See full version: What Are the Parts of a Fishing Rod
Butt caps are the opposite of the tip top and finish at the other end of the rod. Usually made of rubber or other soft materials like cork, the cap is an important fulcrum point of a rod that is often placed against the body to help bring in big fish. [links]
Most rods have a hood mechanism that affixes the reel foot into the seat. This usually involves screwing a metal or plastic piece up or down the seat to keep the reel and the rod together.
Spacing and numbering of guides can differ quite broadly in respect to rods. Different style rods differ in their use of guides. The position of guides too, as is visible in the two common bass fishing rod types of spinning and baitcasting, can have a big impact on a rod’s action and casting mechanism. more
You should also take extra care when dismantling the rod at the end of a fishing session. Take the individual components apart at their ferrules carefully. here
Another additional feature, the hook keeper, does as its name suggests. Usually, a metal ring affixed to the body of the rod, this is where anglers can hook their line to the rod when not fishing. This makes transporting your rod and switching positions easy, meaning you don’t have to worry about your line trailing and your hook catching. here
When you’re going to venture out into saltwater, it’s recommended that you use holders that are made from either stainless steel, aluminum zinc, or chrome brass. Most often you’ll find saltwater rod holders made from stainless steel or chrome brass because they’re less likely to corrode in the elements than other metal materials. here
First thing’s first, if you think you don’t need a rod holder and you’re perfectly find holding the rod yourself, that’s fine. But the holder isn’t just to give your hands a break. These tools are especially useful when you’re trolling.
A deck mounted rod holder is going to be the easiest to mount because all you have to do is drill a few holes where you’d like to put your holder.
Flush mounted fishing rod holders can be installed by drilling a hole large enough for the holder to be put into. You’ll want to seal the seams with marine silicone and then screw the holder in place. If done correctly, there won’t be any leaks. [links]
The problem many anglers have is knowing what style of rod holder they should choose when looking at them for the first time. We want to take this opportunity to shed some light on these little suckers so that you have a better idea of what to look for when shopping.
To build this rod holder, you’ll need a ten-foot piece of 2-inch diameter schedule 40 PVC pipe that will serve as the outer shell, though you can easily make a longer version for switch, spey, or Euro nymphing rods by adding another piece of pipe using a coupler. Foam pipe insulation serves to protect the rod, but isn’t totally necessary. You will have to omit it if you’re building a holder for heavier weight rods, as the larger guides won’t fit in the one-inch hole in the center of the insulation. I used three-inch U-bolts to secure the rod holder to the vehicle’s roof.
Here’s a better option: If your vehicle’s roof is equipped with crossbars, you can outfit it with a holder made of common PVC tube. This system will allow you to safely transport your rod fully assembled so you can you can start fishing right when you get to the water. You can also use this holder to transport spinning rods that won’t fit inside your car, but you will need to increase the diameter of the PVC pipe to accommodate the larger guides. You can build this holder for about $30.
Fly rods can be challenging to transport. When broken down, four-piece rods take up almost no space. But when assembled, the typical nine-foot length makes stashing them in your vehicle nearly impossible. Fly anglers will often tuck their rods under their windshield wipers for jaunts along the river, saving themselves from re-rigging at every fishable hole along the way. But this is perilous, as every bump and pothole along the way has the potential to send your rod crashing into the ditch.
A threaded cap allows you to open and close the tube, though some anglers choose to use a slip-on cap secured with a lock or some sort of pin instead. The addition of a lock means you don’t need to worry about leaving your rod unattended when you grab lunch, but be aware of its limitations. The PVC pipe can be easily cut with simple hand tools, so if someone really wants your rod they can find a way to get it. I used an extra handgun lock I had laying around, but any lock with a long enough shackle will work.
Ideas Can Come from Anywhere: I discovered that the Lego storage unit from the picture I liked was an IKEA system called TROFAST. My plan became to mimic the TROFAST system with some adjustments. Luckily for me, I have an IKEA close by, so I picked up a couple 4” sliding drawers as well as a set of shelves that go with the TROFAST system.
I spent an hour searching the Internet for DIY fishing rod holder systems as well as several retail versions. I finally came up with my design, which combines a fishing rod holder I liked with a Lego storage unit with sliding drawers. You never know where you’ll find inspiration, amiright?
On the top and bottom panels, make a mark at the exact center. Then measure out 8” towards the right side and 8” towards the left side and make your marks. The inside edge of the side panels should touch this mark. The side panels should be flush with what will be the front of the frame. [links]