Sounds like a man could get busy in a hurry if he ran through some fish. I pushed cranks out the front of the boat. I had 4 rods up front, then 1 in holders clamped to the railing back by the consoles. Those rods required you to get out of the seat on the casting deck and tend to them. They could keep you hoping. You also lose boat control anytime you step away from the trolling motor pedal