I just wondered do you have a preference 2 or 3?
Or is the 3rd one just a pub chuck

In reply to Post #1
Depends on the swim. Three if I can get away with it. In a smaller swim maybe 2. In a quiet corner maybe 1. Depends on the angling situation.
3rd one is never a pub chuck. They're all as important as each other. I'd rather not get it out of the bag in the first place.

In reply to Post #1
Depends how likely I am to get busy, on a water the other day it was 1 rod, hate a fish ripping off near weed when playing another.
Edit, 3 rod man mainly when allowed/wanted/depending on situation, never a pub chuck.

Depends on the situation.

Main winter water I'm doing only allows 2 for good reason (size of the water/snags etc...), but on the whole I'm usually a 3 rod angler.

Never a pub chuck though, respect each rod as though it's the one that's going to land you the fish!

In reply to Post #1
I will sometimes use the 3rd rod to do something different from the other two.
So if im fishing over a baited area with two i will use the 3rd rod with just a single hook bait, pva bag or even a zig.
Will use two in a tight swim and sometimes even just fish with one rod.
Depends on the situation.

I'll be honest all mine are pub chucks these days be it 1 rod or 3 to a spot that looks half handy, give them no respect at all.

In reply to Post #6
Was going to say the same thing
Ping out singles and chuck some over the top lol

Personally I've always much preferred two rods. I find I can fish two rods far more affectivity in a swim than 3.
However some of the inland seas I've fished abroad I've happily used four rods as the swim had 150+acres to myself.
But generally all small waters be it rivers or lakes I prefer to concentrate on two rods

In reply to Post #5
Same as generally, the third is a roaming rod.

In reply to Post #1
Mostly, three on the spot, however if its a well stocked water I will sometimes have a bag on the 3rd roaming and casting to show's

Four fished in my swim and another four in other people's, keep them well hidden and you can leave them out while shopping or popping to the pub. Only ever used to fish two but decided I needed to up my game so had some tuition from the main man.

In reply to Post #1
On the reservoir I use 3 rods almost all of the time.
One goes on the bait, one just off and the third is a different pop-up that is generally cast at a different feature.

I suppose the third is a pub chuck, but if the other two rods are quiet that sometimes, or even often produces. If it does catch, I stick it back on the same spot.

In reply to Post #11


Jus the two for me. And they don't match either. Don't tell the 'Carpy ' police though....

In reply to Post #1
Two, because thats all i have!

Did have three but i found that the third was often slung down the margin etc, i cant say i feel disadvantaged much.

Always two for me as I fish small waters on short sessions and don't use a barrow or a van so all the gear is cut right back.

Just the 2 for me,most of the swims I fish are mostly overgrown or there's no room for 3 to be fished effectively.I did try tho,but found myself forever untangling lines and rigs where a fish had crossed another line.pain in the 'arris so dropped to two rods.

In reply to Post #16
Completely agree. This is exactly why I stick to two rods for the vast majority of my fishing. Years ago, hooked a decent fish, it kited into other (third) rod and because of the angle, actually unhooked the fish. Gutted but unlucky I said to myself but then it happened again the day after and that's when I said sod the turd rod, I'm sticking to two.

I fish a big ressie complex but it's only
Day sessions in colder months I'll the gate shuts at 5 so i find 3 rods almost a disadvantage as it's more time and hassle to deal with. I'm also often staying mobile casting to shows etc
Whenever I've done well I realised it's when I've only taken the 2 rods, whenever I've gotten in a faff or rushed with 3, I tend to mess things up or get a little stressed out.
2 for me, 3 if fishing multiple days and lots of time.
Also 2 is 1 less line in water and these fish are spooky

I assume that we are asking about how many snides people prefer in addition to the allowed number of rods?

I'm unable to multitask so 2 rods is more than enough for me.

When allowed and depending on swim defiantly 3.

Firstly I fish mostly days only 24 rod hours vs 16.
Secondly and I learnt this years ago especially in winter, that the un fancied rod would usually go, so two on my spots and a third on intuition- next week the intuition rod became a banker and any blank rod roamed. Personally I recon over the years 50% of m fish have been on the ‘try it' rod. With three it gives you opportunity especially at those times you really want to do something but history weds you to spots and areas.

Just the two. I've only got a two rod licence. Much more fun putting a snide out anyway..

2 in the UK, 3 in France.