Rod Leashes and Floats

[Mark]

Regarding the use rod leashes and rod floats …

I attach leashes while my rods are in holders. However, I unhook the leash while I am holding the rod in my hand.

I suppose it is advisable to keep the leashes attached at all times but I find it awkward to cast that way.

I have not used rods floats but I am considering them.

For those of you who have had the misfortune of losing rods, did you drop them, or did they fall out of their holders?

I'm curious if there is higher probability of dropping the rod or of it being bounced from the holder.

Thank you,

Mark

[On the fly]

Mark, I will bring one of the rod floats on Monday and you can try it.

[Boondock_RES]

Flung one right outta my hands.

I ordered two packs of floats from BPS. Should be in shortly. When I gett'em, I'll write up a little review and take some pics.

[mweber02]

Put my 1st rod overboard on Monday. Went to pull a rod from the holder behind me and it somehow lifted the one next to it right out. I haven't tried leashes or floats yet but fully intend to. For now, my bungee holding the crate down behind me actually seems to hold quite well if I lift it over the spinning reel or crank.

[Raptor]

Regarding the use rod leashes and rod floats …

I attach leashes while my rods are in holders. However, I unhook the leash while I am holding the rod in my hand.

I suppose it is advisable to keep the leashes attached at all times but I find it awkward to cast that way.

I have not used rods floats but I am considering them.

For those of you who have had the misfortune of losing rods, did you drop them, or did they fall out of their holders?

I'm curious if there is higher probability of dropping the rod or of it being bounced from the holder.

Thank you,

Mark

Mark,

I lost my rod right out of the holder from a fish strike trolling a Smack-it Jr.. Climbed out back trying to get to it - flipped the kayak and lost my tackle box, ruined my cell phone even though it was in a baggie, and was 20 minutes late and soaking wet when I met my wife at the dock. You can bet your @#$ I went right out and got some rod leashes and a floating dry bag for my new phone. Like you I keep them on in the holders and unclip them when casting.

T.

[sparky1423]

I gave up on rod leashes long ago. I had a habit of snagging a treble hook on everything a kayak has to offer and the leashes proven to be easy targets. I used to unclipped mine to cast and fish and re-leashed my rods when stored in my rod holders. It somewhat defeats the purpose of the leash. Since then I made a triple rod holder with U-slots to lock down the shaft of the reels while not in use. The tube in the middle has the slot in the middle, the left tube has the slot slightly facing the left side of the kayak...and the right tube, facing the right. This keeps my bails from becoming too close possibly tangling when removing a rod. When the rods are in the tubes, I stagger the lures top, middle, and bottom so the lines and the treble hooks do not become inter tangled. Sometimes for me it is difficult to turn around and look up at the same time to make sure everything was separated before pulling the rod I wanted out of its holder.

So far, so good...I even cut U-slots into my outer trolling tubes and have complete confidence they will stay in place under any water conditions. I pay more attention when I have baitcasters on board since they do not have the shaft handle a spinning reel does...no casualties yet. I don't think i'll ever solve the problem of being a klutz on my kayak.

[Strummerfan]

I just purchased a few rod leashes the other day. To date I've refrained from trolling out of fear of losing a rod in the process.

[JKay]

Since then I made a triple rod holder with U-slots to lock down the shaft of the reels while not in use. The tube in the middle has the slot in the middle, the left tube has the slot slightly facing the left side of the kayak...and the right tube, facing the right. This keeps my bails from becoming too close possibly tangling when removing a rod.

That's a great idea! I can't tell you how often I go to lift a rod out of the holder only to catch it on another rod and starting lifting rod #2 out of the holder.

[Paddle4fish]

Instead of buying rod floats because those floats tend to tangle with the line during casting and if you have a heavy reel it won't float but suspend somewhere in the abyss..I use pool noodles attached at the butt of the rod holders due to the fact that the pool noodles have more buoyancy then the ones they sell at the fish n tackle shops. Just my experience with rod floats...

[dhawk]

I have lost 2 rods one was pulled out by a tree bass fishing the other I dropped while tending another rod I tried leases and just didn't like them too much to tangle up I now use overboard rods and both float with reels attach have tested both my med heavy has a heavy penn battle reel and still floats my other rods have foam floats the med rod is fine but my bait caster the float only let's it sink slower so before you depend on them I would test them out

[Mark]

Thanks to all for sharing your experiences and ideas.

Mark

[lordofthemanor]

Mark,
I lost a rod a few weeks ago. I reached behind me to put it into it's hull hole without looking back. Next thing you know I hear a splash and realize it was my rod going overboard. Guess I missed the hole...it was in the well temporarily standing...and then fell into the water. Now looking to put floats on so I don't lose any others.
Bruce

[Slobber Bob]

I lost my rod right out of the holder from a fish strike trolling a Smack-it Jr..

What kind of rod holder? Flush mount, tube, scotty...?

[Mark]

Bruce,

Sorry to hear that.

Tough loss.

One habit I have is to re-clip the leash to the rod before I return it to the holder.

[lordofthemanor]

What kind of rod holder? Flush mount, tube, scotty...?

It was a flush mount.