Installing a stand up paddle board rod holder is probably the particular quickest way to turn a chill afternoon paddle in to a productive fishing session. If you've ever tried in order to balance a re-writing rod between your own knees while looking your paddle in to the water to stay on course, you understand exactly how awkward it can be. It's the clumsy dance of which usually ends along with a tangled series, a dropped paddle, or worse, your favorite graphite rod sinking into the dark depths.
Fishing from the SUP offers a degree of stealth that you simply can't get having a motorized boat or perhaps a large kayak. You're higher up, providing you a better sightline in to the water, plus you can go into shallow flats with no spooking everything within a fifty-yard radius. Yet to actually capture anything, you need your hands liberated to navigate. That's in which a solid rod holder comes into play. It's not merely about storage; it's about making the entire encounter less of the headaches and more of the hobby.
Selecting the most appropriate Mount for Your Board
Not all paddle planks are built exactly the same, which means you can't just slap any old group onto your deck and hope with regard to the best. The kind of stand up paddle board rod holder you select depends heavily on whether you're rocking an inflatable (iSUP) or a traditional hard board.
For those with blow up boards, you're looking at two main options: glue-on patches or accessory mounts that utilize the existing D-rings. Glue-on mounts are amazingly sturdy if a person use the correct marine-grade adhesive. You basically create a permanent "base" where your rod holder can click within and out. It's a little nerve-wracking in order to apply glue to a perfectly good board, but once it's set, that will thing isn't heading anywhere.
When you have a hard board, you may have integrated monitors. These are the gold standard. You may slide your rod holder across the track to find the sweet spot, after that tighten it straight down. If your board is bare, you may have to get confident with a drill down. It sounds scary, but installing a small mounting base with some waterproof sealant is a regular weekend project intended for most SUP anglers.
Where Should You Actually Put It?
Placement will be everything. If you put your stand up paddle board rod holder beyond the boundary forward, you'll be leaning over and potentially tipping the board each time you desire to change fishing lures. If it's too close to your feet, you're going to kick it every single time you get a stroke.
Most people find that placing the holder just within front of their particular standing position—offset to one side—is the method to go. This enables you to keep an eye on your line in case you're trolling, but keeps the rod tip out of your "paddle area. " You would like to be capable of reach the rod with a minor bend, not a full-on lunging control.
One more popular setup is the milk kennel approach at the particular back of the board. By securing a crate to the rear D-rings, you can attach multiple rod holders to the particular plastic frame. This keeps your deck clear for shifting around, which is excellent if you're focusing on bigger fish that will might require a person to shift your own weight or move toward the nose.
The Independence of Trolling
One of the particular best things regarding possessing a stand up paddle board rod holder will be the ability to troll while you proceed from point The to point M. Usually, paddling is simply the "commute" to your fishing spot. Using a holder, the go becomes part of the hunt.
You can drop a lure, discrete some line, and just start paddling at a steady clip. The particular rhythmic motion from the paddle actually gives the lure an actually lifelike action that fish seem to love. Plus, it's a killer workout. There's something incredibly satisfying about experience that "thump-thump" within the rod behind a person while you're mid-stroke. You just drop the paddle, grab the rod, and you're in the fight.
Don't Forget the Leash
I've observed it happen too many times: a large fish hits, the board wobbles, plus the rod will get bumped right out there of the holder. Or, maybe you take a drip in some unforeseen chop. Without a rod leash, your own expensive gear is usually gone in mere seconds.
Your most expensive, high-end stand up paddle board rod holder can't save your rod in case it isn't locked in. Most slots have a slipping collar or the rubber strap to keep the reel seated, but a secondary leash attached to the board's D-ring is cheap insurance. It's one of those things you think you don't need until the second you really, actually wish you had it.
Dealing with the Wind and Current
SUP angling isn't always sunlight and calm drinking water. When the wind picks up, handling your board becomes a full-time work. Having a rod holder allows a person to park your rod securely while you use both of your hands on the paddle to fight the current or remain off the rocks.
If you're hooked into a fish and the particular wind is throwing out you toward an obstacle, you can quickly tuck the particular rod into the holder, take 2 or three weighty strokes to reposition the board, and then get back to the reel. It acts like a third hand. Without it, you're essentially at the mercy of the elements the second you hook up.
Keeping Things Structured
Let's be honest, paddle planks don't have the ton of true estate. As soon as you add a cooler, a tackle bag, a PFD, and the paddle, things obtain crowded fast. A stand up paddle board rod holder helps determine your workspace. This keeps your almost all important tool up and off the terrace, preventing you from stepping on the manuals or tripping over the handle.
I've found the more organized the deck is, the more fish I capture. When everything has a dedicated spot, I'm not fumbling close to and making noise. Stealth is the biggest advantage associated with a SUP, and a noisy floor full of moving gear ruins that will advantage. Keeping your rod vertical plus secure is the particular first step in a "stealth mode" set up.
Could it be Worthy of the Effort?
You might be wondering should you just stick to a normal kayak or stay on the bank. Yet there's a particular kind of magic in SUP angling. Being able to stand up plus see a redfish tailing in the particular grass or a bass lurking under a lily pad is a game-changer. The stand up paddle board rod holder is the bridge that will makes that style of fishing actually practical.
It's a comparatively small investment that completely changes the utility of your board. Whether you're going for a specialized mount that rotates 360 degrees or the simple PVC DIY job, the result is the particular same: additional time with your lure in the water and a fraction of the time worrying about exactly where to put your own gear.
If you're on the wall, just go for this. Start with the simple suction cup or a removable mount to observe how you like the particular placement. You'll probably find that after you have a spot in order to "park" your rod, you'll spend way more time on the water. It turns a quick paddle into a legitimate scouting objective, and honestly, it's just a much more fun. Happy fishing, plus stay dry up presently there!