Trolling is one of the more popular ways of fishing, when you lay your fishing line out while the boat is moving. But it’s a lot better when you don’t have to wait for the fish to get caught while you’re there holding your fishing rod.
Instead, you can just put in a rod holder to hold your fishing rod securely. In fact, you can have several rod holders so you can have several fishing lines out in the water!
Why Use Rod Holders?
The advantages are obvious when you think about it.
You’re Free To Do Something Else
This is perhaps the most obvious advantage of a rod holder. Most people realize the need for a rod holder when they’re holding the rod, but they need to do something else as well. Maybe you need to check on your electronics, or you have to take some notes.
If you don’t have an automatic pilot feature on your boat, then you may have to operate or drive your boat as well. Or maybe you’re on a kayak, and you obviously can’t hold your fishing rod while you’re paddling.
You Can Have More Fishing Lines Out
If you have to hold your own fishing rod, then you’re basically limited to a single rod. That doesn’t apply when you have rod holders, as you can have lots more fishing rods to use without the need to hold any of them with your hands.
With more fishing lines out, you increase your chances of catching a fish—and that’s the goal, isn’t it?
Just make sure that you space the rod holders properly and evenly. That way, you can make sure your fishing lines don’t get entangled with one another.
Your Hands Don’t Get Tired
It can get tiring holding on to your fishing rod while the fish aren’t biting yet. But with your rod holders, your hands are free. You can relax and maybe just lounge about, with a nice drink in your hands while you wait.
Your Homemade Rod Holder
Many people consider commercial rod holders as wise investments, as you get a great deal for your money. But you don’t really have to buy your own rod holders, since you can make them yourself. It’s actually quite easy, especially if you have the DIY skills and the proper tools and materials.
Materials
To build your own rod holders, prepare the following items. These will be enough for you to build 6 individual rod holders. These particular
- A PVC pipe, 12 feet long with a diameter of 1.25 to 1.5 inches
- Slotted angle, 12 feet long with a width of 1.25 to 1.5 inches
- A box of ¼-inch carriage nuts, bolts, and washers
- A saw, which can be a grinder, jig saw, hack saw or reciprocating saw (like a Sawzall)
- A drill with a ¼-inch drill bit
- A 1-7/16-inch wrench
- Rust-Oleum spray paint
What To Do
Now that you’ve gathered the needed items, it’s time to start:
- Get your PVC pipe and cut it into foot-long pieces. That means you have 12 separate PVC pipe pieces afterwards.
- Cut the slotted angle into 2-foot lengths.
- For each piece of slotted angle, trim one end so you have a point that you can push without much effort into the ground. You can make these points longer if you’re planning to fish in soft ground.
- Paint the pieces with the spray paint, and then wait until they’re all dry.
- Place a piece of the PVC in the slotted angle, and match the alignment of the top of the PVC with the top of the non-pointed side of the angle.
- Drill a hole at the ends of the PVC. You can use the holes in the slotted angle as your guide.
- Set 4 carriage bolts through the angle, with the smooth side facing in. the smooth side won’t damage the rods.
That’s about it. Isn’t that simple?
Keep in mind that you don’t have to do the pointed end for the slotted angle pieces if you’re not planning to push these rod holders into the ground. You can, instead, set them up onto a platform that you can then mount on your boat.
One way to do this is to drill a few holes in your deck, where you can then mount these rod holders. Another option is to attach a clamp for each rod holder, so that you can clamp the rod holders wherever it’s convenient.
You may want to think about using a swivel base for your rod holders, especially if you’re going after larger game fish. That way, the rod can move and you lessen the chances of your fishing line breaking when you get a catch. Also, a swivel base can tell you when a fish has caught on your line.
Conclusion
For most fans of trolling, fishing is an enjoyable time. But there are plenty of possible instances when the it’s not that fun at all.
It’s not so fun when you’re holding a rod when you have to do something else on your boat. You have to set down the rod before you can do something else. But with the rod holder, you’re free to do what you have to. Your hands don’t get tired, either.
What’s more, having several rod holders in place boost your chances of catching fish. You have more lines in the water, with more chances that fish will happen to get caught in one of them. That surely can make your fishing trip a lot more enjoyable!
In fact, making your own rod holder can be part of the fun. It’s an easy DIY task that doesn’t need an expert. Make several rod holders yourself, and you’ll soon realize that trolling with your fishing boat can be a lot more effective!