Build Your Own Rod Leash

I have been using the same rod leashes for a couple of years now. I just put together a How-To guide on my build. Check it out.

http://linglingherro.tumblr.com/post/112615285315/inexpensive-rod-leash-build

This site is great for picking up innovative ideas.  That leash is awesome. 

I saw another thread on here about building some tethers, and gave it a whirl.   

Didn't have any of the weed eater cord used by the original poster of the thread, so I used 300# mono.   



Drilled a couple holes in the ends of a pencil, wrapped the mono tight around the pencil, then tied the loose ends together. 



Boiled the pencil/mono for 15 minutes, then cooled it in ice water for 10. 



Unwrapped the mono, and crimped the ends into loops.  Probably snap a couple of carabiners on to finish it up. 



It's about 6-1/2' long all stretched out, and about a foot long coiled.   I've no idea how long the mono will hold its coil shape, but it's a dirt cheap tether.

tambs, i'm speechless.

Huh.  I have a couple ft of paracord with a loop in one end and the other end tied around the reel however it fits in...  Clip the loop to a scuba gear retractor that is tied to a seat strap.  Seems to work so far...   

Jim

tambs, i'm speechless.

Thanks, but I'm due no credit for originality whatsoever. This was all someone else's idea, and I merely copied the steps.

I'll probably make some shorter ones to tether vest gear and other small items on the boat. 

And, after posting that I also got to thinking it may have been a not so minor thread jack.  My apologies ling ling. 

Thas a cool idea too! It definitely gets the job done. No need to apologize. I even said at the end of the article that people should share their leash ideas!
I think it's crazy not to use a leash. It's a great topic for debate though.

Thas a cool idea too! It definitely gets the job done. No need to apologize. I even said at the end of the article that people should share their leash ideas!
I think it's crazy not to use a leash. It's a great topic for debate though.

I have had a leash on both of my 'good' rods since I first took them out on the kayak last year.  The one time I took a rod out without one, yep that was the day I lost my grip during a cast and tossed it right overboard...     Fortunately for my slightly bruised ego, there were no witnesses.  And I got lucky and was able to use my anchor to snag the line and recover the rod.    Granted, it was a $10 reel on a kid's rod from the 1980s, but still...  Now it's an el cheapo rig with a LEASH on it! 

Jim

Those are great!

My issue with leashes in the past was that they always seem to be in the way.  Last year I had the idea to use a loop of paracord on my wrist that I clip a short leash to when I have the pole in my hand; this way its leashed to me instead of the kayak and doesn't get in the way.  I have a loop on my rod holder also so when I want to put it down I un-clip it from my wrist and and attach it to the rod holder.  This has made leashes much less annoying to deal with IMO.

I'd be wary of leashing anything, besides a pfd, to myself when on the water.
edit - danger of such would be quickly and dramatically made clear if lingling's rod were leashed to his wrist when a seal yanked his rod out of his hand

I'm with you about rod leashes being in the way. I know I need to use them more, and be more careful about how I use them, but I did have a rod leash get caught up in my spinning reel's bail assembly/roller while fighting a salmon a while back. The tether got caught up in the reel, seizing it completely mid-fight, so that I ended up having to hand-line the salmon in. I should mention, however, that I'm an idiot (thinking about making that last sentence my signature for all future posts).

Yeah, I thought of that when making the system: I have it set up so I can easily release the clip with the hand it's attached to in case of an emergency...this may not prevent me from swimming a bit if it's yanked it out of my hand, but I'm positive I can get it off quickly in a pinch.

Small retractable dog leashes..yak attack makes a retractable tether that goes on the gear track....work great for me

Great ideas all around

This site is great for picking up innovative ideas.  That leash is awesome. 

I saw another thread on here about building some tethers, and gave it a whirl.   

Didn't have any of the weed eater cord used by the original poster of the thread, so I used 300# mono.   



Drilled a couple holes in the ends of a pencil, wrapped the mono tight around the pencil, then tied the loose ends together. 



Boiled the pencil/mono for 15 minutes, then cooled it in ice water for 10. 



Unwrapped the mono, and crimped the ends into loops.  Probably snap a couple of carabiners on to finish it up. 



It's about 6-1/2' long all stretched out, and about a foot long coiled.   I've no idea how long the mono will hold its coil shape, but it's a dirt cheap tether.

Try the S-Biners. They're really good at not corroding.

I've been eyeing these for rod leashes, they're $3 each on amazon, galvanized spring retractable, made to get wet and small.



For scale:

This is made the same way, however I use weed whacker string wrapped on a I/2" dowel.