New secure rod leashing system

Author: josh

Category: Equipment, rigging & preparation

Created on Sunday, 10 July 2011 16:49

Written by Josh

I've probably blogged quite enough about my new Bullhorn rod holder system but what I haven't yet mentioned is a new leashing system I came up with to best suit it a few weeks ago; one that makes use of the lanyard holes on the ends of plastic RAP-119 RAM tubes. I've figured a simpler, more secure and safer way of leashing is to secure the rod into the holder with a short length of bungee that holds the reel seat arm snugly into the groove. This system has a few benefits over my previous method, with was to use a longer leash using a snap clip that I would attach to the bail arm. Unlike my previous method, not only is it more user friendly, it's far more secure. It's not there to prevent loss of rod in the event it comes out of the holder - it's there to prevent it coming out of the holder period (unless the user wants it to, of course). This leash is made up of a 8mm bungee secured into one hole with a stopper knot and a snap clip at the other end, total length approax 15cm. The photo below illustrates it's simplicity nicely and barely requires explaination. 

The advantages of this approach are numerous. Firstly, the leash is no longer hanging from the bail arm and thus not doing any potential damage to it. In the event the leash is pulled taught, the bail arm won't be damaged, or ripped right off. Secondly, because it helps keep the rod snugly in position, it makes it relatively easy (certainly easier) to wind in a line using one hand. Because the rod holds position nicely one can use a single hand to wind the line in, which might be useful if you were fighting a fish with the other. A leash this short also means its not in the way of anything and thus won't get tangled up in anything.