It's actually amazing just how many changes I've witnessed in my life.What's even more amazing is the fact that many of these changes have only occurred in the last decade and a half.And,just so we are clear on this; I'm not talking about things like nuclear technology either.I'm actually think only about my favorite hobby......fishing.
As a youngster I was fortunate to live quite close to a small lake, and a crowd of us would head off there frequently to do a bit of fishing. Apart from a few tilapia, none of us ever caught anything worthy of a trophy, but we still had an awesome time, and besides, we had plenty of rock and surf angling spots just a short distance away.
Being youngsters, we all had our own "magic" collection of tackle, and of course we all had the "ultimate" rod; not to mention enough rations to feed half of Africa. One thing which we never bother with however, were proper rod holders. We would instead select a nice forked branch on a nearby tree, and then use that instead. Of course, once one person of the group arrives with something better, everyone wants to upgrade as well.
It wasn't long before we all had homemade holders that consisted of a piece of hollow tubing welded onto a sharpened steel spike, bearing in mind that we needed to drive them into hard ground. While they certainly did the job they were designed for; they were a nightmare because the rust would discolor everything, and being made from from steel, they were also rather heavy.
These days, I see anglers with with amazing looking cast alloy rod holders. Of course I wanted one as well.......who wouldn't? I can't even begin to describe all the alloy rod holders I've seen since then. What I've also discovered is that one only truly appreciates the value of these rod holders when you go fish off a boat.
Unfortunately I don't have my own boat because I'm not wealthy enough, but all the boat owners I know would dream of settling for anything less than alloy rod holders. Plastic holders tend to become brittle due to the sun and exposure to the salt air, while steel holders rust in no time at all.
The next reason is that alloy rod holders are incredibly durable and also dependable. Virtually all of these rod holders have been designed by people who also love fishing, and as such, they know what it feels like to lose a fish when it could actually have been avoided. In fact; one of the first things you'll notice about these holders is that they hold your rods at just the right angle. This ensures your lines and so on are well clear of the boat, thereby minimizing the chances of lines becoming entangled in the propellers.
Several of them also feature a special safety clip. With one of these clips, your rod won't end up in the water if a particularly large fish takes your bait. I've even seen cast alloy rod holders that include a small device that will alert you if a fish takes your bait.
unfortunately I don't get to fish off a boat very often these days, but even so, it certainly hasn't stopped me from getting a few awesome rod holders of my own. I've been fishing all my life, so as far as I'm concerned, I deserve a few luxuries these days. if you've never considered buying alloy holders, then a honestly recommend that you do so now. However, even if you choose not too, let me just say.............Tight Lines.
As a youngster I was fortunate to live quite close to a small lake, and a crowd of us would head off there frequently to do a bit of fishing. Apart from a few tilapia, none of us ever caught anything worthy of a trophy, but we still had an awesome time, and besides, we had plenty of rock and surf angling spots just a short distance away.
Being youngsters, we all had our own "magic" collection of tackle, and of course we all had the "ultimate" rod; not to mention enough rations to feed half of Africa. One thing which we never bother with however, were proper rod holders. We would instead select a nice forked branch on a nearby tree, and then use that instead. Of course, once one person of the group arrives with something better, everyone wants to upgrade as well.
It wasn't long before we all had homemade holders that consisted of a piece of hollow tubing welded onto a sharpened steel spike, bearing in mind that we needed to drive them into hard ground. While they certainly did the job they were designed for; they were a nightmare because the rust would discolor everything, and being made from from steel, they were also rather heavy.
These days, I see anglers with with amazing looking cast alloy rod holders. Of course I wanted one as well.......who wouldn't? I can't even begin to describe all the alloy rod holders I've seen since then. What I've also discovered is that one only truly appreciates the value of these rod holders when you go fish off a boat.
Unfortunately I don't have my own boat because I'm not wealthy enough, but all the boat owners I know would dream of settling for anything less than alloy rod holders. Plastic holders tend to become brittle due to the sun and exposure to the salt air, while steel holders rust in no time at all.
The next reason is that alloy rod holders are incredibly durable and also dependable. Virtually all of these rod holders have been designed by people who also love fishing, and as such, they know what it feels like to lose a fish when it could actually have been avoided. In fact; one of the first things you'll notice about these holders is that they hold your rods at just the right angle. This ensures your lines and so on are well clear of the boat, thereby minimizing the chances of lines becoming entangled in the propellers.
Several of them also feature a special safety clip. With one of these clips, your rod won't end up in the water if a particularly large fish takes your bait. I've even seen cast alloy rod holders that include a small device that will alert you if a fish takes your bait.
unfortunately I don't get to fish off a boat very often these days, but even so, it certainly hasn't stopped me from getting a few awesome rod holders of my own. I've been fishing all my life, so as far as I'm concerned, I deserve a few luxuries these days. if you've never considered buying alloy holders, then a honestly recommend that you do so now. However, even if you choose not too, let me just say.............Tight Lines.