riding the back deck on a bass boat. rod management?

[Darth-Baiter]

I dont fish tourneys...I may one day.  

 

what do you do with the rods?  I might bring 7 rods on the CA Delta where punch and frog are strong contenders.   I HATE the rod storage thing. they go into built in rod tubes on the passenger seat left.  they essentially just lean there.  how the fishing line can get SO TANGLED is a complete mystery.  I set them there, neatly..and when I go to reach for one, they are basically stitched together into one mass.  I dont think I could do it on purpose.

 

is there a good option?  I would pay and install them on my friends boat in a heartbeat.  right now, I use rod sleeves and that is a poor option.

[WIGuide]

You could always do the bow trick of pulling the line out and spinning the rod a few times to keep it tight to the blank. It might take a few seconds to undo it, but it's still probably faster than untangling the mass it sounds like you end up with. 

[WRB]

1. Wrap your line around the rod, bow string the line and spin the rod about 3 turns so line is wrapped around the blank and guides.

3. Keep unused rods in the rod sleeves.

4. Use lure wraps on lures and hooks.

Tom

[@reelChris]

Well, to start, 7 rods for a back seater is a lot.  If you limit yourself to 4, you'll have an easier time regardless of how you store them.  Second, lure wraps are key to stopping your bait from catching on everything and a little over $3 each:

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07958JB32/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

As a back seater with lure wraps and rod sleeves, I store my rods butt down in the footwell of the passenger seat on the ride to a spot.  Once we start fishing, I flip them so the the tips are down in the foot well and the reels are resting on the passenger seat.  They're easier to grab from the back deck like that.  I've found as long as I use a lure wrap I can keep two rods out of their sleeves without too much risk of tangling or hooking the seat.   

[casts_by_fly]

Definitely depends on the specific boat, but 7 in the back is a lot if the boat isn’t designed for it. 4 is about the limit for a lot of setups. 
 

You probably won’t have all 7 on deck and ready to go. If it’s a frog and punch day the your spinning rods and light gear aren’t going to play and vice versa. In that case, put the others in the front rod locker and keep them out of the way. 

[Dirtyeggroll]

Bac-rac 

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Bac_Rac_Rod_Rac_Version_2/descpage-BCRCV2.html

[Mike L]

13 hours ago, WRB said:

1. Wrap your line around the rod, bow string the line and spin the rod about 3 turns so line is wrapped around the blank and guides.

3. Keep unused rods in the rod sleeves.

4. Use lure wraps on lures and hooks.

Tom

Ditto

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[GaryH]

13 hours ago, WRB said:

1. Wrap your line around the rod, bow string the line and spin the rod about 3 turns so line is wrapped around the blank and guides.

3. Keep unused rods in the rod sleeves.

4. Use lure wraps on lures and hooks.

Tom

☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️

and limit the number of rods. 

[Jig Man]

I’ve been using a Bac Rac for years.  Mine only holds 4 rods but they are out of the way.

[gim]

My boat has limited storage for passenger rod n reels only being an 18 foot aluminum mod V.  I think the newer versions of the RT178 actually have what @Darth-Baiter is referring to, the rod butt holes and a slight "lean to" area for about 4 setups.  Mine doesn't even have that.  I have a rod strap but I reverse them and stick the rod butts tight up against the transom.  So technically they lay partially on the back deck, but I don't know of any other way to do this.  Most of the time when someone comes with me, they bring about 3-5 setups with.  Bear in mind this is only recreational fishing, not a tournament.

 

I would like to find a better way to store passenger rods.  Preferably without drilling any large holes.  Vertical storage is not an option either, as I don't want rods sticking up.  The picture I attached may or may not help.  Far bottom left is where the setups would be stored, and the tips facing the bow along the gunnel.

 

If anyone has suggestions, please advise.

[Logan S]

The co's in my boat that end up with tangled rods are the ones that don't take the extra few seconds to secure and organize them throughout the day.  Leaving baits hanging from the tips, not wrapping the line around the blank, chucking them down quickly, etc, etc...

 

Obviously my boat doesn't change...But some co's have all kinds of tangled messes and others never have a single issue.  It's simple, don't bring more than 5 rods and be intentional about keeping them organized.  Different boats have different layouts, but the same strategy should work regardless...In smaller boats you might have to take less stuff.  

 

The #1 reason is bringing too much stuff.  Too many rods, too much tackle, too much extra gear.  There is also a very strong correlation between the co-anglers that pack efficiently and stay organized and success in catching fish....With the opposite of both also being strongly correlated.  

[GaryH]

3 hours ago, gimruis said:

My boat has limited storage for passenger rod n reels only being an 18 foot aluminum mod V.  I think the newer versions of the RT178 actually have what @Darth-Baiter is referring to, the rod butt holes and a slight "lean to" area for about 4 setups.  Mine doesn't even have that.  I have a rod strap but I reverse them and stick the rod butts tight up against the transom.  So technically they lay partially on the back deck, but I don't know of any other way to do this.  Most of the time when someone comes with me, they bring about 3-5 setups with.  Bear in mind this is only recreational fishing, not a tournament.

 

I would like to find a better way to store passenger rods.  Preferably without drilling any large holes.  Vertical storage is not an option either, as I don't want rods sticking up.  The picture I attached may or may not help.  Far bottom left is where the setups would be stored, and the tips facing the bow along the gunnel.

 

If anyone has suggestions, please advise.

Come on now. You know nobody likes you ? so why are you worried about extra rods…. ????

[Darth-Baiter]

anyone use these?  i would buy them for my friend no problemo.

 

the back racks that slip into the seams of the battery compartment.

 

 

[gim]

3 minutes ago, GaryH said:

Come on now. You know nobody likes you ? so why are you worried about extra rods….

At least the dog doesn't bring any rod n reels with when she comes with.

[TnRiver46]

Trying not to make any more engineer jokes 

[Logan S]

1 hour ago, Darth-Baiter said:

anyone use these?  i would buy them for my friend no problemo.

 

the back racks that slip into the seams of the battery compartment.

 

 

I know some people use those things, but if a Co showed up tournament morning with that I'd kindly but firmly suggest he leave it in the truck.  

 

If a boater wants to put it in for their co, fine...But I'm in and out of the back compartments (as are most boaters) enough for it to be an issue, not to mention it's another thing to make sure is secured before and during a run.  My buddies and I have talked about this before and we all share the same opinion, not on our boats.  

 

Just use the space that's there on the passenger side, it doesn't need overthinking to this level.  

[TnRiver46]

2 hours ago, Logan S said:

 

 

Just use the space that's there on the passenger side, it doesn't need overthinking to this level.  

^yep yep yep 

[TOXIC]

I regularly take 8 rods on my buddies boat.  He attached 2 bungee style rod straps on the passenger side, one close to the rear of the boat and the other at the back of the passenger seat.  I set my rods with the butts at the rear and the tips end up at the passenger console.  They have stayed secure in very rough water.  I do spin the line on the blank and there is sometimes a tangle but it is rare.  Here are a few pics to show it.