NorthWest Kayak Anglers
Kayak Fishing => Drillin' & Cuttin' => Topic started by: pmmpete on September 02, 2013, 08:19:48 PM
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A good way to attach your fishing rod to your kayak is with a small retractable dog leash. I bought a couple for $9.50 each at Walmart, which is about half what they cost at a national chain of pet stores (which will remain nameless), and which is less than small short fishing retractors cost at sporting goods stores. These dog leashes have ten feet of line, which gives you plenty of room to thrash around in your kayak while fighting a big fish. The drag on the leash is pretty light, and it doesn’t get in your way. I didn’t even notice the leash while fighting fish this weekend. I like this system a lot better than the cord leashes I have been using for many years, which tended to get tangled, or ended up stuck under my foot as I tried to grab my rod out of its holder.
I clip the leash to a short loop of cord which is tied to my rod or my reel at a location where it won't interfere with using the rod or the reel, or with putting the rod in a rod holder.
I hope these retractors will hold up under repeatedly getting wet. Some models of retractable dog leash have a cord, and others have a flat piece of webbing. I think the cord leashes are the way to go. I suspect that the webbing leashes will get twisted and will jam in the retractor, just when you don’t want them to jam.
(http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i444/pmmpete/P8310062a_zps437a1354.jpg) (http://s1094.photobucket.com/user/pmmpete/media/P8310062a_zps437a1354.jpg.html)
(http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i444/pmmpete/P9010067a_zpsde07b47d.jpg) (http://s1094.photobucket.com/user/pmmpete/media/P9010067a_zpsde07b47d.jpg.html)
(http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i444/pmmpete/P9010070a_zpsab3d99d1.jpg) (http://s1094.photobucket.com/user/pmmpete/media/P9010070a_zpsab3d99d1.jpg.html)
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Solid thinking! I wonder how long they would last in a marine environment though? Salt has a funny way of destroying EVERYTHING!
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Since I live in Montana, I only do fresh water fishing. I'll let you know how the retractors hold up under fresh water, and would be interested to know how they resist the ravages of salt water.
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that is excellent, I will be giving that a try...
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I would see this getting in my way too. I HATE leashes... but i hate losing $250 worth of gear worst. DAMHIK... all things get leashed or stored now.
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Yall should check out Prof Salt on Texas Kayak Fisherman, and his home made leashes, made from weedeater line and some small parts from home depot. I've made several and they work fine, as I've seen doing a Huli or turtle as we call it down here. Search topic "
Home made leash". Art
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http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=172644
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I like both of these ideas. I made my rod leashes with five feet of 1/4" surgical tubing connected to five feet of paracord. They've worked out OK, no metal parts, and pretty cheap, or if you might already have the supplies (could also use narrow gauge shock cord).
Edit: It was 1/8" or 3/16" tubing.
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http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=172644
Thank you SO much for sharing! This is a super brilliant idea! It took me about 1.5 hour yesterday to make 3 leashes. Each leash is about 6 feet long.
P.S. I boiled each leash for 20 minutes.
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I stopped using rod leashes and started using rod floats. Much easier and completely out of the way.
http://www.basspro.com/Blakemore-Rod-Floaters/product/16517/