trolling without a front rod holder...

hey folks - well, trying to get out and do some trolling on saturday, but still don't have a front mounted rod holder for my girlfriends yak...just not sure where to put one yet to be honest (trident 13).

so, i'm wondering - any creative/viable  options for trolling without a front mounted rod holder - could we just use the rear flush mounts?

thanks in advance -

anthony

Go ahead and use the rear flush mounts.  A couple things to consider..

1.) Use a reel with a clicker if you can.  It's hard to tell if you have a bite because you can't see the rod behind you very well unless you can use an audio clue like the clicker.

2.) Consider using a rod leash.  While it probably won't happen, it's helps you feel secure that a large fish can't yank the rod out of the flush mount.

Brian

Clip a small mirror to the front of your hat to keep your eye on the rod behind you. If you're both fishing at the same time, just don't troll side by side.

I've just laid the rod down in front of me to troll from my yak as well. Works ok...

Clip a small mirror to the front of your hat to keep your eye on the rod behind you.

Are you related to John Airey of SF Bay? Sorry inside joke. He rocked that style.   

Z

I have a front rod holder on the T13A and after using both I now prefer the rear flush mount.  I do as bsteves suggests, clicker reel and a leash. 

You can also set your drag low enough that it almost starts rolling just from the trolling pressure.  Like some of the other guys said, just holding it in front of you, pinned under your foot or something works too.  Before I got my rod holder I would clamp it between my leg and the yak.

This is how I doos it for trout, anyway.  Can be trolled while going forward, or even easier if you troll backwards.  While going backwards, aim it towards the front of the yak and just watch the tip.  When ya see a strick, give it a solid paddles to put tension on the hook.  Then drop the paddle and grab the pole and finish setting the hook.

Oh, and don't pay attention to the rod leash in the pictures.  I don't wrap it around like that.  The rod actually sits with the reel upright, and the leash just dangles below connected to the yak somewhere.

The problem with the rear flushmounted holders is that the angle is so steep. Unless you have a really soft rod, your hookup ratio isn't going to be great.

The problem with the rear flushmounted holders is that the angle is so steep. Unless you have a really soft rod, your hookup ratio isn't going to be great.

Just keep your drag loose and/or use a snubber on your line.  That combo took care of the Coho drive-by problem I've had in the past. 


Oh yeah.  Do yourself a HUGE favor and tighten down the screws on your flush mount rod holders!!!!   I've had one tear out on my T13 and found that there was almost no tension on the flush mount screws in my T11.

The problem with the rear flushmounted holders is that the angle is so steep. Unless you have a really soft rod, your hookup ratio isn't going to be great.

I agree w/ BL. The line angle is super shallow so if you're trying to get any depth it's not a good solution. If you're trolling on or near the surface no bigs.

Z

antpo...  I have a T13 and i still havent figured out where i want to mount my rod holder so when i troll i just lay the rod under my leg kind of out of my paddle area and it works cause i can still feel the bites.

  Seems it would be hard to judge speed/lure action with rod behind.. that would drive me nuts not being able to see the tip action
royg

Royg.. i agree with ya on that. i like to be able to feel the rod too. But then i havent caught anything big yet.  hopefully to at the Pink out.

  Seems it would be hard to judge speed/lure action with rod behind.. that would drive me nuts not being able to see the tip action
royg

Spit in the water to see how fast you're going.  "would a fish be able to catch my spit at this speed?" Might be a very crude method, but it works for me every time (so far) and I'm going to keep doing it until I can afford a new boat/FF/DR, cuz I'm not upgrading piecemeal. 

I found that even pulling a diver at 200 feet, on 350-400 feet of 17lb diameter line, with a 4 flasher/bead line, I was still paddling pretty lightly.     

as always - thanks for the input -

we went out with her yak as is and it seemed to work ok - no one was catching fish -so not sure how effective the flush mount troll is per se

however - a bit of research and i'm ordering one fo these http://www.kayakfishingsupplies.com/servlet/the-136/Scotty-Gimbal-Mount-253/Detail

my girlfriend liked having the rod in back of her and she won't be going out without me - so, i think the gimbal mount is a good solution - may bet one for myself too