Where to mount the rod?

[WildmanSpecial]

I just got a sit-in kayak and bought a Scotty rod mount. Now I am a little confused as to the best place to mount the rod.

In the front seems like it would get in the way. Directly behind me seems a little awkward. I was thinking behind me slightly offset to the right. Any thoughts? Thanks! Wildman

[detra]

I like behind offset to the right, if your right handed.

[Conveyor Man]

I have one in front and one in back. I find the one in back very awkward to get to, though it is directly behind me. I have been trolling with the one in front lately and I am surprised at the number of fish I catch before I get to where I plan to fish. It is placed forward enough that it is not in the way when I paddle but I can reach it and remove the rod easily when I have a fish on.

[TeeB]

Me too - one in front (offset right) and one in back (offset left). I'm right handed and it seems to work great. The one in front does not get in the way.

[Wes]

If you put one up front make sure it won't interfere with yr paddle stroke (which means pretty far forward) and keep tip low if you troll so you don't catch it in the face. If you put one behind you the line won't be crossing over you when you turn if you troll. You should also make sure you can still do a deep water re-entry with whatever you decide to attach near the cockpit. I like the rods behind me generally but in the SK I use one mounted a couple feet forward of the cockpit. This leaves room for a deck bag and I can still get back in with a paddle float if I had to.

[Ray]

I have 3 rod mounts behind the cockpit. One on each side, and a third in the center. The center one is tyically used to mount a navigation light for night fishing. There are some cases, like this morning, when I have 3 rods, each rigged differently.

[Eddy Merckx]

I've got two, though I almost never fish two rods out of the kayak. I use each mounting location for different purposes.

The first one is dead center front, where I place the rod when making short movements between spots and when landing a fish. No interference with my paddle stroke, and if I had just one holder it'd probably be in this location.

The other one if offset right directly behind the cockpit. I use this one to hold the rod when paddling longer distances or when trolling.

When I bought the rod holders I bought one fly and one spinning because I do both types of fishing out of the kayak.

Do you have paddle holders?

[WildmanSpecial]

Thanks for all the great advice!

I don't have paddle holders yet but it seems like a good idea to rig up something to prevent losing the paddle when the fish takes off.

Thanks again.

[LeeG]

I use a scotty fly rod holder in front of me to the left. I'm right handed and almost all of my yak fishing seems to be oriented to the left side. The location works fine for trolling a fly while I go from spot to spot, and I agree that I get a lot of fish when I'm on the move to a new spot. The line also stays out of the way when I'm paddling except when I turn sharply to the left. A paddle leash works fine for me when I hook-up. I just drop the paddle next to me in the water. I also carry a spare in case the leash comes undone.

I also have two conventional rod holders behind me for trolling/rod storage. They're out of the way if I'm fly casting and perfectly convenient to get to if I'm trolling. Though I find trolling a spinning rod to be a pita to get the line out without going so slowly that I get snagged on the bottom. It takes a while to work out enough line.

Lee

[kayakninja]

Advantage for the sit on top! LOL
;)