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KarlBAndersen1
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04/03/2018 07:22AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
If you like to slow troll around and see the sites while you have a rod in the water, what rod holder do you prefer?
 
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old_salt
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04/03/2018 07:41AM  


Tite Loc.
 
04/03/2018 07:45AM  
I do so little trolling that when I do it's just a matter of hooking a rod butt behind one ankle, and forward of that on the grip across my other lower shin.
 
Mad_Angler
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04/03/2018 08:06AM  
I have a Ram mount for my GPS. It works perfectly to hold my rod. I just put the rod in front of the ram and butt of the rod by my feet.

You can see the GPS in this photo
 
KarlBAndersen1
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04/03/2018 08:30AM  
ParkerMag: "I do so little trolling that when I do it's just a matter of hooking a rod butt behind one ankle, and forward of that on the grip across my other lower shin."

I get that. I just find it interferes a bit with my paddling.
 
mastertangler
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04/03/2018 09:43AM  
If you rent then I like the tite lock but be prepared to have a small block of material like wood to help spread the pressure of the clamp or you can risk damaging kevlar. Keep track of the little wood block as it can be easy to lose.

The tite lock is light duty for the most part. I like that it has various positions in which you can position a rod including a downward angle if so desired. I was always a bit nervous however about losing a rod particularly with hard pulling larger lures as there is no safety latch.

I have used an abundance of rod holders includes the down east (to heavy and loud for canoe usage IMO) and have settled on a ram rod 2000 with a side mount. What becomes very apparent quite quickly is the upward extension of the rod holder (some 6 to 8") enables you to place the rod holder within easy reach but yet still grants far more clearance for a paddle than other types of rod holders.........a very great advantage which is easily overlooked.

The 2000 is also extremely rugged and holds even large outfits with ease and security. Since I like drag 40" pike into the shallows to release them a strong and secure rod holder is paramount. It is doubtful that i could do that with the tite lock.

The side mount requires permanent installation of course. I have mounted mine by using only the top set of screw holes along the gunnel lip and did not use the bottom set of holes which would of meant drilling through the carbon fiber. I used stainless steel hardware and self locking nuts. Permanent is nice, just drop in and go.

Ram rod 2000
 
04/03/2018 09:50AM  
old_salt: "


Tite Loc."

I like the clamp Tite Locs also. They are light and easy to adjust. To keep from scratching up Kevlar and to help level it, I carve up a small piece of ceder wood to place between the clamp and canoe. Or you can make a fishing thwart to put all kinds of stuff on.
 
Savage Voyageur
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04/03/2018 09:58AM  
I use my knee when I’m fishing in a canoe. When I’m in a fishing boat I use my Scotty rod holder. Really like it for setting my rod in it while trolling.
 
Mad_Angler
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04/03/2018 10:15AM  
mastertangler: "...
... have settled on a ram rod 2000 with a side mount. What becomes very apparent quite quickly is the upward extension of the rod holder (some 6 to 8") enables you to place the rod holder within easy reach but yet still grants far more clearance for a paddle than other types of rod holders.........a very great advantage which is easily overlooked.
...
"


master... Ram also sells the 2000 with a 1.5" ball on the bottom.

Ram 200 with ball

could you just mount a 1.5" ball on your thwart bar like I did with my GPS?

Ball
 
rpike
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04/03/2018 11:07AM  
I love the down east rod holders (I use the D-10 single clamp model). They are bomb proof. They do not need a permanent mount and are quick to remove for portaging. MT is correct; they are heavier than most. I think 14 oz apiece. Compared to the weight of all my other fishing equipment, I think it's easily worth it. They are also make some noise when you remove the rod, especially when a fish is on it. Certainly no more noise than banging a gunnel on an aluminum canoe, or even a metal gunnel on a kevlar canoe.

If you don't mind a permanent mount, the RAM 2000 is great. If you want a temporary mount, I can't say enough good things about the down east. I use the double clamp models on my fishing boat trolling large baits at 3-7 mph for muskies. They do not fail.
 
Walleye6
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04/03/2018 12:33PM  
I use a Scotty style rod holder (these are Cabela's branded) with a 1" rail mount and mount it to my thwart. Never had any worry about losing a rod and it's plenty strong for any fish in the BWCA. Heck, we even hooked into a 25 lb king salmon using these on Lake Michigan (although getting the rod out of the holder is no fun at that point). I like these as I have a ton for my big boat so all I needed to buy is the mounts.

