it depends on the type of water. i was fishing a water that permited 4 rods but it was verey presured with every one taking full advantage of the 4 rod max rule i started with the 3 but went down to 2 to reduce the amount of line through the swim and my catch rate rose alittle when im on a big water that permits 3 or more i normaly take into consideration were people are fishing and how presured it is if every one is fishing 3 in the middle its two in the edge for me or a bit closer in than the middle were the fish minght be hanging back of the presuerd part of the lake sometimes one rod in the right place is better than (x) amounts in the wrong
