Talk to a professional angler like Kevin Schweder(2003 PWT Rookie of the Year), and you will quickly find out that organization is a major part of their game plan. Keeping rods and equipment organized provides many advantages, not the least of which is allowing the angler to spend more time fishing.

Loose rods can be a real hassle on the water. Besides taking up premium boat space, they are also more likely to get broken tips or have tangled line. And it's not much fun untangling rods on a hot August day, or losing you favorite rod to a broken tip. Ideally, rods should be kept upright in the boat in a secure holder. Protect your rods from scuffs and wear by using rod holders that feature foam locking rings. Keeping all your rods in a central location provides quick and easy access to your arsenal. But keep in mind that a rod holder that will quickly and easily move to different areas of the boat can be a real asset. A quality rod holder will allow an angler to keep his rods safe yet accessible from anywhere on the boat.

An angler may also save time by rigging his favorite presentations before even getting on the water. Keeping different rods and presentations ready at all times allows a fisherman to easily change technique at any moment. An angler in the hunt for walleye for example, may want to have a 7 foot rod set up with a favorite rigging presentation while also having his 6 foot rod set up for jigging. To save more time he may also want to set up his favorite presentations for trolling. This is especially critical when time is a factor, as with tournament situations, but can save alot of time for any angler. Be sure to look for a heavy duty rod holder that can safely handle more than one or two rods. A rod holder that can accomodate up to 8 rods is your best bet.

With the average angler owning more than six rods, storage and transport can present a real problem. Making the transition from storage to pick-up to boat is often time consuming and frustrating. An ideal rod holder will accomodate all these situations. Look for a rod holder that easily converts from a holder while in the boat, to a safe way to transport and store your rods out of the boat. Kevin Schweder suggests a rod holder such as the Rod Wrangler by Cornerstone Manufacturing. "Simply put, the Rod Wrangler makes organization and transportation of rods and reels simple, so I can spend more time fishing." And really, isn't that what it's all about?

Anne Elliott
Research & Development
Cornerstone Manufacturing
http://www.rodwrangler.com