 
QueticoMike
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04/03/2018 01:11PM  
Mad_Angler: "I have a Ram mount for my GPS. It works perfectly to hold my rod. I just put the rod in front of the ram and butt of the rod by my feet.


You can see the GPS in this photo
"


I want to see what the little girl has on at the end of her line :)
 
QueticoMike
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04/03/2018 01:13PM  
My favorite rod holder is my right foot. I don't troll often.
 
mastertangler
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04/03/2018 01:26PM  
Mad_Angler: "
mastertangler: "...
... have settled on a ram rod 2000 with a side mount. What becomes very apparent quite quickly is the upward extension of the rod holder (some 6 to 8") enables you to place the rod holder within easy reach but yet still grants far more clearance for a paddle than other types of rod holders.........a very great advantage which is easily overlooked.
...
"



master... Ram also sells the 2000 with a 1.5" ball on the bottom.


Ram 200 with ball


could you just mount a 1.5" ball on your thwart bar like I did with my GPS?


Ball "


Yes I have the ball style mount on my walleye boat (outboard) which is covered up with holders front and back. The stern has the down east style holders for Musky trolling and the rest of the boat has Ram Products for drifting bait.

That is fine as well but the mounting of the ball would probably need to be thwart mounted. Be advised that Ram makes metal connectors (from ball to holder) which are painted flat black but they also make plastic composite connectors which are substantially lighter. You can get these from the "Mount Guys" on line.

RPike you are to good a fisherman to use the down east off a canoe. Not only are they way to heavy..........they are to noisy. When I am fishing for Mr Big absolute silence is a prerequisite. No pliers set on the bottom of the boat, no dropped lures etc. etc, Those down east must sound like a gunshot going off below. No good! Get a Ram Rod 2000 and bolt it to the Gunnel, you will never regret doing so. Perfectly quiet, perfectly secure, perfectly light.
 
04/03/2018 01:26PM  
KarlBAndersen1: "
ParkerMag: "I do so little trolling that when I do it's just a matter of hooking a rod butt behind one ankle, and forward of that on the grip across my other lower shin."



I get that. I just find it interferes a bit with my paddling."

Especially at trolling speed, I can paddle near forever on one (the off) side, paddle-interference is a non-issue. Plus, I have this really sweet knife on my belt now - pretty sure that helps too!
 
BnD
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04/03/2018 02:42PM  
QueticoMike: "
Mad_Angler: "I have a Ram mount for my GPS. It works perfectly to hold my rod. I just put the rod in front of the ram and butt of the rod by my feet.



You can see the GPS in this photo
"



I want to see what the little girl has on at the end of her line :)"


I was thinking exactly the same thing. Great pic.

OT We have the Sentry rod holder and the Scotty rod holders as shown above with the 1" bar mount. In summary, the Scottys are heavy but, very secure and the sentry's are lightweight but, marginally secure. If we trolled a lot I would take the Scotty's. We do not troll much so sometimes I throw in the sentrys and sometimes I don't. We haven't taken the Scottys in years.
 
Mad_Angler
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04/03/2018 05:43PM  
QueticoMike: "
Mad_Angler: "I have a Ram mount for my GPS. It works perfectly to hold my rod. I just put the rod in front of the ram and butt of the rod by my feet.



You can see the GPS in this photo
"



I want to see what the little girl has on at the end of her line :)"


Mike. That is my favorite fishing picture. I found a submerged island that rose to 5 feet in25 feet of water. It was loaded with smallies. They would bite as fast as we could drop our jigs and leeches. I kept going back every day for a week of basecamping.
 
KarlBAndersen1
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04/03/2018 05:53PM  
ParkerMag: "Plus, I have this really sweet knife on my belt now - pretty sure that helps too! "

That will make your whole life run smoother!!
 
KarlBAndersen1
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04/03/2018 05:59PM  

They make a "rail mount" base for that that could be mounted onto a thwart to avoid the gunwale mount and possibly damaging the hull




old_salt: "


Tite Loc."




