floats vs leash

[Bluegill]

OK got to admit didn't heed the warning I received about using a rod leash or float and yea it cost me. So now I'm ready to listen whats best leash or float any DIY pics would be great

[kuljc]

I did the phone car charger thing. get some from a thrift store for cheap. cut the ends off. loop the ends with zinc ferrules. then use a clip on one side to tie to your yak. and some rope on the other to tie to the paddle. Just so i wouldn't scratch anything, i wrapped the ferrules with waterproof self-bonding super tape (harbor freight).

have to add. i do the same thing with my rods

[dsiekman]

I built a couple of leashes with 1/8" nylon line and a brass snap catch. Tie a loop at one end of the line and tie the other end to the snap. Wrap it around the rod just north of the reel, snap through the loop and connect it to something on the yak. Granted, I haven't bothered to use them yet...guess I should, huh? I'll take a pic if that didn't make sense. After reading it, I'm not sure it made sense to me!

[J.A. Veil]

I am somewhat of a gear minimalist when it comes to rigging my kayak. With that in mind, I forego a paddle leash. But I do have Yak-grips foam pads on the paddle. They provide enough flotation to keep the paddle from sinking. Plus they provide nice cushioning for my hands -- I no longer need to wear gloves for long paddling trips.

[kevinfry]

If you fish alone in rough water like I do, I can't see not using a leash....unless you have a hobie. Wind can get you far from your paddle in a hurry.I can also pitch the paddle if I am fighting a nice fish. I used 1/4 in nylon cord at first then switched to the phone cord thing with velcro around the paddle. The latter is much nicer.

[Sun]

I personally prefer floats to leashes. Having leashes all over the deck and tankwell can get messy at times with tangles, and I don't want a bunch of lines dangling around me when I turtle.
That said, I do leash my rods behind me when I'm paddling around, and only unleash them when I'm actively fishing. When it's time to paddle again, the rods get clipped back on and go into their holders in the back.
Anything else worth saving are attached to floats. So far that's only my camera, and my VHF.
I have a paddle leash, but it's real thick and heavy, and it makes paddling difficult....so I don't use a leash for my paddle at the moment. I actually also have yak grips, but I found them to be uncomfortable to hold, so I don't use those either. I paid big bucks for a light paddle, why weigh it down? But then again...I paid big bucks for a light paddle, why not secure it? It's quite a dilemma...


I used the cable cuffs that were used in this how-to blog post. I put my own cheapo twist to it by substituting the phone cables (since I couldn't find any) with 50lb mono that I use for making top-bottom rigs (another cheapo trick I use to avoid buying steel top-bottom rigs).


I have found that by twisting the mono line, it helps to prevent the line from knotting or tangling with itself and other leashes. The carabiner is used to secure the rod and leash to my milk crate or seat.


For floats, I use yet another cheapo trick. I use empty lemon juice bottles that I tie a looped rope on. That allows me to quickly loop it on my camera's wrist strap when I take the camera out on the water. The loop is attached to an s-biner in the picture, but I usually just use the loop to secure it to my camera. Chexone has seen me with it, and he thought I was drinking lemon juice as a refreshment .

[Bluegill]

Thanks gave me some good cheap ideas .

[Yak Fish]

I've seen Cliff put something like a section of a skinny pool noodle just on the rod. It's not leashed and hardly noticable. It was one of the best ideas I'd seen.

[J.A. Veil]

I love the lemon bottle float. It is colorful and functional with little incremental cost. Nice innovation!

[jet]

I use paddle leashes for my rods. They look exactly like the paddle leash that comes on the hobie minus the buckle

[CB kayak 02]

Check out www.overboardfishingrods.com .... not need for leases or floats

[Cliff]

I've seen Cliff put something like a section of a skinny pool noodle just on the rod. It's not leashed and hardly noticable. It was one of the best ideas I'd seen.

I picked them up at bass bro and they worked very well. It is like a 5-6 inch floatation noodle that goes around the rod. It did not affect casting or reeling in the line. I must admit my Pro Angler has caused me to form some bad habits with leashing my equipment. Unless I am launching in the surf, I never expect to turtle a PA. Who really expects it to happen though... I am sure I will learn the hard way eventually.

[striperstalker]

After reading a west coast thread I did what one of them suggested. I went to walmart and bought 2 5' dog leashes. They work great! Less than 10 bucks for both of them.

[moc]

After reading a west coast thread I did what one of them suggested. I went to walmart and bought 2 5' dog leashes. They work great! Less than 10 bucks for both of them.

I have heard of that, but do they rust at all? Shorting their life span?

[Redfish12]

I use large ss split rings (key rings) and velcro them to the rod blank. I use phone cords and clips to make the rest of the leash. I only leash if it's behind me or in a low trolling position in one of my rod holders. Works well and I have a big ring to hook my jig on in a hurry which is nice.