How Many Rods To Bring On An Inshore Fishing Trip (And What To Rig On Them)

Here's are some question we've been getting recently: 

How should I prepare my fishing rods for an inshore trip?

How many rods should I bring?

What should I rig on them?

These are all great questions since how you prepare your rods for a trip can either save or cost you a lot of time.

Plus, if you don't bring enough rods, your trip could easily be cut short by bad luck.

In this video, I'm going to share how many rods I bring and how I rig them up to save time and catch a lot of fish.

Have any questions about preparing for an inshore fishing trip?

Let us know down in the comments!

[BoxingFishingGuy]

Us guys from Texas do it totally different. For topwaters and twitchbaits I prefer a baitcaster with 30lb braid and a 20lb mono or fluoro leader. I like to palm the reel, I can sight cast quicker and generally like to use a 6’6” rod for those baits. I will bring a spinner with 20 lb braid with 20lb fluoro on a longer rod for plastics but sometimes I’ll bring 2 baitcasters. I will never bring 3 rods because that’s just too much going on rod storage wise. My kayak does have a rod holder on the left side but that’s generally where I land fish. Back left is the only place but I can still catch that rod on my windup if I’m not careful. Just got a 7’6” spinning rod for the kayak as an experiment but I feel I probably should have stuck with 7 for ease of fish landing

[SMC]

Heading to Mexico for the summer in a couple of weeks. When I’m not surfing, I’m fishing from shore. I’m bringing 4 spinning rods… 10’MH, 10’MF, 9’MF, and an 8’6”MH. Reels; 2500, 3000, 4000, and a 5000. Throwing jerkbaits, spoons, and swimbaits in all different sizes and weights 🏄🏼‍♂️🎣🤙🏻

[jackdickerson]

Great points Tony. I too take 2 as a minimum. I set 1 up for top water and the other for plastics. If I take a third, it will have a popping cork on it for live or plastic baits.

[Snookchaser]

How dare you suggest only 3 rods needed what if wives accidentally stumble on this video can you imagine the backlash this could create please take the video down and repost one saying 20 combos are absolutely needed to fish effectively and each must be replaced at least annually at minimum

[stskatr]

Thanks for the tips, I’ll be out on Sunday to hit em up!

[simonconnor]

Only recently started you're vids but i hope you keep up the advice clips as i and im sure alot of other anglers and newbies alike are getting alot out of them.

[Daves.fishingtx]

Taking the kayak out for the first time Sunday. Thanks for the info! Got a better game plan moving forward!

[Elthenar]

I do almost exactly this. I do bring a 4th rod though, but it is much heavier than the rest. 50 pound line on a Penn Spinfisher if I feel like using big live of cutbait. I've also been known to use that big rod to throw small bits of Gulp for pinfish so I don't need to rerig my others.

[brettking]

I will be using these set-ups on Sunday! Thanks SS!

[docfishingsrq]

I have been using no knot fas snaps especially when fishing from a paddleboard. I have pretty limited room and I find that I can switch out easily. I bring one spinning and one fly rod. I put the fas snap on the spinning and have the fly rod rugged with the fly of the day. The biggest thing I have to remember is that sometimes these rust and will break at the most inopportune time especially when you leave a hook attached when storing.

[TheFishingMommy]

I absolutely love this video—so useful! I’m actually taking lessons from this philosophy into my kayak bass fishing as well. No one needs to cart around 5, 8, or 10 rods at once!

[marklally]

I just renovated and registered a boat, hope to catch many fish in The Gulf, your videoes are helping me learn, thank you!

[TheGreatBoyWonder]

I love those ASClassic rods! Not bad for only $50

[ScottMacdonaldfishing]

Freshwater water 5 salt 5. I don't like rerigging when I am out the kayak. Maybe that's to many but it makes me feel like I have everything I need. I am a minimalist when it comes to gear and everything else.

[greggramig]

Great counseling. I say take what you have. Just rig with everything you are most likely to need including the ones mentioned here. I have 7 spinning reels across all sizes and will be rigging across these and a few more, considering I have a broad coverage of hard baits.

[Eric-gikg]

I agree with 3.
2 spinning and 1 level wind

[TridentFishing]

Bass fisherman bring 12 rods watching this are yelling at their screen lol

[jasl]

I always take four. A 12' heaver for soaking big chunks. Two 10' medium setups that I use to target pompano, whiting, , etc.. And a 9' that I use for casting plugs, jigs, or metals.

[andrewmconrad]

I’m going to be doing a video on what rods I take with me soon. As someone who fishes from a kayak, I want my maximum time fishing and not rigging, so I bring 6 minimum all rigged up differently.

[johnmoore]

I use about 6. Topwater, 4” jerkbait, 6” jerkbait, jig, twitch bait and something specific to the area or species I’m after. My skiff has lots of under gunnel storage so it’s no problem to carry this many. If I’m fishing in someone else’s boat I only bring 3. And yes the topwater rod is the general use setup that gets switched out as needed. Agree the general breakdown is based on water depth.