rod and reel leashes are cheap insurance

Well, I have read several times on this site to invest in rod leashes. In fact read a post by FFTW just about a week ago. Didn't follow his advice. Today i went out of freshwater bay for halibut. I was on the water at 6:30 nothing by 1:30 and the wind was kicking up so i thought i would head in closer to the rocks and try for ling cod. First cast got a 22 incher, next cast a 25 incher. I was drifting fast towards bachelor rock and i said one more cast. Sure enough hook up and it felt bigger than the previous two. I am now about 10 feet from the rock and my stupid brain said " it's not like big waves or anything , just big surges. I'll just bump up against the rock and get this fish in. "   next surge took me up on the mussels which grip the bottom of kayaks very well  As the water receded i was on a 45 degree angle and rolled.  I had leashes on my lip gripper, pliers, hog trough, harpoon,but guess what? not on either rod.  I did see the tip of my smaller rod poking out of the water ( it got stuck in the rocks so i rescued it) lost the halibut rod.  and I did learn that it is easy to get back on the kayak( which I should have been smart to practice on a lake).  Got back to the ramp and the wdfw lady had checked in 8 halibut for 17 boats and i saw a couple large cabezon too.   Other than the lesson about the leashes. I also discovered that it is not a good idea to have long enough cords for you to use the plyers, trough etc while still attached. In a roll move, those cords can really wrap you up. Now i will just use short cords and clips and unclip them when i use them. Checked the tide tables  and am watching for the next minus tide to do a little rod fishing.
 doug in sequim with salt in his ears and nose

  Sorry to hear you lost the rod.  It sucks to loose it at all, but more so knowing it could have saved if leashed.   I used to think I'd never loose a rod, especially on a fresh water lake.    Well a bottom snag, and a rear facing rod holder changed my mind about that real quick.  Lost my fave. Trout rod to Loch Lomond (In the Santa Cruz mountainsBack when it was still open to kayaking)
  Now I simply use a length of paracord with a small loop in the end and a carabeaner that fits over the reel handle.  Done. Secure.

I've cursed and praised leashes within minutes of each other.  I've been thinking of making everything float instead.  i dunno.

Yeah, the float idea is sounding best to me after the experience today. When i thing about a leash on a pole it really would add to the spider web effect. WR sent me a pm and mentioned the pieces of pool noodle idea and i think i am going to pick up a real bright color and go with that for all the items.  thanks for the reminders...... I am also seeing why the halibut is a rare occurrence on AOTY.  doug

Every time I go to a casino I get a bungie and a new players card. the card I leave in a machine and the bungie gets hooked to a pole or other gear,They work great altough the plastic clip looks a bit light weight .Ive not lost anything yet.

jgrady
that's frickin brilliant! i just told my sister to save for me all her casino leashes.  She's, well, lets say, a consistent and reliable contributor to the western washington indian tribes

I have good luck with these.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0002074013787a&navCount=5&podId=0002074&parentId=cat20190&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat20166-cat20190&catalogCode=IA&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20190&hasJS=true

I don't like having a leash on the rod I am using either. I have dropped a 7ft jigging rod with a 6500 Abu Ambassador, and they had enough buoyancy to keep it on the surface.

I know the lession we learn when we lose rods and reels. I'm going with the rod floaters that Ravdakot uses

Well, I have read several times on this site to invest in rod leashes. In fact read a post by FFTW just about a week ago. Didn't follow his advice. Today i went out of freshwater bay for halibut. I was on the water at 6:30 nothing by 1:30 and the wind was kicking up so i thought i would head in closer to the rocks and try for ling cod. First cast got a 22 incher, next cast a 25 incher. I was drifting fast towards bachelor rock and i said one more cast. Sure enough hook up and it felt bigger than the previous two. I am now about 10 feet from the rock and my stupid brain said " it's not like big waves or anything , just big surges. I'll just bump up against the rock and get this fish in. "   next surge took me up on the mussels which grip the bottom of kayaks very well  As the water receded i was on a 45 degree angle and rolled.  I had leashes on my lip gripper, pliers, hog trough, harpoon,but guess what? not on either rod.  I did see the tip of my smaller rod poking out of the water ( it got stuck in the rocks so i rescued it) lost the halibut rod.  and I did learn that it is easy to get back on the kayak( which I should have been smart to practice on a lake).  Got back to the ramp and the wdfw lady had checked in 8 halibut for 17 boats and i saw a couple large cabezon too.   Other than the lesson about the leashes. I also discovered that it is not a good idea to have long enough cords for you to use the plyers, trough etc while still attached. In a roll move, those cords can really wrap you up. Now i will just use short cords and clips and unclip them when i use them. Checked the tide tables  and am watching for the next minus tide to do a little rod fishing.
 doug in sequim with salt in his ears and nose

An introductory to rock gardening! Glad you're ok. Been there, it's tough with a fish on.

You can also make a rod leash out of dollar radio shack phone chargers...dike the ends off and zip tie the ends of the cord around some clips or carrabeaners (sp)....
the most expensive part will be the clips depending on what kind u use...

short thread jack;

WELCOME BACK, DICK!!  glad to see you're alive and posting again. hope the sand box didnt take too big a toll.


ok, back to the regular thread.

as i told doug, i love my long home made leashed but he's like the 15th person this month who's huli'd and had wrapping issues. i think i'm gonna start making mine shorter and use the long ones for inside storage

Thanks Rich,

Uneventful trip over all, but VERY HAPPY to be back in the states. Hope to see you on the water soon.

just to stay Ghetto...I buy the $2.98 nickel plated fish chain fish stringers, remove the clips and toss the chain. Add your favorite line .
 You get about 6 or 7 clips that are easy to use and disposably cheap when corroded out. Which seems to be about three years for me.