Long Rod Handles and Rod Holders

I was getting some routine maintenance done on the boat yesterday. Checking battery water levels, connections, oil and grease…not to forget all the screws that can vibrate loose. Blue Loctite is a boaters best friend!

Since I replaced my Scotty and Atwood rod holders about a month ago, figured I should give then a tighten down. All was good.

Everytime I look at my Folbe’s I wonder why it took so long for someone to make a holder that a person can just lift his rod out of!

I’m a cat guy…all my rods have long butt sections. Lifting a cat rod out of the other style holders aways bothered me..reaching out about a foot over the side of the boat.

Berkley has a good holder that’s the lift out style, but they didn’t look too strong…and I didn’t want to see my St Croix go over the edge of the boat because a big cat broke it off.

These Folbe Advantage holders were made for big fish…sturgeon out in Oregon. The way they are designed, I can’t imagine a 50 pound flathead breaking a holder…and like the advertisement shows to the left, your rod just lifts out.

Since I’ve installed them, all of my clients loved using them. In fact one fella (that I know of) rigged his boat with them. I met IDA’s Pro Staffer Don Hanson walking out of Everts last week with an arm full of them. I was going to ask you Don, you going to rig your pick up with them?!

I haven’t used them for trolling or walleye fishing for that matter, but with the ease of the lift, they certainly seem like the clear choice. What I can say is that these are the “cat’s meow” for being anchored and fishing for cats and more so if your rod butts are long.

But don’t take my word for it. Take advantage of the “try before you buy” program out of Everts. Make up your own mind!

The photo above is the side mount with the extension.

Here’s a side mount with the St Croix.

On the sides I used the flush mount.

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I was getting some routine maintenance done on the boat yesterday.

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Did you get rid of the Merc?? Should have been the 1st thing on your list.

I’m going to check into a paint job…to make it look like a Yammie…so I stop getting all of this crap.

They are a nice rod holder aren’t they . Good job Joel, glad I could bring them to the IDA family and you to BK

Dont worry Brian, I been lurking around for a while , after Max poped out I been real busy and tired , just starting to get back in the game …Joel

downeast has made a lift-out style rod holder for years. it is made of metal and can handle the strike of muskies when trolling at 4mph+. by the looks of the rod holder that you have on the transom, the extention is the same as all the other brands. thin plastic that looks like it will twist and break under the strain of a mille lacs walleye, let alone a 50 inch class muskie. i am sure that folbe puts out a fine product, but i have tested the downeast time and time again and they are in my opinion, the best rod holders on the market today……………..tom fellegy

I had the chance to see/use these rod holders last week, first hand in BrianK’s boat.

At first, I will admit that I was a bit skeptical about them, because of the “slide” up and out design for rod removal. My inital thoughts were that a muskie or big cat could pop the rod out, if you didn’t lock it.

I was wrong…..

The design is NOT “thin plastic”. It is very durable and solid. Is it as strong as the Down East rod holders? I don’t know. I would have to know first, if the Down East are Pot metal or not. Pot metal can be fragile and not “bullet proof”.

Where I think these rod holders excel above the Down East style, is that these rod holder do have a very secure “lock” feature, that you will not be able to open when locked. The Down East style of rod holder still give me the anxiety of the rod lifting up and popping out of the rod holder, because there appears to be no lock on it. While I have never used the Down East, I really can’t comment on it, but that is my perception.

Tom;
“What” holds the Down East rod holder in place?”

As far as removing the Folbe rod from the rod holder, it is brainless……….Just lift the rod up, it doesn’t bind (which I thought might be the case with this style). There is not “applied pressure” to push down the rod into the holder to secure it and there fore there isn’t “different” lifting requirements to raise the rod out of the holder because you “pushed down too hard or not hard enough”.

I’ve used Scotty rod holders for years and honestly after using these, my next purchase will be this style.

Yup Tom you’re right. I just didn’t know the name of the company that made the metal ones (above). I’ve never tested those, but is it true they’re hard on the cork handles…or is that just a myth.

You might want to test one of Joel’s. Could perhaps change your mind about

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thin plastic that looks like it will twist and break under the strain of a mille lacs walleye, let alone a 50 inch class muskie.

