Fly Rod Holders

[dauntless]

I am looking for fly rod holders that will slide into the existing rod holders on my boat. I have a center console with 4 built-in rod holders made to accomodate the butts of standard casting rods. I have racks under the gunwales, but find them difficult to use when running-and-gunning false albacore and bonito. I'd like the rods to be in the tubes right in front of me, easy to grab. Short of making my own retrofit out of PVC, can anyone recommend an off-the-shelf holder? Thanks.

[rockfisherman]

I don't know of anything that will fit inside your existing holders, but Bean carries this "Bluewater Rod Holder" which is what I have. I'd recommend it.

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&categoryId=20777&sc1=Search

This is a big link, but the item number is: TA29501 or search on Bluewater Rod Holder.

[dauntless]

Rockfisherman- I actually bought one of those. I hesitate to install it for fear that one of my kids will knock it off and I'll have a couple of good holes in the gelcoat! The alternative is to strap the Bluewater holders to 1 1/4" PVC that will slid into the existing holders. Before settling for that alternative, I thought I'd ask the Forum group if anyone knew of an all-in-one. Thanks for your reply!

[rockfisherman]

You must have a new boat. :) When your boat gets older, you just say, oh well, I can always fill 'em in. Didn't know you knew about the holder. Fly rod holders can be relatively hard to find. If you don't want to drill any holes, try a Scotty fly rod holder on a rail mount. The rail mount bracket is sold separately. You'll probably have to order it on-line from Bass Pro or Cabelas. My local West Marine doesn't stock fly rod holders.

[karlacker]

check out the bluewater fly rod holders and mount them to the side of your CC if you have open space there. I have them on my boat and can hold 5 rods vertically and easy access.
great set up..........

[bcgroup]

Here is what I did on my Grady White - It worked great.

Take a couple of 12" lengths of 1.5" PVC pipe or what ever fits into the rod holders. Put a 1" noch about 4 inches long into the top of the PVC. Slide the PVC into the rod holder and ....da..da you have a fly rod holder. Mine works great...it is all custom so you have to pick a size pipe that fits the holder snugly and create a noch that will hold your fly rod. If you get it right it will do the job - all for the cost of 24" of PVC. I get goosebumbs whenever I can beat Orvis out of a couple of bucks. It does not happen all that often.

[Mal Greene]

The best flyrod holder I ever used is the Downeast rod holder.L.L.Bean and Kittery trading post both have them for about $30.00. They attach to gunnel by two strong c-clamps and oped from horizontal or verticle positions.Try 'em.:)

[Tightloops2]

My boat also has this rod holder set up, along the console.
I was thinking about adapting the IFLY holder type of set up.
These holders have had great results. Using the same type of set up, with the existing rod holders on the console may work out well.
I hope you get the idea.

[Moonlighter]

Take a look at www.outercapeangling.com/ifly.htm for all your fly rod holder needs.

[kdog]

There are rod holders for fly rods that fit right into your existing rod holders. I use two in my boat. I bought them at The Powderhorn in Hyannis Ma. You may want to call them and see where they ordered them.

[Tightloops2]

I like the Boga Buddy!!!

[THE GAME]

Scotty make one that work well.

[Pauper Piscator]

Those holders are very nice. However, you can make the same thing in about 15 mins with a length of 2"pvc, a dremel with a cutting bit, and a strip of velcro or small bungee. Drill a couple of holes for bolts/screws and install. If you want to get fancy, mount on top of a piece of King Starboard or scrap. (Piece of Hockey stick works too.)

I have made a couple of these with "gimballed" (cut a notch) bases that fit into my rocket launchers and rod holders. These are for the fly fishing forays which are increasingly rare. All my buddies seem to want to do is drink beer and troll. (damn golfers!) Otherwise, when not in use, they fit right into the "rod holders" built into the sides of the cockpit (what the heck kind of rod is supposed to fit in there anyway?)

Slide in a piece of 2" pipe insulation and you have "cushions" for your rods.

Ditto for "boga buddy". ON a related topic. I have one of those White Synthetic Adjustable Cutting boards that fits in the rod holder. I forget the brand. Take aforementioned Dremel, and cut a small slot about .5 (use your boga to measure) inches from the edge over to one side. In my boat, the Boga hangs off the edge of the cutting board (inboard of course) and rests gently against the gunnel cushion. Always right where I need it. Cutting another slot is a good spot for a knife and my board came with a oval cut for pliers.

Won't be long now! Who has the shrink wrap-off?

[THE GAME]

PP sounds like you need to take a few pics and post them. So we all can learn.
Thanks

[Pauper Piscator]

PP sounds like you need to take a few pics and post them. So we all can learn.
Thanks

I was close enought to my boat to take a few flics. PM with me a fax # and I'll send over a sketch.

[RIFlyfisher]

I am looking for fly rod holders that will slide into the existing rod holders on my boat. I have a center console with 4 built-in rod holders made to accomodate the butts of standard casting rods. I have racks under the gunwales, but find them difficult to use when running-and-gunning false albacore and bonito. I'd like the rods to be in the tubes right in front of me, easy to grab. Short of making my own retrofit out of PVC, can anyone recommend an off-the-shelf holder? Thanks.

I have such holders. I don't remember where I purchased them (perhaps Outdoor World in Fort Lauderdale, which is owned by Bass Pro Shops). They are white, one-piece PVC with a notch for the fly rod and a step-down taper to fit in the rocket launcher. They were cheap. I think it would be easy to build facsimiles with two diameters of PVC connected with a PVC step-down connector.

I never really use them, however. What I do is use the normal vertical rod holders and then wrap a piece of padded double-sided velcro around the rod at about 3 feet to secure it snugly to the center console grab rail. When it's time to stop, a quick pull on the velcro frees the rod.

[mctrout]

the outer diameter that fits best is 1 5/8".
hard to find, belive me
I screwed my IFLY holders to the pvc and that way I can move them around the boat if I want
good luck
Brendan

[FireFly]

I purchased the I-Fly (solid product!) model from Outer Cape Angling earlier this year and had the same issue.

So here is what I did:

I took a standard piece of PT used for the vertical piece on a deck railing and tapered it down to fit into my rod holders. I then put several coats of varnish on it to make it look really nice. Then I used construction adhesive and screws (using the two original screw holes in the I-Fly holder) and fastened the holder to the tapered piece of PT lumber.

The result is a holder which is fully functional and drops into any rod holder on my boat. I can even use it on the side holders and troll with my fly rod if I want to. It is also a great looking piece of hardware!!! I will post a few pictures later today or over the weekend.

[nattybo]

you can also get some rod bushings from BIRDSALL marine install them in t-top
hard or canvas then use vert rod holders along the side of your console
best of luck :)

[trisk9doc]

The delema of making an adapter for the rocket launcher or built in rod holders to mount a fly rod holder on a boat is that the diameters of these built in holders is different on many boats. I am hoping to solve the problem by developing an expandable base for the "I Fly" that will fit into many if not all rocket launchers. At this point it is in the idea stage and I would like to hear any ideas you might have.

Tris Carpenter
I Fly rod holders
tris@iflyrodholders.com

[tsheehy]

The guys that make the bluewater designs holders make a model that does what you want. Its a clear tube that slides into a rod holder and then twists to lock it in place. You can then insert your fly rod into the other end, and also rotate it about 90* to lock it in place. They were $22 each at the fly shows this winter, but aren't shown on their website.

They also have a stainless steel model, shown below:

http://www.bluewaternet.com/graphics/box.gif

-- Tom