When I first started carp fishing back in June 1980 the standard rod licence was for one rod, you had to buy a second licence to use two. It wasn't until the 1990’s that the two rod licence was bought in and not until 2017 for the three rod licence.
Everyone used two rods when I first started, three becoming the norm a few years later. Over the years I fished a number of waters where only two were allowed but I'd always choose to use three if allowed and sometimes even four. On occasions even though I could use three I'd sometimes just use two and for the last two years I’ve only ever used two, buying just the two rod licences as well, when I bought new rods and reels, I just bought the pair (saving hundreds of pounds!).
Everyone used two rods when I first started, three becoming the norm a few years later. Over the years I fished a number of waters where only two were allowed but I'd always choose to use three if allowed and sometimes even four. On occasions even though I could use three I'd sometimes just use two and for the last two years I’ve only ever used two, buying just the two rod licences as well, when I bought new rods and reels, I just bought the pair (saving hundreds of pounds!).
The reason for only using two rods is usually space if it's not the rules and I’d often just employ two if I couldn't place a third to my advantage. Much of my fishing had become day sessions too, fishing light so I could move about quickly and easily, not carrying a third rod made this all a lot easier and was the first thing to go when I started to slim down the kit I carried.
Then there was the aspect of deployment, putting all your eggs in one basket, all three rods (or just two) in one area isn't stealthy and increases the chances of your lines being detected and even if you split them, three rods is a fifty percent increase in lines out than just two.
I prefer to split the area I’m fishing if I can, this gives you two spots that you can possibly pick up fish in a given area instead of one, increasing your chances and decreasing the chances of the lines being detected by the fish.
So as far as space is concerned some swims might be too tight and a third rod can often be in the way when playing fish or making everything a lot tighter than it needs to be.
Then there was the aspect of deployment, putting all your eggs in one basket, all three rods (or just two) in one area isn't stealthy and increases the chances of your lines being detected and even if you split them, three rods is a fifty percent increase in lines out than just two.
I prefer to split the area I’m fishing if I can, this gives you two spots that you can possibly pick up fish in a given area instead of one, increasing your chances and decreasing the chances of the lines being detected by the fish.
So as far as space is concerned some swims might be too tight and a third rod can often be in the way when playing fish or making everything a lot tighter than it needs to be.
I find it’s a lot easier to concentrate on two rods and the spots they are fishing than it is with three, I'm more focused, more confident and this I believe is a real positive to my angling.
You have to think differently, from “am I missing out by not using three rods” to “I’m increasing my chances by using just two” and of course the proof is always in results.
Getting that third rod working? How many times has that happened? For me only a few times since 1980 if I’m honest and there isn't anything to indicate that will change. You always put your first two rods on ‘The spots’ and the third? Chuck it in the margin.
There are times of course when that third rod chucked ‘out of the way in the margin’ goes off and saves a blank and with a large expanse of water a third or even a forth is advantageous.
You have to think differently, from “am I missing out by not using three rods” to “I’m increasing my chances by using just two” and of course the proof is always in results.
Getting that third rod working? How many times has that happened? For me only a few times since 1980 if I’m honest and there isn't anything to indicate that will change. You always put your first two rods on ‘The spots’ and the third? Chuck it in the margin.
There are times of course when that third rod chucked ‘out of the way in the margin’ goes off and saves a blank and with a large expanse of water a third or even a forth is advantageous.
So use three rods if you wish or need to, that makes sense, however these are the reasons why I choose to use two most of the time even though I have a choice to use three and in all honesty I think that despite losing some options, as a whole my fishing has become easier and results have improved, they've certainly not decreased.