I need a fly rod holder for my pontoon. There are many out there. If I can buy something that works for $15 or $20 that would be great without spending $60 for a piece of pvc. Thanks for the ideas. This is the boat:
Here’s my opinion, and opinions are like you know what. But after the number of years I’ve been 'toon’n, the Scotty rod holder is the best I’ve found. There might be others out there that are better, but I’m not aware of any. You can probably find cheaper, but does a high $$$$ item like a fly rod and reel and line deserve a good holder? So take it from there.
Good luck.
Clay;
Here’s one I made that will protect an 8’ rod.
I got tangled up with an under water stump that actually snapped one of the wire bundle ties holding the rod holder to the pondoon! The rod survived!!
I slotted a piece of 1 1/2 inch pvc pipe on my table saw, added an end cap and notched the tube so the reel was trapped. I also pop riveted a velcro strap just ahead of the reel. The rod holder is attached to the pontoon frame with wire bundle ties through a couple of holes in the side of the tube. That way I can just lay the rod into the holder and if I feel I need a little more security I close the velcro strap.
Use the lettering on the PVC pipe to guide your cuts.
I’ve stopped using any fly rod holder on my toon that needs an elastic strap to be 100% sure the rod won’t come loose, after too many close calls of dropping them, and the time it takes to undo the elastic and grab the rod.
GnuBee turned me onto the DownEast rod holders…they come in bolt-on, clamp-on, and tube clamp bases. The rod sits in them with the reel facing up, and to release you just grab the rod and pull up. To swivel them, you just pull up and rotate to the desired position.
I have 3 on my toon. I keep a rod with floating line, one with intermediate line, and one with full sink. If I want to troll while I’m rowing, I can just reach back and swivel whichever rod I need to face forward, over my leg and under my oars. If there’s a strike, just grab the rod upwards and it releases. I’ve never even had a close call of losing the rod with these.
The only disadvantage is that the metal rod holder can scuff up your rod and reel–some 3mm craft foam and some 3M-77 spray adhesive solves that problem.
They are $30, and you can get them from the manufacturer; our Sportsman’s Warehouse here in CO stocks all 3 mounting types.
DANBOB
I have the bigger brother to your 'toon and I like the scotty rod holder. It stays put and workd great.
Clay,
RS1 and Beigefoot are right. I have been using the Scotty Rod Holder for many years.
When I first saw then used was on the boats at Tofino, BC, where we fished for salmon. The rod holders worked great even when an 18 pounder would slam the fly and either take off for the ocean or to the air.
I use the strap on mount on my WaterMaster Raft and on my Pontoon boat. I use two Scotty Rod Holders, one to hold my spare rod and one to use for my main rod.
You can’t go wrong with a Scotty.
Larry 
—sagefisher—
Thanks everyone for the good tips. I was in my boat this week and placed the rod and reel outfit in my stripping basket. I kept telling myself that if I lost that outfit, the rod holder would have been very cheap insurance indeed. I won’t be back on the water until I get a rod holder. It’s nice to see a reasonably priced product get such good reviews. Thanks guys,
Rick
get one long handle net
saftey
fine lish rod lesh etc,
try this one from the creek company
http://www.creekcompany.com/indivdisplay.php?primaryAutoID=70&Cat=3&Cat1=10
I simply made my own from some PVC electrical conduit. I used the basic design similar the what is shown in Norman’s link above.
I did make one change the the design that has been useful. The original Creek Outfitter’s design has a slot approx. 3/4" wide X 4" long that allows the reel foot to stick out. I made an additional cut, one apprx. 2" long and 1" wide that tirns the slot into an L shape. Sort of like this…(please excuse the make shift graphic, I will get a camera someday)
original design
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modified design
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|___|-------------
Now when I slide the handle into the slot I can rotate the reel 90 degrees and lock the reel foot into the L. This locks my rod into place without and velcro or strap. Best of all I can grab the rod or lock it down with only one hand.
I made about 4 of these from a $6 section of PVC.
You mean like this kengore? This is what I use…the holder comes out and it can be rotated at whatever angle you like.
I use that One! But I use it for my monitor for the fish finder. Fair holder, but I drilled through both and used a pin, cause after awhile, I found the rod would pull the holder out. I use the Scotty’s now also. They hold the rod more secure than anything even without the rubber band thing. Plus there are so many mounting possibilties. I drilled holes in the aluminum deck on my pontoon and bought the flush mount, for the H3 I use the tube mount (which is how I bought the holders) and on My Navigator II I mounted the boat mounts…PURFECT!
Joni, you ought to show these folks some of your pictures…they may give them some ideas.
BTW…I glued a velcro patch on that strap that goes around the pontoon and I velcro on the tranducer for the fish finder.
Alrighty then.
Here is the flush mount on the Pontoon:
Here is the boat mount for Navigator II
Here is the Monitor and Transducer for Freestyle H3
I take three rods out just like Dan Bob. I stagger the rods and reels so that there is no chance of them tangling with each other. Something you really need to think about.
I have one point straight out the back then the two on the side are staggard at say while looking at the boat straight on, one at 2 and one at 4. As far as sticking up, they are all about the same.
I forgot to mention that I bought Two of the Scotty Tube mounts and one boat mount, then bought the flush and boat mount accessories, so the initial cost was high, but I use the same three rod holders on all my boats.
FG
I’ve been using the down-east since the 70’s. I’ve never had a problem with it and it works on all kinds of rods.
Anyone have a recomendation on the best place to buy the Scotty fly rod holder. I am finally getting around to ordering one and would like to order it today. I checked our list of sponsors but didn’t find any of them to offer this product that I found at least. I called the boat manufacturer and they said to get the Scotty with the 1 1/4" rail mount, model 262. The best price that I have found so far is $35. Anyone know of any place that has a better price? Thanks for the pointer in the right direction.
Rick
I got mine at Sportsmen’s Warehouse, but like all PASTIC PRODUCTS, they have gone up. That is why I said the initial cost is tuff.
Here is this:
https://www.choiceaccessories.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=74696
This tube mount can come in handy later on if you don’t use it for the holder
Fly Goddess, thanks for the link. For some reason, I didn’t get notified of this response.
I ordered the Scotty 262 on Monday. It arrived in Wis from Texas on Wedsday. Great service from the company and the best price that I could find on this rail mount version which is what fits my boat: http://www.mariner-sails.com/partdetail.asp?id=28836
Again, thanks for all of the help and a push in the right direction.
Rick
Right on Clay. Lets see some pix when you get it all mounted.