Trolling rod holder position

I also use a setup similar to bsteves.  There are times when it will apply LOTS of torque to the holder, arm and the deck of your yak, so use a backer or really big washers for the rod holder base.

I try to avoid raising my rod holders on extenders because the extenders increase the stress which the rod holder places on the hull of a kayak.

So basically what I said in the first place?

I actually like the torque caused by the long rod arms... it acts as a snubber when a fish strikes.   But yes, you might need to reinforce your deck mounting.  In my case, the OK Ultra 4.3 has molded in screw points for setting up Scotty rod holder bases and it's pretty solid.

This may work flatlining 4.5 maglips in 10 to 20 ft. of water. What do you think? I'm still going to get the extensions but I may try this out next week.

If you're flat-lining and have it out far enough behind you should work pretty well. 

Well I tried it out a few times with the mag lips and it seems like it works great. I've been flatlining them upstream. Then on the way back down I turn the rod holder with the extension to the side and troll herring. Now all I need is some more fish to show up on the Washington side.

I noticed some of you guys cross your poles over your yak. (Rod holder on the right with the line going in the water on the left) is there a reason you do this as opposed to the line going in on the same side as the rod holder???

One reason for me is that the lead, flasher, and bait/lure can add a significant amount of drag. By running it across, these items run closer to the yaks centerline so it affects the tracking less.  For me, not only is it across my body, but I angle the rod forward since it is so long. That way, as it is bent back while trolling, I can still see the tip. I also have it angled up on an extender so it clears my knees while peddling. I have mine mounted on the right going across to the left. When a fish strikes, I pull the rod out hard with both hands because I have a RAM-ROD™ Light-Speed™ holder (pops open automatically with a quick tug) and then my right hand is right next to the reel.  If it  were mounted facing the other direction, the kayak would not track as well and the rod butt would constantly hit my knees while peddling. To prevent this, the butt would have to be angled up and elevated to clear the knees, or so far forward it would be hard to reach.

I noticed some of you guys cross your poles over your yak. (Rod holder on the right with the line going in the water on the left) is there a reason you do this as opposed to the line going in on the same side as the rod holder???

1. When I mount my rod holder on the left gunwale with the rod pointing to the right, the handle of the rod can stick down low to the left of my kayak.  If I mounted the rod holder on the right gunwale pointing right, I'd need to raise it on an extender, and possibly mount it parallel to the surface of the water, to keep the handle out of the way of my right leg.  I try to avoid using extenders because they put more stress on the hull of a kayak.  Another way to keep the handle of the rod out of the way of your legs is to use a "rocket launcher" type of rod holder, but a rocket launcher rod holder mounted on the right gunwale pointing to the right will position the reel pretty far to the right of the kayak. 

2. When I mount my rod holder on the left gunwale pointing to the right, when I take the rod out of the holder, I move the handle and reel from the left side of my kayak to the center of my kayak, which is pretty convenient.  If I mounted the rod holder on the right gunwale pointing to the right, when I took the rod out of the holder, I'd move the handle and reel from the right side of my kayak to well to the right of my kayak, which isn't very convenient.  There are some rod holders which open up to let the handle of the rod come straight up, like the RamRod Light Speed holder which Craig mentioned, which would avoid this problem.

3.  I mount my rod holder next to my shins, far enough towards the stern of the kayak so my toe doesn't hit the rod at the back of the pedal stroke.  I can mount the rod quite low when the rod holder is in this position

I mentioned this somewhere else but I will say it again.  I have mine mounted across my body by my hips. I like this for a couple reasons:

1).  When a salmon strikes and the rod bends way backwards (damn I love that sight), I can keep pedaling as I am pulling the rod out of the holder which keeps the pressure on the fish and does not allow slack. This is beneficial in the Columbia, the ocean, and the Willamette (I can only assume for the Willamette since I am Springerless on a kayak ) where barbless hooks are required. It is also beneficial  with barbed hooks.

2). The rod smacks you in the head or face if you are daydreaming so you will not miss fish.

I'll have to try that.
I usually run two trolling rods going out the sides and mounted in front of me.
The handles end up blocking my view of the depth finder a bit. I have to use extenders to keep the handles from pinning my legs! [emoji2]

It is a hassle running two lines sometimes and not always easy to get the rod out of the holder. I do like having more lures running behind me though!

We can only run one here unless on a lake with the required 2 pole stamp.

1. When I mount my rod holder on the left gunwale with the rod pointing to the right, the handle of the rod can stick down low to the left of my kayak.  If I mounted the rod holder on the right gunwale pointing right, I'd need to raise it on an extender, and possibly mount it parallel to the surface of the water, to keep the handle out of the way of my right leg.  I try to avoid using extenders because they put more stress on the hull of a kayak.  Another way to keep the handle of the rod out of the way of your legs is to use a "rocket launcher" type of rod holder, but a rocket launcher rod holder mounted on the right gunwale pointing to the right will position the reel pretty far to the right of the kayak. 

2. When I mount my rod holder on the left gunwale pointing to the right, when I take the rod out of the holder, I move the handle and reel from the left side of my kayak to the center of my kayak, which is pretty convenient.  If I mounted the rod holder on the right gunwale pointing to the right, when I took the rod out of the holder, I'd move the handle and reel from the right side of my kayak to well to the right of my kayak, which isn't very convenient.  There are some rod holders which open up to let the handle of the rod come straight up, like the RamRod Light Speed holder which Craig mentioned, which would avoid this problem.

This saved me at least two years of trial and error - and I probably wouldn't have seen #2 as a problem for another two years after that.  Thanks!

I don't use rodholders other than for rod storage behind me.

While trolling my rod goes under my right leg with the butt up on the edge of the yak and the middle of the rod over my left shin.  I find this easier for pulling out line, and I can quickly retrieve the rod when I get a bite.

To each his own.  For me this is simple and effective.

After trolling for chinook & I can't imagine not having the rod securely holstered. I would have lost my gear by now. This is my latest setup, & I strip line or reel in from here without picking the rod up. This just about allows me full range of a paddle stroke. I'm not trolling for trout.

After trolling for chinook & I can't imagine not having the rod securely holstered. I would have lost my gear by now. This is my latest setup, & I strip line or reel in from here without picking the rod up. This just about allows me full range of a paddle stroke. I'm not trolling for trout.

It looks like you're fishing for Chinook in Argentina.