 
04/04/2018 12:10AM  
i use a down east , yes if your going solo and every ounce count , they are heavy but extremely secured,, as far as noisey maybe on an aluminum canoe but not really on my old town and the old towns have the wide rail for attaching not good for other canoes without a block of wood . and if your taking your rod out of the rod holder doesnt that mean that Mr. big is already hooked up MT ? i also like being able to change the rod angle to the water level with these .
 
mastertangler
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04/04/2018 07:06AM  
shock: "i use a down east , yes if your going solo and every ounce count , they are heavy but extremely secured,, as far as noisey maybe on an aluminum canoe but not really on my old town and the old towns have the wide rail for attaching not good for other canoes without a block of wood . and if your taking your rod out of the rod holder doesnt that mean that Mr. big is already hooked up MT ? i also like being able to change the rod angle to the water level with these . "


I have brought the Down East on canoe trips and they are certainly a very strong and secure way to handle your rod. I used to not open them up and make the loud clanking sound but sometimes if a nice fish was on you didn't have much choice as it was hard to get out of the rod holder otherwise. Not only was it a potential fish disrupter I grew to hate the noise in the peaceful stillness of canoe country........it was an affront to me and my delicate sensibilities ;-)

I am very big on excess noise when I fish and have a very low tolerance for it. The whole advantage a canoe has over a typical motorboat is the fish never know you are there. Fish often school by size...........why just catch one and let the rest know you are there when you might catch several whoppers if you can stay quiet? The bigger the fish the more likely everything needs be right........probably doesn't matter with smaller fish.

I'm with you on being able to adjust the angle of the rod. On the Ram 2000, since it is significantly above the gunnel, I typically angle my rod backward and downward so it is mere inches above the water line and I still have plenty of room for my paddle. Better! Quieter! Lighter!

 
Mad_Angler
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04/04/2018 07:23AM  
I get scared thinking about my rod in a holder extended out over the water. It seems that any number of failures could lead to me losing my rod. Does that ever happen?

Do folks sometimes use some string as a safety feature? It seems that you could tie the string in such a way that it wasn't really in the way.

I keep the butt of my rod in the boat and the front of the rod secured behind my GPS. When I snag the bottom, the drag kicks in but the rod is pulled pretty hard. I'm concerned about that with a plastic rod holder.
 
mastertangler
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04/04/2018 07:47AM  
Mad_Angler: "I get scared thinking about my rod in a holder extended out over the water. It seems that any number of failures could lead to me losing my rod. Does that ever happen?


Do folks sometimes use some string as a safety feature? It seems that you could tie the string in such a way that it wasn't really in the way.


I keep the butt of my rod in the boat and the front of the rod secured behind my GPS. When I snag the bottom, the drag kicks in but the rod is pulled pretty hard. I'm concerned about that with a plastic rod holder."


I get my rod out of the boat and out of my way. Losing a rod is definitely a concern Mad Angler and one reason I ditched the tite Lock which I consider light duty. What I like about the Ram Rod is that it has an incorporated safety latch which is easily put on and off. As for strength.........no worries. I routinely drag big northern into the bank with a very tight drag and 65lb braid and 60lb fluorocarbon leaders. When a 40" pike pulls hard on the tow into shore the rod holder flexes slightly but has been rock solid.

It seems to be some some of plastic composite and appears to be more or less indestructible and not brittle like most hard plastics. I trust it enough to put a Shimano Tranx and a loomis Musky rod hanging over the edge of the boat. Thats about $800 of outfit hanging out in space waiting for a 4' fish to latch on all while I am trolling at speed. So yes, I trust the rod holder completely especially since it is not just clamped on but rather bolted in place.

As per a safety line it would be a good idea on some of the cheaper clamp on type rod holders. Just a loose loop around a handle would probably be sufficient.......something, anything would be better than nothing. But thats the reason you get something better........so you don't have to hassle with stuff like that.
 
04/04/2018 09:03AM  
I use a Folbe Advantage Jr. Rod Holder pedestal mount in my Bell Magic. It is a tad bit heavier than I would like for my soloing trips but I really like the design. It is really easy to attach and release your trolling rod.

And has a simple push/pull locking feature for rod security that I like as well.


Folbe Advantage JR. Pedestal Mount Rod Holder
 
04/04/2018 01:11PM  
i do agree on the noise factor MT , generally speaking these fish(bw/q) dont experience noise or shadows with the exception of a beaver tail slap or an eagle try to get them. and stealth is important, no doubt ! and especially an aluminum canoe does echo that noise through out the water.
with the down east rod holders one does need to straighten out the butt of the rod then pull up. but we do agree it is a very secure system just a bit heavy and a little noisey.
 
mastertangler
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04/04/2018 02:27PM  
shock: "i do agree on the noise factor MT , generally speaking these fish(bw/q) dont experience noise or shadows with the exception of a beaver tail slap or an eagle try to get them. and stealth is important, no doubt ! and especially an aluminum canoe does echo that noise through out the water.
with the down east rod holders one does need to straighten out the butt of the rod then pull up. but we do agree it is a very secure system just a bit heavy and a little noisey."


