With this year’s season pretty much in full swing and not looking like it’s slowing down anytime soon, anglers have really only one desire: get on the water. With temperatures up throughout the country, how could they be thinking of anything else, right? Well, as amazing as it is to immerse ourselves in the fishing atmosphere, it’s smart to not neglect preparing for the off season, little by little, over the summer. When stored carelessly, our gear can become unorganized and even damaged, so finding ways to store tackle at home in a practical fashion is important. Today, I’ve briefly touched upon a few products that help you accomplish this task.
Let’s start with fishing rods. There are several ways to store your rods when you’re not using them, and whichever product you choose really depends on how many rods you have and how much room you have. For instance, those with entire rooms or basement space for their outdoor toys can easily find room for wooden rod holders designed to hold anywhere from a dozen to two dozen rods or combos. Most of these models are round, but there are slender models and even products that are wedge-shaped and designed to fit into the corners of rooms. Some models even come with wheels, so they can easily be moved in a garage or basement, if needed. Bass Pro Shops makes several wooden rod holders in variety of shapes and sizes.
If you’re working with a little less space, then I’d suggest choosing from a variety of rod holders that attach to a wall. These types hold roughly half a dozen rods/combos and consist of two separate pieces, but they can be screwed into the wall wherever you choose. There are wooden models that resemble pool cue mounts, but also plastic variations, as well. I have two made by Berkley and mount them side by side on the wall. They work great and keep my combos secure and out of the way. You can also find rod holders for ceilings, which work really well. If you have only a few rods, you can always pick up crew-in hooks designed to hold bicycles, which I’ve used in the past. They do a good job of keeping combos out of the way, they’re cheap, and can be attached nearly anywhere.
Of course, many of us are creative and possess enough ingenuity to fashion our own rod holders, based on our own needs and available space. While there are many who don’t have enough fishing rods to warrant purchasing a holder designed for even six, there are many of us who do. The aforementioned rod storage options are great ways to safely store fishing rods, whether it’s just for the night or when the season sadly draws to an end. Be sure to come back for Part Two, where I’ll touch upon some more tackle storage options for reels and other tackle.
