I was reading flyfishfairwx’s post about cleaning rods and it got me to thinking. Which is dangerous:p How do you guys store your rods when you’re not fishing? I’ve only got a 5 wt and a 3wt and I had thought about buying one of those cheaper gun racks at wal-mart and put them on it. I figured that beats proping them in the corner of my closet which is where they are now. I’ve looked at rod racks before, but they have all been for storing the rods vertical insead of horizontal. I’m not sure if that matters or not, especially if they are left in the tube so that they have support all the way across. What do you guys think?
I store them in their rod tubes and line them up in the back of my closet. For the most part they are out of sight which keeps the peace around the house. :lol:
As for myself, I’m not anal about “stuff” like that. I put my “stuff” away PERIOD. It take only a mere 15-20 minutes or so to find the"stuff" next year when I need it. That statement may sound sarcastic BUT it is the honest truth. My concentration is ENTIRELY on fly FISHING and not the “stuff” or the contortions needed to execute same. So far it has worked for me since 62’.
Some may disagree.
Mark
I posted quite awhile back about my rather “frugal” rod rack. I put a strip of adhesive backed velcro (hook) around the tube(s) & the other strip (loop) on the wall I used (in my case, it is a bookcase). It’s been an extremely effective, space saving, & inexpensive (around $5.00) solution for me. I grab the tubes and go, then, when I return, I just stand 'em against the wall & they’re secured. Following are some pics…
I removed the shelves, and took a 3" hole saw to the top - I got 15 holes evenly spaced (3 rows of 5 holes). Next, I cut strips of felt to line the inside of the holes and glued them in place. Makes it easier to slide the tubes in and out, and protects the finish on those fancy aluminum tubes.
I’d post a picture, but I need to make two more of these things - it’s surrounded by rod tubes.:oops:
My oldest son made me a rod rack for Christmas a number of years ago that’s along the same lines as yours. He made it out of white pine that he stained and varnished. I also keep a couple rods all rigged up in rod/reel cases. They stay that way year round and ready to fish on a moment’s notice.
If your rod socks have ties on them, DO NOT tie the ribbons tightly together, especially with a bamboo rod. It will bow/set the rod at some pretty weird angles! Same would go for using rubber bands to hold all the pieces together. DON’T DO IT!!!
When Im done…and the equipment is clean…each rod goes into its hard storage/ carrying tube that had divided liners in them…and THEN stacked in the corner of an unused bedroom.
My [i]workhorse /i rods get air dried then back into the tubes and packed into the gear bag. These 6 regulars stay like that in the gear bag. That way, I don’t have to hunt around the night before opening day.
The extra rods (spares, teaching, loaners …) are in home made socks and PVC tubes, (some home made, some “bazooka’s”) and they are in the rafters in the basement. Most are 4 rod tubes, so there are ten or eleven of those .