Leash attachment to levelwind

 I use the smaller velcro wrap from the board end (the smaller width wrap that goes thru a loop attached to the tail end of my surf board) of my old retired surfing leashes, attached to a customized length of 1/4" bungee.

 I wrap this around the rod handle on both sides of the reel base. Its just barely long enough to go around the rod handle twice and still get a good hook'n loop connection. It doesn't get tangled, as I am usually gripping the bungee to the handle to keep it tamed.  Attachment on the yak end has a plastic clip or a small carabiner hooked to a pad eye.   I've tried using the larger velcro ankle straps of old leashes for this, too, but they are kind of bulky.

I also have very short leashes on my rigged spare rods that are in holders.  All this on my Tarpon SOT.  I have found the 1/4" bungee to be stiff enuff that it doesn't tangle, but going to a smaller diameter might even be better. I have some bungee less than 1/8" leashing my knife to my vest.

I don't ever leash my flyrods. They stow easily beneath the deck rigged up, but broken down.

In my Ultimate 12, I only leash my salmon trolling rod that is being deployed in a rod holder behind my seat, in case a big strike  yanks it out of the holder. I am not worried about capsizing my U-12.

I like the zip-tied ring idea, using the smallest sized ring that works, or maybe one made from a loop of 1/8" diameter soft braided line.

this is how my dogs and I feel about leashes.