I've never intentionally run a longer rod in the middle, though I'm sure it happens sometimes!

While the middle rod rarely hooks up, I find that when there are really good numbers of fish in the river the hookup rate is nearly double with three rods versus two in the water.

The "wall of death" theory, I suppose. The more annoying the setup is and the harder it is to avoid for the fish, the better.

Here's a good way to get your heart pumping...have your three rods out same distance, river is running at moderate to moderate/low, running down a nice piece of plug water. Inside rod is running a tadpolly right on the bank, outside rod running a HotShot SE, middle rod running either one, depending on the rate of depth drop from shore to the outside rod. (If the rate is faster, then use the deeper diving SE, if it's not too fast, use the tadpolly, or a small kwickie).

As you approach the bottom fifty feet of the run before the tailout or a rootball, notice the occasional swirl behind the plugs. Those are fish that are moving back down the hole from the approaching "wall of death".

When you hit the tail or root, the fish have three choices; 1. scoot over the tailout to the next hole down (very unlikely), 2. scoot up past the plugs and under the boat, or 3. knock 'em silly.

I'll take #3!

I think that sometimes the additional middle plug increases the chance that #3, rather than #2, will occur.

Fish on...

Todd.