Down Rigger Rod Holder Placement

[BLing]

Hi guys,

I have an 18ft DE with the riggers fairly close to the back corners, adjacent to the rear seats. Currently I have the dual rocket launcher holder attachment, and it’s a bit of a high reach and awkward getting the rod out of the holder.

I want to install flush mount gunnel rocket launcher holders in front of the rigger (towards the bow) to make it easier grabbing and setting the rod.

Curious if folks have similar set ups and can send a photo how it looks? Do your rods go out the side or vertically over top of the rigger? Open to other ideas as well!

 

[sly_karma]

I have an old glass Lund 19, riggers are mounted well aft to free up gunwale space and keep cable angles away from props. I did what you're thinking about, separate rod holder in a side mount, mine are Orcas.

Setup works for me, easy to pop holders out to make room for prawn and crab traps coming over the side,while the riggers stay where they are, out of the way. Since the pictures, Ive added flush mounts forward, up by the bimini, to hold spare rods, net etc, handy but out of the way.

 

[Wondermur]

Do you have the stainless dual mount or the black ones?

Flush mount is ok as long as you don’t have fancy reels and don’t mind scratches on your reels….with mooching rods with 10” butts this can be a problem.
A photo of what you have would be helpful.

 

[wolf]

DO NOT use the rod holders on the booms off riggers, just a warning have personally lost a rod and reel I have seen many lose, one this year at lodge get a striker holder and mount on top of gunnel

 

[BLing]

Thanks for the input!

This is what I was thinking:


And this is what I have:

 

[Rain City]

Thanks for the input!

This is what I was thinking:
View attachment 120244

And this is what I have:


View attachment 120246

I have a brand new set of those with the bases for sale if you're interested

 

[scott craven]

What Wolf said, these are the safest and best !

 

[JWS]

DO NOT use the rod holders on the booms off riggers, just a warning have personally lost a rod and reel I have seen many lose, one this year at lodge get a striker holder and mount on top of gunnel

I’ll second that. I didn’t lose any gear, thankfully, but noticed one was cracked last year. Checked the other and sure enough it was cracked too. Scotty replaced them both no questions asked, but rod now go into gunnel flush mounts behind the riggers

 

[Squire]

Thanks for the input!

And this is what I have:

View attachment 120246

I would suggest installing flush mount bases on top of the gunwale from either Scotty or Burnewiin. Then you could have a pair of rod holders for downrigging (Rod Master / RH3740) and another pair for bottom fishing (Powerlock / RH5710).

It’s hard to tell from the pic but the width of your gunwales to the inside step may determine which brand you can use (not to mention budget).
The gunwale step might also determine your choice between flush mount and side mount (Scotty) as per sly_karma.

A 17’ Stratacraft I owned had an even more pronounced step on the gunwale and I side mounted Scotty flush mount bases. The side mount allows you to set the rod holder to a vertical position, rocket launcher style, while under way as well.

Enjoy the process; getting things set up just as you need them can be very satisfying.

 

[Rain City]

If it were me I'd change the position of those riggers altogether. I can't stand not being able to stand in front of the downrigger when setting gear.

 

[Wondermur]

You have the riggers set as far back as you could get them, understandable because you wanted to avoid the props when you turn them… but that has put the rods too far back. And if anyone is sitting in that seat you can’t get them out. Likely you have to kneel on the seat to get the rod out when it is cranked down.
We have the same rod holders you have and because they are mounted back a bit it is easy to get them out.
As wolf said the ones mounted on the boom can break and will be even harder to get out.

If you put a flush mount Scotty for their rod holders behind your rigger that would be ok…as long as you don’t want to stack rods.

The other thing you could do is get rods with the slick butt…not cork…way waay easier to get out of your existing holder. I have both and the difference is substantial, you will be able to pull them out with just one hand if you choose to.

Do not get the shiny holders you put in the picture, flimsy and bendy and over time they become breaky as many people have found out.

 

[Dorman Point]

I would suggest installing flush mount bases on top of the gunwale from either Scotty or Burnewiin. Then you could have a pair of rod holders for downrigging (Rod Master / RH3740) and another pair for bottom fishing (Powerlock / RH5710).

It’s hard to tell from the pic but the width of your gunwales to the inside step may determine which brand you can use (not to mention budget).
The gunwale step might also determine your choice between flush mount and side mount (Scotty) as per sly_karma.

A 17’ Stratacraft I owned had an even more pronounced step on the gunwale and I side mounted Scotty flush mount bases. The side mount allows you to set the rod holder to a vertical position, rocket launcher style, while under way as well.

Enjoy the process; getting things set up just as you need them can be very satisfying.

Now that’s a Tower of Power I can appreciate! Love it.

 

[BLing]

I am leaning towards getting the Burnewiin RH3740 and a flush mount adapter. Install those 8-12 inches in front of the downrigger, and remove my dual rocket launcher holder. I like when the rods are straight out the back, so hopefully I can angle it high and have it go overtop of the rigger/boom.

With flush mounts on the gunwale, do you guys install some type of reinforcement plate? As there will be lots of pressure on the fiberglass when doubled over trolling.

 

[Rain City]

I am leaning towards getting the Burnewiin RH3740 and a flush mount adapter. Install those 8-12 inches in front of the downrigger, and remove my dual rocket launcher holder. I like when the rods are straight out the back, so hopefully I can angle it high and have it go overtop of the rigger/boom.

With flush mounts on the gunwale, do you guys install some type of reinforcement plate? As there will be lots of pressure on the fiberglass when doubled over trolling.

Yes, starboard or stainless backing plate with lots of goop. Wear gloves.

 

[barkerfam]

Designed and made some "commas" out of 1' starboard to mount my orcas. Have loved them.

 

[Aces]

Thanks for the input!

This is what I was thinking:
View attachment 120244

And this is what I have:


View attachment 120246

Those shiny ones are the worst! They break at the base and goodbye rod.

I went back to the original ones about 20 years ago and have changed them out twice so far just to be safe.

 

[SpringVelocity]

Those shiny ones are the worst! They break at the base and goodbye rod

Yep bad very bad design.

Never had issues with solid plastic boom tube holders. I think mine are 13 years old.

But again just like all of them they are plastic.

 

[BLing]

Yep bad very bad design.

Never had issues with solid plastic boom tube holders. I think mine are 13 years old.

But again just like all of them they are plastic.

That is good to know! What about the black plastic rocket launcher holder….I guess it has the same base design as the chrome ones so won’t make a difference.

 

[Aces]

Yep bad very bad design.

Never had issues with solid plastic boom tube holders. I think mine are 13 years old.

But again just like all of them they are plastic.

Sorry amigo. I edited my post a bit after you.

 

[SpringVelocity]

That is good to know! What about the black plastic rocket launcher holder….I guess it has the same base design as the chrome ones so won’t make a difference.

It does but your increasing the moment on that joint by not allowing the tube to flex putting a stainless sleeve on it. That's why the keep breaking. I don't know why this hasn't been addressed yet honestly.

This stainless design puts way more torsional stress on what that joint was designed too. Your better off with plastic one.

It sounds like though your looking for something easier to reach for. The strikers for that you just moung them off boom somewhere. I tried to boom mount them recently I didn't like them.

I also tried Orca ones and one opened up and lost a rod and reel. So I turfed them.