Tie it All Down !

[fishslayer23]

I'm glad I started this thread. Thank's Hank for sharing Jim Sammons story. It would have saved me from flipping. When I was a kid going to Santa Monica rafting and boogie boarding (aging myself) I knew to always roll into the wave and stay down until the board passes. This saved my ass from getting hit by the Yak. Jim Sammons story is also in the latest edition of WON and I read it the day before I read your post. Perry C thanks for the input and if I had tied my rods down horizontal and not had them at 90 degrees they would be OK today. My Ocean Kayak Malibu 11 has one small hatch cover. From now on I'm taking the reels down and put them in dry bag. Crookies on glasses is always a good idea. I looked for mine that morning but could not find it. Now I'm paying for it. This is a great site and anxious to gain more insight from everyone.

[seaslug]

Can we get some comments and perhaps photos in the kayak rigging section (or here) about exactly how to set up and use leashes. I keep looking at the problem and cannot find a way that will not hamstring me using the rods.

I know many of you sit sideways on the kayak comfortably. I can do it in flat calm water but even there am not comfortable with it. Besides, my rod holders and fish finder are too close to get my feet around without difficulty.

It would be virtually impossible to leash the rods behind my back, find the rod, unclip the leash and pull the rod forward when they are also behind my bait tank. Flexible I am NOT.

It would be even more difficult to get past my Hobie pedals and my front rod holder to open the large hatch and insert/remove a rod from there.

Best I can come up with now is not take anything out that I am not willing to lose. (better gear than me).

[Robert]

Tarpon Guy,
It was the weirdest thing when that happened. One minute I was sitting there
and the next minute I was in the water testing my pfd. It worked fine by the way.

Sea Slug,
Here are the leashes that I use now.





They have a quick disconnect buckle. The small end stays on the rod. I unhook the quick disconnect when I fish with each rod and hook it back up when I'm not fishing with it or when I'm trolling with the rod. I use these for all of my rods. The ones in my rod holders behind my seat no trouble to get
to at all. Just about any kayak shop should have these.

Robert

[PerryC]

SS,
I know what you're saying about the leashes themselves being in the way. I found something I'm planning to try soon over at basspro.com . They're made by blakemore I believe it is. Right now, I have a small "O" ring on my baitcasting rods just above the handle. Then I have a few of the coiled rod leashes with clips on both ends. One end get clipped to a padeye or seat ring etc.. and the other clip attaches onto the ring on the rod. When I use the rod, it detach the clip on the rod and I'm good to go. The downside is if you flip over, you'll usually let go of the rod you have in hand. That's where these floats come into play. I'm still going to use the leashes on the rod that are out of the way, and just rely on the floats for the rod I'm actively using. I'll let you know how they work after I get a set and try them out.

Hope this helps
Perry

[gone_fishing]

That's a great product! I've seen pool noodles used to keep the rods floating.
Here's the link for Blackmore's Rod Floater:
http://www.blakemorelure.com/accessories_rodkits.html

Hank

[PerryC]

Just one more reason to hit BPS later this month


Perry

[Robert]

Originally Posted by PerryC

Just one more reason to hit BPS later this month


Perry

Roger that! I can't wait!

Robert

[seaslug]

All I need is to know how to make the connection behind my back without looking with one hand.

[Incredible]

SS make sure your leash is long enough to reach in front of you so you can manage it from the seat. Hook the end of the leash to a point about halfway between the crate holder and forward of the seat so you don't have to mess with it behind you. I hook mine just behind the seat forward of the tank well.

[Piranha]

I use a 99 cent nylon dog collar cable tied to my rods. It snaps open and I pass it thru a 5' nylon dog leash, also from the 99 cent store. The leash is snapped onto a brass clip I bought(a bunch!) from Perry and I just fasten that clip to a padeye in front of my big feet! My leashes run under $4 a pop! And they're stronger than you'll ever need! I tried the curly phone cable ones and they were a disaster! They constantly tangled in everything! Piranha