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If i have Scottys do i need to get new flush mounts or will they fit into the scotty flush mounts. They look very similar.

thanks,

That’s what I thought too Tech…however once you see them side by side, there’s a big differance in strenght.

The screw holes will match up, but I had to file out the larger hole to make the Folbe flush mount fit. Not much. I used a rat tail file and was done in a couple of minutes.
I know others that have replaced they’re flush mounts with Folbe pedastal mounts. There again the screw holes line up perfectly.

Almost forgot, to remove one of these Advantage holders from the base, there’s a lock button. It’s not a “spin around and lift” style.

I’m not saying everyone will love these as much as I do…however, I’ll ask you to try one before you make up your mind. I can’t wait to use them for sturgeon this year!

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They are a nice rod holder aren’t they . Good job Joel, glad I could bring them to the IDA family and you to BK

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I cant help but wonder if Joel feels the same about BK? LOL

I really cant comment on the metal ones mentioned here as I never have seen them first hand.I can say however that the Folbe material design cannot be compared with any of the popular designs out there.I can relate to the earlier comment about twisting out……I have experienced that very thing myself.Once I got to put the Folbe in my hands it is very obvious of the construction and weight difference.Pictures just dont do this product justice in regards how well built these holders are.Maybe not the only choice out there,but certainly a viable option that you might consider.As always,you are welcome to evaluate or demo one to see first hand for yourself!

I have used down east rod holders for years for trolling muskies. They’re the best, in my opinion, and they don’t contact the cork so there’s no potential for damage to the rod. I bet I could find some pictures of them with B Fish N Tackle jigs in the background if you want me to post them.

I should add that I use the Down East Salty rod holders, not the ones in the picture above. They’re pretty similar in design to the folbe rod holders, only smaller and made of metal. I’ve logged hundreds of hours trolling both walleyes and muskies with them (mostly muskies), and have been using them for catfish this year. I totally agree with Gary in that my first impression of the design was, “How is that not going to result in one of my rods going into the drink?” I have absolutely no concern about that after getting comfortable with them. The only thing that they don’t do well is hold spinning rods, and the Ram rold holder is the only one that I’ve seen that does a very good job of that.

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The only thing that they don’t do well is hold spinning rods, and the Ram rold holder is the only one that I’ve seen that does a very good job of that.

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I’m telling you…try one out oh ye non believers!

So you had a spinning rod in it, Brian? We you fishing for … walleyes?

One of the things I do see that is better about the Folbes than the Down Easts is that the Folbes insert into a base, so you can remove them. The down easts are essentially permanent because even the clamp and rail mount models are a pain to take off and on. They’re solid as heck, but a pain to remove if you’d ever want to.

Surely you jest! If the fish is measured in inches…well that’s another post..

I had a client that brought a spinning rod along. Darn thing looked like salt water gear! I don’t recall who it was thou.

Last year I asked people not to bring them..(spinning gear) because of what you were talking about. They just didn’t fit.

Bed time for me..just back in from fishing..um…walleyes.

the picture that brian put up is not the same style that i use. i use the salty’s also. i installed a pursuit track system and that has made them very easy to remove when you don’t need them. the way they work is there are three parts to the rod holder. the part that holds the rod is two pieces that are pinned at the bottom and they fit into a cone shaped receptor. by the way the folbe’s have been discribed, the downeast are exactly the same motion to remove the rod from the holder, “no brainer” as it was discribed above.

This one was discribed as a “Salty”.

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For moderate to heavy fishing:

for fish specicies up to 85 lbs

for up to 100 lbs Test Line

$36.00

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that is the one!!! they also have that model in black powder coat for about $10 more. in my opinion, they are the best rod holder for the way i fish………tom fellegy

These three photos show Tom’s set up.

PS we’re working on an easy picture resizer Tom…your not the only one that has problems resizing.

Thanks for sending them to me.

A close up…

Last one…

Now I have to ask, who made those mounts for you? I’m guessing they didn’t come with the holders.

brian,
thank you for resizing the pictures and posting them.
the mounts are made by the fine folks at pursuit track systems. they will work with the clamp on style and the bolt on style downeast rod holders. due to the width of the gunwales of the lund pro-v’s you have to get the rod holder up off of the gunwale a little bit to accomadate long handles……………….tom fellegy

Just a test