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one rod or two

On big waters like the Thames I often fish 3, when faced with 30yards + of water, fish can be anywhere, when hotspots are found, I will just fish 2.
peter
 
For me (as with others) it just depends on swim, or my state of mind....or mood.....or whether I've got enough bait. I've taken to a more roving approach lately, however, so one's the norm for me. I'm also starting the new season using a centrepin exclusively (I fish small rivers), so I don't want to be found wanting in the fish-playing technique department by having two rods out, having a fish on each, and being unable to land either :)
 
Adrian Williams said:
My local water is the Severn, I've had two on at once on many occasions, in fact there have been several occasions where I have had one in the net resting, one on the hook and the other rod has gone off.
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It's not happened to me yet, but in case it does, what's your technique for playing two fish at once? A chap in a local tackle shop once told me he would put one rod on the ground and put his foot on it until he'd landed the other one. I couldn't help feeling that the barbel could be well wrapped around a snag by then, and I wasn't keen on standing on my nice barbel rod.

I only occasionally fish two rods, but sod's law I'll get two on at some point. I've had it happen with bream (just hauled 'em both in at the same time with assitance from me knees) and carp (gave one rod to the chap in the next swim).
 
You could say I've been lucky but I've never been snagged. In my experience the fish, left to it's own devices and without too much drag on the baitrunner, often stops and sulks after a short run and can be dealt with at your leisure.

My biggest brace from the Severn (all 24lb 8oz of it) ended up in the same net when the second rod hooped round just as the first fish went over the net cord.
Fortunately I was fishing a very open stretch of water in Ironbridge which is virtually snag free.

If you want to see an example of how to play two fish at once have a look at the Bob Roberts video where Lee Swords plays two barbel at the same time on the Trent.
 
Defo one rod for me as l usually fish inside line espesially in flood which is my fave river condition with my 9ft nash 1.75tc river stalker..
Dont think l could manage two rods as l always think what if the fish goes through the other line cant get the other rod out of the way if ye playing a barb..but l know most of you do use two rods with no probs..

Each to there own main objective is getting our fave fish on the bank..

Looking forward to meeting up with a few of ye for the fishin on the severn in july..

Cheers
 
Do you set the hooks first and then leave it on the baitrunner, or do you just leave it alone until you have landed the first and hope the hook has got a good hold?

That's a hell of a brace from the middle Severn!

I have a copy of that Bob Roberts DVD, I'll dig it out and have a watch.
 
Two at a time is not something I set out to do on a regular basis so no,I don't set the hook, I find simply playing one is about as much as I can do and don't touch the second rod other than perhaps loosening the baitrunner clutch until the first one is securely in the bag.

I had that brace from the swim in the park which Jes is always fishing and it was getting on for ten years ago now.

I did have a couple of poor quality pictures which were taken on my first digital camera (1.1Mp) but, despite the best efforts of the IT gnomes in the hospital where I worked, they, along with allot of others, were lost when the hard drive on my old pc froze. That's why I back up just about everything now.

The biggest of the two remains my pb at 13Lb2oz and I believe it was the same fish which was caught a couple of years later by a pike angler on half a mackerel at a little over 14Lb. Ironically I have got a picture of that capture because I scanned the print which used to be above the long gone tackle stall in Wellington market.
 
One rod everytime. How can you honestly be in control of 2 rods at once? If you took 2 rods up on the Wye you would run the risk of playing a barbel on one rod whilst the other takes off down stream without you noticing!! I have never understood the need for two rods, i mean, how can you play a fish with half an eye on the other rod?!
 
one rod for me. think you fish / concentrate better on one rod.
seems four rods on the Ouse will be safe now!
cheers, dave
 
Mark de Lancey said:
One rod everytime. How can you honestly be in control of 2 rods at once? If you took 2 rods up on the Wye you would run the risk of playing a barbel on one rod whilst the other takes off down stream without you noticing!! I have never understood the need for two rods, i mean, how can you play a fish with half an eye on the other rod?!
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As said, for me, it depends on the circumstance. I will use two rods when I'm confident that I'm fishing for one or two bites a day. When I know that there's a chance of a double hook up or even just steady action then I'll stick to one rod. If an expected slow session unexpectedly turns into a red letter day then two rods will be reduced to one. So far this has served me well maximizing my chances of a fish when necessary. As yet I've never experienced a double hook up. The closest I've come is having a second fish about ten minutes after recasting a rod that I'd just caught with. I'm never rigid enough in my thinking to always use two rods regardless of circumstance.
 
