Keeping Rods Afloat

I had a chance to watch someone Huli this summer and was left concerned about cutting the last of my leashes and keeping things floating.

Most of my stuff is in waterproof boxes that will float the contents.  The fly rods, however, are tethered because, well, those things are silly expensive.  I'd like to get rid of those tethers because I'd already be dodging a 9- or 10-foot fly rod and the flyline if I pooched it and don't want to be dodging a rod leash, too.

After the bobber on my knife failed me, I couldn't figure out a reliable way to keep my fly rods on the surface until I could recover them, until I saw a picture posted in one of polyangler's posts showing a foam float on a fly rod:  (http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=18562.msg198739#msg198739).

Not that I doubt polyangler, but do they work?  How much weight will something that looks that small keep afloat?

And if anyone is using something different, I'd like to hear about it.

I haven't done a float test, but I do have a few of those - they come in a 3-pack I think.

They will certainly float a trout or flyrod. I put them on salmon rods, too, because....why not ? Can't hurt. I don't think my salmon rods are all that heavy, neither. I wouldn't expect them to float a heavy tuna/sturgeon rod. It's the reel that's all the weight, btw.

Just POOMA, 2 of them would float one of those, I think.

They will certainly float a trout or flyrod. I put them on salmon rods, too, because....why not ? Can't hurt. I don't think my salmon rods are all that heavy, neither. I wouldn't expect them to float a heavy tuna/sturgeon rod. It's the reel that's all the weight, btw.

Thanks!

They work great for fly gear, up to med weight spinning/casting stuff. I still tether heavy salmon trolling, and bottom fishing combos. The big thing with the floats is positioning them so you have minimal interference with line. Spinning reels will sometimes throw a loop behind them. They've saved me several hundred worth of gear! The occasional interference is a small trade for the insurance and freedom of movement.

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I use dollar store pool noodles cut and trimmed to size. I used zip ties at first but there is always a bit of the tie sticking up which can snag your line. I switched to velcro straps which are more comfortable and don't seem to catch your line. The noodles do snag the line when casting sometimes. A friend has the commercially made floats from Cabelas and they do the same sometimes. I cut wedges out of the noodles to reduce the diameter of the float to give the line a bit more clearance. I've never tested them in the pool or lake though. Here is a link to the kayak hacks youtube where he does just that, although he uses pipe insulation as the float. Good luck with that. I have tried to reduce the tethers for the same reason as you.

They work great for fly gear, up to med weight spinning/casting stuff. I still tether heavy salmon trolling, and bottom fishing combos. The big thing with the floats is positioning them so you have minimal interference with line. Spinning reels will sometimes throw a loop behind them. They've saved me several hundred worth of gear! The occasional interference is a small trade for the insurance and freedom of movement.

If you and Pinstriper both believe in them, that's good enough for me.  I hadn't thought about it, but since you mentioned it, I like the idea of greater freedom of movement compared to a leash.

I dropped my fly rod into a lake last year when I got especially clumsy engrossed in changing flies.  Still had the leader in my hand, but I spent a long, long time pulling all the fly line and 200 yards of backing off the reel to raise the rod (and yeah, I had the drag set a bit too light).  If I can avoid doing that again, the floats are worth any minor hassle.

Thank you.

And IdahoBrit, I use only fly rods, but I can see that pipe insulation will be useful when the grandkids are using my spinning gear.  I may not use it but I'm not ready to donate it to the briny deep.  Thanks for video proof that it works.

You are welcome Tinker. Here are my pool noodle floats.

Not sure if much will float a salmon rod with 6oz or more plus flasher and whatnot.

Not sure if much will float a salmon rod with 6oz or more plus flasher and whatnot.

If it does float a salmon rod and there's a fish on please, please get it on video as you chase it up and down the river. 

Not sure if much will float a salmon rod with 6oz or more plus flasher and whatnot.

If it does float a salmon rod and there's a fish on please, please get it on video as you chase it up and down the river. 

Haha, I wish I had that problem. 

Not sure if much will float a salmon rod with 6oz or more plus flasher and whatnot.

No doubt, but I've been warned.  Thanks!

And yes, Mojo, I'll make sure I get it on tape...

Not sure if much will float a salmon rod with 6oz or more plus flasher and whatnot.

No doubt, but I've been warned.  Thanks!

And yes, Mojo, I'll make sure I get it on tape...

Let me add that the fancy float featured here with the velcro straps does NOT float a salmon rod and reel with 10oz of lead, flasher, and herring... DAMHIK.

Not sure if much will float a salmon rod with 6oz or more plus flasher and whatnot.

No doubt, but I've been warned.  Thanks!

And yes, Mojo, I'll make sure I get it on tape...

Let me add that the fancy float featured here with the velcro straps does NOT float a salmon rod and reel with 10oz of lead, flasher, and herring... DAMHIK.

Better put an a 10 on it and good luck reeling.

Not sure if anyone has used one, but I got one of the 'getterback' retrievers at one of last years tournaments (TBMD 2?), and attached it to a couple different rods at times.  They attach by Velcro and are supposed to float a part to the surface and lift up to 10 lbs, but I have not had to find out if they work.  they are supposed to work in depths less than 100 feet and probably slow or no current. 

Has anyone actually used one?  I now attach it to one of my non-floating lip grippers.

I strapped on some pipe insulation last night since I had it laying around and was planning on hitting American lake today.  I tossed it overboard to check and it worked fine.  This is a small 7'0 ultra light rod.