Why You Might Need a Fishing Rod Holder

The point of fishing -- besides bringing home fish -- is to relax. That, and the boasting to fellow fishermen, friends, and family.

With a fishing rod holder, you can multitask while fishing. After all, you need both hands to bait the hook, and remove the fish once you catch it. What happens when you have to let go of the rod?

Nowadays there are many designs: for instance, some are made of steel or aluminum tubing and clamp over a rail and prop up the pole from three sides; they look rather like the handrails for the ladders on the sides of swimming pools. And let's not get into the spiral bank holders, which you stick into the ground so you can loaf on the shore while you wait for the fish to bite.

Early holders consisted basically of a strap which allowed you to either tie the pole to the rail, or fasten it (with Velcro) to your arm or waist.

The problem with this design is that, although it is now nearly impossible to drop the pole, is constantly getting in your way when you need your hands free for something else. Now, rod holders are made with a pair of pole clips and a pair of straps, one short and one long. The short strap wraps around your forearm or wrist; the long strap wraps around your leg or ankle.

Some rod holders even have acupressure stimulators, to relieve seasickness! To get the best effect from the stimulator, you need to wear the strap throughout your fishing trip. It's continuous pressure that makes it work.

The fishing rod holder is a lifesaver when you go flyfishing along rocky rivers and streams, where you need both hands to bait the hook, unhook the fish, and generally keep from falling over. The clips are fastened to your lower leg, so you have a place to put the fishing pole -- slipping the butt of the pole right into the clip.

The upper pole clips are able to rotate 360°, making almost any movement comfortable. This fishing rod holder can be used just about anywhere -- on land, in boats, at the dock. Fasten snugly to your arm, it keeps the fishing rod from slipping from your hands, yet the rod is easy to release.

Many sporting goods stores offer well-made rod holders for many styles of fishing -- but some fishermen swear that the best ones are homemade. You can do wonders, they say, with modern glues and PVC pipe.