One, always.

I've got a completely illogical moral standpoint on this. Two rods on a river feels wrong. On a lake, when carp fishing for example, it doesn't.

It gets more complicated...two rods on a lake for pike feels like one too few. Two rods for pike on a river feels one too much. Same species, different circumstances.

Barbel on a lake: one rod feels like too many.

Purely personal and hard to justify, so I won't try!

Jon
 
I often fish with two rods on rivers but I had my first ever double hook-up last night on a stillwater. Fortunately, I had just landed a low-double common carp and hadn't had the chance to remove the hook before my second alarm burst into life! I had to play a feisty tench whilst getting my landing net and its contents back in the water. Scooping up the six-pounder with the carp still in the net was interesting to say the least! I'll be reassessing my approach to barbel fishing in the dark after this experience.
 
Mark de Lancey said:
One rod everytime. How can you honestly be in control of 2 rods at once? If you took 2 rods up on the Wye you would run the risk of playing a barbel on one rod whilst the other takes off down stream without you noticing!! I have never understood the need for two rods, i mean, how can you play a fish with half an eye on the other rod?!
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That's where the Delkims and baitrunners come in handy Mark. The wonders of Modern Technology. ;)

The set-up means the fish is hooked by the time you pick the rod up, no need to strike. On crayfish infested, low-stocked waters, it's a waste of time and effort trying to hit every little movement.

If you're on what might be called a "prolific" river (is there one these days?) where you might expect say, 4, 5 or more fish a session then yes, I'd only bother with one rod.

The places I fish aren't like that though, one, maybe two if you're lucky. Two rods is not a must, but an advantage.
I've never had two on at the same time, the nearest being a large chub
(6.10), which I had just removed the hook from when the second rod went off (baitrunner :cool:) and I tuirned round to pull in a 10.15 barbel which I landed with the chub still in the net.

Small river, 2 rods, 2 different baited spots, 2 superb fish.

Works for me.

picture.php



If you don't have either the need or the confidence to do it, then don't. :)
 
Simon King said:
That's where the Delkims and baitrunners come in handy Mark. The wonders of Modern Technology. ;)

The set-up means the fish is hooked by the time you pick the rod up, no need to strike. On crayfish infested, low-stocked waters, it's a waste of time and effort trying to hit every little movement.

If you're on what might be called a "prolific" river (is there one these days?) where you might expect say, 4, 5 or more fish a session then yes, I'd only bother with one rod.

The places I fish aren't like that though, one, maybe two if you're lucky. Two rods is not a must, but an advantage.
I've never had two on at the same time, the nearest being a large chub
(6.10), which I had just removed the hook from when the second rod went off (baitrunner :cool:) and I tuirned round to pull in a 10.15 barbel which I landed with the chub still in the net.

Small river, 2 rods, 2 different baited spots, 2 superb fish.

Works for me.

picture.php



If you don't have either the need or the confidence to do it, then don't. :)
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I am not worthy, far too clever for little me.

Well done!



Hugo


 
I for one start with two rods, if and its not too often i will go down to one rod when the fish are coming thick and fast. Believe me 6 barbel an hour is probably the maximum amount of fish you can take, if you take all the baiting , waiting and playing into consideration, let alone taking PB phots etc.
When they are coming so quick it is highly stupid not to go down to just the one rod route, especially when fish safety should be at the top of the list. Conversely, in winter time when the goings slow i will often fish a third rod, some may say thats highly irresponsible, but i do take everything onto consideration and after last seasons winter I never came knowhere near a double hook up, let alone a treble.
One thing i will say is if you do fish more than one rod, ensure its secured, set the drag and not the baitrunner, fish safety comes first always, have a second landing net downstream and use the grey matter between your ears thinking what if this or that happens and if you dont have an answer dont fish with 2 or more rods.
 
Jon Frisby said:
One thing i will say is if you do fish more than one rod, ensure its secured, set the drag and not the baitrunner, QUOTE]



:confused:

Do you mean, set the drag, if you don't have a baitrunner?

I assume you're not suggesting leaving the baitrunner function off, if you have one?
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