Fish steal rods, and reels
I have seen many rods, and reels hit the water to be forever lost. This occurs thousands of times a year to fishermen, who just for an instant lay their rods down. Even when fishing for small fish like bluegills, you never know when that giant catfish or carp, will try to steal your gear. Never lay a rod down unless it is secured, when fishing with natural baits. Even with some lures, remove the bait from the water, or secure the rod and reel.
Rod Holders
Rod holders have been around since there were fishing poles. First came the forked stick. Many fishermen use this simple rod holder today, but many of them also loose their rods and reels because they don't use it properly.
A forked stick can be used to save your gear if you (1) set your drag so loose that the line feeds out before the rod is flipped over the forked stick or (2) tie off the rod to something else. A simple way to do this is with a nylon stringer having a spike on one end and ring on the other. Pass the spike through the ring, tighten the loop around your rod in front of the reel, and then stick the spike into the ground. This practice provides some security, but lightening up on your drag is still a good idea.
Another way to use a forked stick is to form a length of heavy wire into a U-shape, invert it, and stick the two legs of the
"U" into the ground with the butt of your rod under the "U." This way when a fish hits the bait, the wire
"U" will keep the rod from flipping up at the back. Always test this arrangement by pulling on the line to see how secure your setup is.
Of the many fine rod holders sold in stores, I believe the best are made of heavy gauge (1/4-inch) wire with a coil at the top into which you stick your rod handle. Make sure these are firmly anchored in the ground and always back off the drag a bit.
Other good rod holders can be made from things around the house. A concrete block is a great rod holder. A 24-inch piece of 1-1/2-inch diameter PVC pipe cut on a sharp angle on one end works very well in soft soils or on sandy beaches.
Children
Rods and reels are lost by children who either lay them down and let a fish pull them in the water or by smaller children who just drop their rod into the water from a boat or a pier.
A simple solution to this is to secure a plastic drink bottle to a line then tying it around the base of the reel. Usually a 12- to 16-ounce bottle works well. When the rod and reel goes in the drink, you just fish out the floating bottle with the rod and reel attached under it. The line length to the bottle can be any length that works best for the child, from a few inches, to a couple of feet. This rig also works well for adults fishing from canoes. If the canoe goes over, you have saved your rods and reels.
Piers
From what I have seen, piers are the number one place where rods and reels are stolen by the fish. On public piers and bridges where fishing is allowed, rod holders are usually few or none. Many fishermen just set their rod down and lean it against the railing. Although this can work if you loosen your drag almost all the way, flip the bail open on your spinning reel, or push the spool release button on a spincasting reel, most people don't do this and, consequently, many, many rods get pulled over the railing.
One way of keeping this from happening to some extent is to position the butt of the rod as far away from the rail as possible, with just a few inches of the rod extending beyond the railing. This way it takes a much bigger fish to flip the rod and reel over the rail. If you do this, you should still test your drag setting to ensure so your drag will slip before the rod flips over the railing.
Another popular way to secure your rods and reels on a pier is with a bungee cord. Hook one end to a lower rung or post. Tie or hook the other end to the rod just below the reel. I use a heavy cord and tie a quick release knot so I can just pull the end of the line to unfasten the line quickly when a fish strikes.
For your own pier or dock, I have come up with the best rod holder: I use the heavy wire rod holder made of ¼-inch wire that sticks into the ground. I simply drill ¼-inch holes into the deck of the pier and drop these rod holders into the holes. When you no longer want them there, just lift them out.
Drag Settings
Nothing saves your rod and reel from thieving fish better than loosening your drag, even when you're using a good rod holder. Back off that drag until you can pull line off easily without dragging the rod. If you must lay your rod and reel down, open your spinning reel bail or push the release button on a spincasting reel. (This is not recommended for baitcasters unless they have a clicker because when a fish strikes, the spool can revolve too quickly and create a backlash.) BACK OFF THE DRAG ALL THE WAY, but dDon't forget to tighten the drag before setting the hook.
Recovering an overboard rod and reel
Ok you've screwed up, and a fish has taken your rod and reel, or you, or your kid has dropped the thing over board, now you need to get it back. Unless you're a diver, and you want to go diving, it's time to figure out a way to get your rod and reel back. Sometimes it can be snagged from the bottom with a weighted treble hook and another rod and reel, but bottom snags can easily hang this rig up, before recovering your rig.
There is a device sold today for another purpose that is the greatest way to recover a rod and reel. Buy one of those metal stringers with the big wire snaps and keep it in your tackle box. These stringers are not very good for keeping fish alive, but they are the very best rod recovery tool.
Tie some heavy line to the end of the stringer, open all the snaps, and throw it out where the rod went down. Slowly drag it back. If any snaps snag on the bottom, steady pressure will straighten and release them, yet they will hold the rod when they grab it.
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