Here where most of us fish we are allowed 4 per person. Years ago fishing some oxbow S here and in Arkansas I used to fish 7 by myself. 4 is about all I want to fool with most of the time now but sometimes wish I could have a couple more. Unless you have some tools and skills to cut that flat in the bar stock I would call Scott at hitec and have him make you a cross bar about 8 inches longer and with that bar centered would give you almost another 4 inches of clearance. That should give you plenty of room to handle your rods.