning your own.  It would not be hard for a rod builder to build different rods for each species depending on what type of bait/lure you want to run.  Just look at the hardcore bass guys or a G loomis catalogue.

I am a newb kayak fisherman, but I know I will be using about 6 set ups to give this AOTY a shot.  As the others have said you could definitely get by with less and even win the whole deal.

33, but only 30 fit in the rod holder.

33, but only 30 fit in the rod holder.

  My inner "tackle ho" just about pee'd himself

I am on the cheap side:

I have a bunch, but my old favorite is a Ted Williams my Dad gave me back in the 1970's I think I was 13 or 14 at the time.  It was my first spinning reel. Still works great, I don't use it as much anymore. and compared to todays stuff it looks a giant dino.

 I am going on about 21 rods.  I have everything from nice bass rods, trout rods, striper rods, sturgeon rods and rock fish rods.  I am trying to upgrade now, rather than getting more rods and reels.  My bass rods are left over from my tourney day and are very nice.  The rest of my gear is mid grade Penns and Abu's.  Seems like ever shop I hit, I find something that I really can't live without.  I like having gear specific to species.  I can control the lines, set-ups and drags for each species better.  Of course my friend only has about 5 rods and catches just as many fish, but it is all about confidence right?........