Padre,

It all depends on the rivers you are fishing. I bank fish a lot of smaller rivers so I can get away with using an 8'6" spinning rod when bushwacking. It is plenty long enough to keep line off the water when float fishing smaller rivers and easier to climb through the bushes with just one rod.

If you are fishing larger rivers pack two rods. Most of the time larger rivers are easier to get around on and it shouldn't be a problem carrying around two or three rods.