Depends on the lake, conditions, time of year, and water clarity. For example if I am night fishing I might only have a spinnerbait and a worm on. It also depends if I had time to practice. I had time to practice I might have a better idea what to do. I usually have around 8 rods ready sometimes less and sometimes more. But I usually have a couple in the rod locker just in case. You want to have some backup rods just in case and rods don't weigh much anyway so they won't slow you down.