? @ Rod staging in Kayak

[Smirak]

So I normally carry about 7 rods with me when I fish (SS127). I usually have 2 or 3 in my lap for different presentations. That said, I do not rebook my bait to the hook keeper or an eye or something. I just let it “dangle” off the front of my kayak. However, this always results in hooking a dangling bait with whatever I’m using at the time. Maybe this is a thing on boats as well, don’t know.

 

What do you do kayak fisherpeople?

[Brian11719]

I've got a 10' old town pdl that has 3 rod holders built in. I use the 2 on the left for my 'active' rods and the one on the right for my net. Then for a couple of more slots I tied a couple Yak-Gear Build-A-Crate Single Rod Holders to my crate that I've got tied down behind the seat. So it hold 4 total rods at the moment. Thought about adding more but 4 has been enough for me so I haven't gotten around to it. I also use a couple of these holders on the back of my crate to hold my kayak wheels so I don't have to take them apart and stow them in the front. Plus the front is where I put my battery for my hummingbird anyway...

[Darren.]

So I like to stage rods in front of me, laying down. I do have 

rod holders (PVC) behind me that can hold a number. Usually

the three or four rods with various favored baits on them.

 

I do like shorter rods, so that's something to consider. I ride

a 12' Native Ultimate anything over 6'6" hangs off too far and

when the wind kicks up and I'm close to cover...ugh.

[gim]

9 hours ago, Smirak said:

That said, I do not rebook my bait to the hook keeper or an eye or something. I just let it “dangle” off the front of my kayak. However, this always results in hooking a dangling bait with whatever I’m using at the time. Maybe this is a thing on boats as well, don’t know.

I’ve posted about this in the past when I’ve seen lures just “dangling” there in space when people post photos.

 

I think it’s a terrible idea. Virtually every rod out there comes with a keeper. If not, hook it to a guide or the reel itself. The worst thing you can do is just leave it dangling. It’s inevitable to get hung or twisted with something else. And there’s a decent chance you hook it with the line that’s attached to a fish you’re fighting. Not using the keeper is pure laziness. Takes under 5 seconds to do.

 

No dangling in my boat. Isn’t worth the risk of a tangle.

[Koz]

My crate holds six rods and my AP 120 kayak has two built in rod holders behind me and two forward facing rod holders up front.

 

I prefer to bring 7 or 8 rods but I occasionally bring nine. I usually keep me net in one of the built in rear rod holders, then I put it in the left front rod holder when I measure the fish. This acts as a barrier if the fish flops off my Ketch board. The other front rod holder is only used when I land a fish, tie on a new bait, or I grabbing something to eat or drink.

 

Otherwise, all rods stay behind me. Baits are always hooked or clipped to prevent tangling. And I always use my rod clips or leashes so I don’t lose one in the water.

[casts_by_fly]

this is my rod setup. I stand to fish and fished from a bass boat for years so that’s the style of layout I like.  I don’t want anything standing up. So I lay down 4, have one in my hand, and will occasionally put a sixth one in a rod holder on the rear rails laying horizontal. 
 

[DogBone_384]

I run a FeelFree Lure 11.5.  It has two rod holders behind the seat.  I also have a milk crate with a Yak Gear 3-rod holder on it.  I use a Scotty rod holder in front of me that holds the rod I'm using at the time.  I carry 5 or 6 rods each trip.

[CastingClinic]

@casts_by_fly

 

Do you mind giving some more information on that rod stager you’re running?

 

I’m on the same team as you fishing standing while keeping my rods laying down but I’ve got my rods laying horizontally off the back of my canoe making an already long canoe about 3ft longer.  I’d really prefer to have them off the side like you.

[Susky River Rat]

Man you guys take more rods with you on your kayak than I do in my boat. I think I have to much clutter I’d be drove nuts.

[Koz]

4 hours ago, Susky River Rat said:

Man you guys take more rods with you on your kayak than I do in my boat. I think I have to much clutter I’d be drove nuts.

We don’t have all of that deck space to sprawl out and tie on new baits 😀

 

On my AP 120, that’s where my forward facing rod holders really shine. On my old kayak I had to hold the rod between my legs, prop it up against me, or lay it down to tie on baits. Now I just drop it in the front rod holder.

[casts_by_fly]

12 hours ago, CastingClinic said:

@casts_by_fly

 

Do you mind giving some more information on that rod stager you’re running?

 

I’m on the same team as you fishing standing while keeping my rods laying down but I’ve got my rods laying horizontally off the back of my canoe making an already long canoe about 3ft longer.  I’d really prefer to have them off the side like you.

 

mariner sails four rod horizontal rod holder. About $40. I replaced the knobs with ones from the hardware store.  The originals are all plastic and the threads stripped a bit. So I used ones with brass threaded inserts. Depending on you mounting locations , you might need to add a mighty mount track. 

[Susky River Rat]

@Koz I fished out of a Coleman scanoe for years. Had a TM and sonar. Not only myself but another person and we both were strictly musky fishing.

[FryDog62]

I have 8 vertical rod holders on my BlackPak Pro. It took me the first season to get used to casting around them at certain angles, but now I don’t even think about it. 
 

I had a bass boat up until a year ago. A couple years before that, I made the conscious decision to always hook my lures to the keeper on the rod when not in use and lay them on my front deck. Before that, If I was in a hurry I would just let lures dangle. More often than not, they would get tangled and weren’t ready when I needed to switch rods out quickly and grab one for a cast. I decided it was worth the extra 5-10 seconds each time to do it right. 
 

That transferred over to my kayak 3 years ago as well.  Can it be a pain sometimes to hook everything to the keeper sure, but better than the complete PIA of having 2-3 rods in a tangled mess and 5 minutes to pull them all apart. 

[FryDog62]

13 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

I have 8 vertical rod holders on my BlackPak Pro. It took me the first season to get used to casting around them at certain angles, but now I don’t even think about it. 

Funny thing, I went out early this morning and on my third cast hooked another rod on my backswing. Totally spooled the new braid I just put on… hadn’t had a birds nest like that in years..!

[Bigbox99]

4 laid out in front of me with the butts under the seat.  I can't have any sticking up behind me since I do a lot of dock skipping and swing over the rear of the kayak on every cast often turning my torso to the right to skip to the right side of the kayak.

[Smirak]

2 hours ago, Bigbox99 said:

4 laid out in front of me with the butts under the seat.  I can't have any sticking up behind me since I do a lot of dock skipping and swing over the rear of the kayak on every cast often turning my torso to the right to skip to the right side of the kayak.

Ok…this is exactly what I was trying to ask but couldn’t figure out how to ask!!

 

@Bigbox99 do you rebook every time you switch rods?

[Bigbox99]

11 minutes ago, Smirak said:

Ok…this is exactly what I was trying to ask but couldn’t figure out how to ask!!

 

@Bigbox99 do you rebook every time you switch rods?

Yep.  I clip the baits to the reels to keep then from draping their hooks onto the adjacent rods and tangling them.

[Smirak]

Thanks all! 

[Zcoker]

I’ve learned the expensive way and the hard way with rods on a kayak. Four rods for me aboard my kayak, all on the left side of me. Anything on the right side, my casting side, is bound to loose a few guides. All unused rods are secured by lanyard at ALL times. As far as leaving a lure dangling, they’re bound to get wrapped up, especially when you need them quickly! It’s best to secure them and if you don’t have a hook holder, they make some nifty add-ons.