2 Rods on a River

Fourbtgait

Fourbtgait

Life of the Party
So those that fish a stream/river and carry 2 rods, how do you?
Break one down?
Keep both rigged, one in a holder? If that, at what angle so nothing interfere’s?
 
Porter2 said:
I usually don’t. But when I have it kinda sucks. I like to travel on a bank. Knowing you have baggage makes you only go so far then to retrieve. One rod on foot is the best in MHO.
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I agree, but there are those times. Like being able to switch between dry flies and tightline nymphing.
I thought of the below option, even with just one rod i think it would work better than my Smith Creek rod holder I currently use.

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Maybe a cassette reel would work out. They can be changed out quickly or a pre-lined second reel with leader and tippet already installed..dragging an extra rod around seems like folly to me..
 
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I often like to fish two rods for trout when on foot and wanting to be thorough before changing locations. Think rivers that you drive between spots. Both rods fully rigged, one typically set up dry/dropper or tight line nymphing, one to throw streamers or soft hackles. I stash the streamer rod at the top of the run and start at the bottom. Work the dry/dropper upstream and then swing/strip downstream.
 
I gave up on two rods, just a pain, and for me no real advantage was gained. Dryer style up, turn, wet down. Or reverse it. Put your nymphs on a foam. Swap with your dry. Or I got an Orvis dropper box. Swap as fast as you can tie a cinch knot. A suitable base leader to a ring for what your up to and go. Seems to cover what I encounter. Did I mention two rigged rods in the brush is a pain. Just my experience.
 
Just here to echo what everyone else said. I’ve found it too much of a pain to be bothered. I bring an extra reel with a streamer line on it and will swap out reels if I really need to. If I’m out for a long time though or overnighter I’ll strap a second rod to my backpack, in a tube, just in case I break a tip somehow.
 
I carry two rods (rigged) quite a bit. The second rod is typically my streamer rod. There are times (very few) when I pat myself on the back for my brilliance and efficiency. More than half the time I cuss myself, break down the second rod and stuff it in my backpack. On more than one occasion I have doubled my daily mileage by forgetting one of the two rods somewhere along the way. All that said, about half the time I leave my vehicle with two rods rigged and ready to fish :ROFLMAO:.
 
Coach Potter said:
I carry two rods (rigged) quite a bit. The second rod is typically my streamer rod. There are times (very few) when I pat myself on the back for my brilliance and efficiency. More than half the time I cuss myself, break down the second rod and stuff it in my backpack. On more than one occasion I have doubled my daily mileage by forgetting one of the two rods somewhere along the way. All that said, about half the time I leave my vehicle with two rods rigged and ready to fish :ROFLMAO:.
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Do you leave one on shore, then wade, go back to get it?
Or carry both out with you?
One time comes to mind, tight lining middle of river, a hatch came off real quick, fish rising. Took me several minutes to change rigs on rod to dry flies standing in middle of cobble river. Caught several on dry before they stopped, then it was like well, was it worth it because I now had to change back.
 
I often carry multiple setups, but I carry as few as I think I can to cover my bases for all the ways I might want to fish. For convenience, I keep the setups I'm using seasonally lined up and ready to fish. For transport, I break them down to 2 pieces and secure them together with non-abrasive hair ties, so when I'm ready to fish them, all I need to do is remove the hair ties, assemble the two sections, and start casting. If you take proper care of your gear (always store your rods in their tubes, etc.), this method might not be for you, but so far, it's worked well for me.

When I carry multiple setups on the river, I only carry one into the river with me at a time while fishing. I leave the other(s) on the bank, next to my backpack, which I usually take off while fishing. This requires a lot of walking up and down to retrieve or switch gear, but it's the price you pay for being ready to change up without rigging time.

When I have a good idea what's going to work, I just carry whatever setup that requires. I do love the freedom of simply walking and fishing without having to backtrack and remember to keep all your stuff with you...
 
It only takes a minute to switch and they're a lot lighter and easier to carry than western rods & reels so I almost always carry two; sometimes three rigged (Tenkara) rods for quick changes between wet fly, nymphing, sometimes a streamer, sometimes a shorter or longer rod if I know a couple of sections will fish better with it.
 
Another option is a multitip setup. I have a 6-piece, 6wt travel rod with a Rio Versi-tip line on it that fits in a carryon and covers a lot of bases.
 
Brian Miller said:
It only takes a minute to switch and they're a lot lighter and easier to carry than western rods & reels so I almost always carry two; sometimes three rigged (Tenkara) rods for quick changes between wet fly, nymphing, sometimes a streamer, sometimes a shorter or longer rod if I know a couple of sections will fish better with it.
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One of my thoughts was to use my Tenkara for tight line nymphs, collapsing it, using my Echo for dries.
Hence I had looked at the O’pros 3rd hand rod holder.
 
Two rods? Why not 3? And several soles for my Korkers: Felt, felt with studs, rubber, and aluminum. And since I used to smoke, how about a pipe, some tobacco, a spare pack of cigarettes, a lighter, and some waterproof matches. A lunch. A dry shirt. Two beers. Different beers... Also my phone, a camera, and a gps to find my way back. And my electric dog collar controller, and my dog. My 9mm and an extra magazine. One small package "field sheets". Car keys? Mosquito net for my hat. Polarized glasses and a pair of readers. Plus a neck lanyard with a hook sharpener, a knot tyer and nipper combo (to save weight), a stream thermometer, and an extra hemostat. And a throat pump, test tube and magnifying loupe. A first aid kit with signalling mirror. Licenses for each state, steelhead punchy, concealed pistol permit, and boat operators safety card. A small solar panel for recharging my phone.

I love traveling light.
 
I pretty frequently wade with two rods. Usually a euronymph rod and then the second rigged dry or streamer depending on the scenario. I have one of the rod holders linked above and it works pretty well. The fact that it swivels 360 degrees means that I can adjust where the second rod is to keep it out of the way. I won't say its carefree by any stretch but it works.
 
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