Rod Socks!!

[Choporoz]

Do you use them?

In your car/truck? 

In the boat?

What brand(s)?

 

And most important!!!    Do yours float? .....mine do NOT, by the way.....I'm down two this season already....if I use them in the boat, I need to either learn how to hang on to them, or tie something buoyant to them...

 

I love them.......but since I can't seem to hang on to 'em, I think maybe they'll have to stay in the truck from now on.

 

 

[Jig Man]

I have 2 kinds:  the solid ones from BPS and the mesh ones from BPS.  I use them in the rod locker and when I am going with someone else.  In my boat I take them off when I use a rod, put them in the locker and put them back on at the end of the trip.  With others, I take them off and leave them in the tow vehicle until we are done.

[JGBassinAL]

I use stick jackets, best ones made IMO. I will use them when transporting rods in my truck or when I have them in my rod locker. I ALWAYS have them on in my rod locker. First tournament I fished without using them in my rod locker was enough to make me never do that again!

[lmbfisherman]

I use Rod Gloves and the BPS ones..I need more though, definitely worth it. 

[Tywithay]

I have a couple that came with the rods when I bought them. I thought they were a pain out on the water, so I threw them in the shed somewhere.

[A-Jay]

I've been using stick jackets faithfully on all my rods for a while now.

 

 Except when actively fishing them, all the poles are stored & transported in the jacket.

 

 Additionally, if you feel you need it, the Pro Series Neoprene Rod Glove definitely offers much more in the way of protection.

 

So there's that.

 

A-Jay

[iabass8]

I use stickjackers, rod gloves and the DSG rod jacket. If a rod isn't in use or laying on my deck, it's got one on.

[Mr Swim Jig]

I use the Rod Glove ones...

[MarkH024]

Stik jackets and BPS mesh. Both work great and are a life saver when stacking rods lined up together. I use the BPS solid ones for spinning rods.  I have no idea if they float because they go right into a compartment on my boat so no need to worry about them flying off.

[Siebert Outdoors]

few of my rods came with them and I bought some locally also.  I keep them in the jacket as long as I am not using them.  It saves a ton of time untangling them.  If the rod is in the rod holder they have a jacket and a reel cover unless I'm fishing a tournament.

[bradc36]

Always put Rod Gloves on as long as I'm not using the rod at that time. Broke a couple guides in the car one time so I won't go without them.

[crankbank]

I use the BPS mesh socks whenever the rod isn't on my deck.  I am in need of a few more, so I will definitely look into the stick jackets mentioned above.  The only issue I have so far with the mesh BPS ones was one of my rods stuck through the mess at the top. Most likely caused by me from pushing the sock on too tight.  

 

I am not sure how everyone else does it, but I would recommend going up a size or two when buying the socks as well.

[Rusty Shackleford]

I really like my rod gloves

[Raul]

The only time my rods are not protected by rod covers ( and my reels protected by reel covers ) is when I remove them to cast.

[tomustang]

Always on until they're on the deck, They stay in the rod locker and I pull the rods out of them so they don't leave the locker.

[Kevin22]

I use rod gloves and the knockoff ones on ebay. I use them in the rod locker in the boat to keep the rods from tangling. When I take a rod out I strip the glove and toss the glove back into the rod locker. 

[ColdSVT]

Stick jackets and TW reel covers all the times unless the rod is on the deck

[Jrob78]

I've got a bunch of Rod Sox brand and a couple of Gander Mountain sleeves also.  Recently I've been making my own.  You can buy the material online and it's really easy to work with.  All you need is a hot knife, heat gun and some shrink tube.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

I use one when I get a new rod til the newness wears off... about 2 weeks.

[ninjab]

I've got a bunch of Rod Sox brand and a couple of Gander Mountain sleeves also.  Recently I've been making my own.  You can buy the material online and it's really easy to work with.  All you need is a hot knife, heat gun and some shrink tube.

Sounds like a cost effective option, if you don't mind could you go into a little more detail, eg what the material is called and where you get it and steps for making them. Thanks

[Jrob78]

It's called PET sleeving.  You can buy it on Ebay.  You basically use a hot knife to cut it and keep the ends from unravelling.  Use a heat gun to fold and crease the open end and use heat shrink tube to close off the other end.  It's really easy to work with.  1 1/4" is the size you need for rods with regular guides, 1" is good for micro guides.

[ninjab]

Great seems pretty doable, what size would you use for spinning rods? And what size heat shrink should I get?

Also by a hot knife is that literally just a knife you heat up with the heat gun, or is it a special tool?

[Jrob78]

A hot knife is a tool.  I didn't make any for spinning rods.  I use 3/8" heat shrink.

[rippin-lips]

I use 1" for casting rods and 2.5" for spinning rods.

[Glenn]

We use Rod Gloves (mesh, not neoprene).  I have one color, my wife has another.  Makes it real easy to find his-n-hers rods.

 

Tip for keep from losing the covers:

When the sleeve gets caught on a eye, it compresses and "loads up".  When it comes free, the cover will want to shoot off the rod.

To prevent this from happening, keep a grip on the bottom opening of the sleeve at all times.   That way, when the sleeve tries to launch itself, you have a hold of it; and it won't get away from you.

 

Good luck!