I'm not a big fisherman, but I'm willing to learn. For those of you who bring multiple fishing poles, what is the advantage. What do you bring and how do you set them up? With different line weights, leaders, swivels, lures? Different action on the rods? Or do you just bring an extra in case of breakage?

I take a spinning rod with 6 lb test and a bait casting rod with 10 to 12 lb. test. The spinning rod is for walleye & bass and the bait casting is for Northern. I don't use wire leaders or snap swivels because I think it screws up the action of my baits but I lose more Northerns due to line being cut. As for artificials stop in one of the local bait shops and ask them. I always take leaches they are easy for me to keep alive, just change the water in your bag every morning and evening. My current rig of choice is a stop bobber. Also I have an extra rod & reel in case one gets lost or broken. I take 3 paddles, two bent and one straight. Use bent for flat water and straight moving water. Also have an extra paddle in case I lose or break one. Remember in Minnesota you can only have one rod and bait in the water at a time, and one hook per rod.

The biggest advantage of multiple rod/reel combos is having two to four different baits tied on and ready to cast at any time. The other advantage is that you have differnt rod actions and line weight or type for each type of bait. I use the following set up most of the time:
rod 1 - 6 1/2' medium action casting with 10 or 12 pound mono for spinner baits, buzz bait, spoon or topwater.
rod 2 - 7' medium light casting with 8 or 10 pound mono for crank bait, jerk bait, rattle trap and topwater if rod 1 is busy
rod 3 - 6'8" med light spinning with 10 pound Berkley Fireline Crystal for plastic such as jig/senko, sluggo, weightless senko, tubes and jig/grubs. The 10 pound Fireline actually breaks at 16 1/2 pounds and has no stretch so it really helps with hook sets with plastic. It also has great sensitivity and the new Crystal is semi low vis under water.
rod 4 - 6'8" med light spinning with 6 to 8 mono for smaller baits such as sliders, lighter jig/grub combos and small crankbaits when throwing into the wind.
The above is my solo set up. When I have a partner, I drop rod # 4, but either way, I always have a spare back at camp.

Vagabond,

I can agree with the info the other two posts have given you, but being a new fisherman, try to keep it simple.

I would recommend a spinning rod and reel, 6-8 lb test line, simple tackle (jigs, floating jigs, slip bobbers, plain hooks, bobber stops, etc)

No steel leaders or snap swivels.

With the drag set correctly, this will handle any fish you hook, including northern pike.

Fish with bits of a night crawler, or a leech.

You will catch all the fish you want.

If you must, take a few Rapala's or similar type of "dark side baits" as extras to use after you get tired of catching fish with the other suggested tackle:)

Depending on the species in the lake, I usually take one six foot light Fenwick spinning rod for slip bobber fishing and topwater and one med heavy spin or casting rod for Pike and Lake Trout. The fly rod is going up this year also.