Why don't you take some of that money you get by winning the ice fishing tournament every year and upgrade ;-)

Wally 13's holder looks groovy.
 
04/04/2018 04:40PM  
I think I'll spend that money on a rod & reel set up that you mentioned ;)
 
04/05/2018 06:59AM  
Mad_Angler: "I get scared thinking about my rod in a holder extended out over the water. It seems that any number of failures could lead to me losing my rod. Does that ever happen?


Do folks sometimes use some string as a safety feature? It seems that you could tie the string in such a way that it wasn't really in the way.


I keep the butt of my rod in the boat and the front of the rod secured behind my GPS. When I snag the bottom, the drag kicks in but the rod is pulled pretty hard. I'm concerned about that with a plastic rod holder."


I've never had one fail or lost a rod. While canoeing I usually have my real beyond the holder for easy removal. Of course I don't set mine angled like MT but don't get him started on that! LOL
 
mastertangler
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04/05/2018 07:17AM  
shock: "I think I'll spend that money on a rod & reel set up that you mentioned ;)"


Great outfit.........The Tranx is quite a reel and I talked myself into getting it (it took a while of internal debate ;-) to take for Musky fishing at Irregular Lake in WCPP. I wanted to be able to cast and crank big lures all day while sitting in a canoe without getting smoked. The Tranx performed as advertised and I never wore out. It also doubled nicely as a jigging reel for Grouper and Blackfin Tuna in the saltwater.

But it was overkill for pike fishing in canoe country. Now I just use one of the larger Revos which is perfect. Still handles the thick braid I prefer for pike.

Jim I don't angle my rod back so it is perfectly aligned with my lure. Rather I angle it back at about a 45 degree angle so my rod is loaded and ready to transfer power to the hooks. (Now you done it! You got him started on his soapbox!) You see its all a matter of physics.........have I ever mentioned blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, ad infinitum ;-)
 
rpike
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04/05/2018 02:59PM  
I'm with shock. The down east noise has never seemed to be an issue for me. I make a point of lifting the rod straight out, and when I think of it, lowering it so it doesn't bang loudly. Really no louder than setting my paddle across the gunnels. I do appreciate being able to remove them and put them on other canoes; I don't always fish out of my own! I get it about not disturbing the peace and quiet - that's most of the reason to be up there.

I had a composite plastic holder from Pisci Fun. The plastic was light and strong, but the clamp system was garbage. I very nearly lost clamp and rod to a small trout. I used to use the Rod Sentry from Piragis. I never lost a rod, but it made me nervous, and I was forever having to use a pliers to re-tighten the mounting screws. Believe me, I'm *much* happier carrying the heavier down east than using the rod sentry.
 
mastertangler
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04/05/2018 03:11PM  
Ok, different strokes for different folks as they say.

I usually slide my rod into a down east but if you get a big fish on the pressure is such that you almost always have to POP it loudly out of the holder. Yes I would never use the rod sentry under any circumstance.

Where you and I differ is I would never set my paddle across my Gunnel unless it has some pipe foam to silence any sound. Yes, I bring pipe foam in to make certain I don't make any racket. I'm not always successful but I do what I can.........pliers are mounted via a holder on the side of my boat, boga is clipped and hanging and frequently I have yoga mat material on the bottom of my boat to silence my feet and anything which might drop. The only thing that ticks me off is the "ping" from my depth finder. The fish must feel like a submarine waiting for a depth charge as I go by.

Actual historical footage
 
OldTripper
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04/06/2018 07:05AM  
I was also in the market for a rod holder. I decided on this one. The price was right and I could get it locally.
It has the two piece clamp so it can be added to a thwart or grab handle in the bow.
Berkley Rod Holder
 
04/21/2018 05:44PM  
bump for Adam32
 
blutofish1
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04/23/2018 10:55AM  
QueticoMike: "
Mad_Angler: "I have a Ram mount for my GPS. It works perfectly to hold my rod. I just put the rod in front of the ram and butt of the rod by my feet.



You can see the GPS in this photo
"



I want to see what the little girl has on at the end of her line :)"


she sure is clinching her jaws
 
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