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Best Fishing Rod Holders for Boats
CE Smith Flush Mount Rod Holder
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Summary
This rod holder has a wide mounting collar, a stainless steel gimbal bar welded in place, and a vinyl insert to protect the rod butt from damage.
Best Kayak Fishing Rod Holder
YakAttack Omega Rod Holder
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Summary
The Omega offers easy adjustment and locks position into place. The star of the show is the unique LockNLoad track mount that allows the rod holder to be quickly adjusted and removed.
Best Fishing Rod Holder for the Beach
Offshore Angler Adjustable Sand Spike
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Summary
It features a strong aluminum shaft with a sharp point, which you drive into the sand or soft ground, and the rod butt is adjustable to fit any size baitcasting or spinning rod.
At first look, a fishing rod holder seems like a simple device. It just holds a rod, right? But a fishing rod holder has a big responsibility. Not only does a rod holder protect fishing gear such as spinning rods
and spinning reels
from damage or loss, but it holds the rod when you’re waiting for a fish to bite. Selecting the right one out of the hundreds of best fishing rod holders available can be difficult.
To keep rods secure on a boat, look for a flush mount rod holder that is the sturdiest and least intrusive way to hold a fishing rod. Flush mount rod holders put the rod tube below deck, which makes for excellent stability. That’s why flush mount rod holders are used for trolling big fish.
For kayak, canoes and small boats, an elevated rod holder keeps the reel away from spray. The best elevated rod holders are simple to attach and easily to adjust. Unlike a flush mount rod holder, elevated rod holders don’t require space below deck…but an elevated rod holder isn’t as strong as a flush mount.
At home, the job of organizing rods and keeping them untangled and secure falls to a rod rack. Storing rods in a rod rack keeps them away from feet, doors, pets and kids, and they won’t tip or slide off. One big advantage of storing rods on a fishing rod rack is that they’re always ready to go fishing.
Transporting rods to the water is the best opportunity for damage or loss. A sturdy car or truck rod rack with secure connections will protect rods and reels from banging around and breaking and keep lines and lures separate.
To keep rods out of the sand and water, a rod holder is essential when fishing from the shore or beach. A rod holder with a sharp point to insert into the sand or dirt will keep the rod upright and secure. Those designed to fish from a sandy beach are called sand spikes. The best rod holders for the beach are adjustable.
Every rod needs a holder. Here are our selections of the best rod holders available today.
Best for Boats: CE Smith Flush Mount Rod Holder
Best for Kayaks: YakAttack Omega Rod Holder
Best for Garage: KastKing Fishing Rod Rack
Best for Trucks: Thule Rodvault ST
Best for the Beach: Offshore Angler Adjustable Sand
How We Picked the Best Fishing Rod Holders
To choose the best rod holder in each category, we evaluated strength, ergonomics and function.
We looked at how each candidate compared to other rod holders in a category. We then tested the rod holder, including transportation and fishing. We picked a flush mount rod holder as best overall because the low profile and sturdy holders are most common. For a kayak rod holder, we chose an elevated rod holder that is easy to adjust and remove. A rod holder for truck and car should protect the rod from wind, rain, and thievery. And, rod holders for surf and shore fishing must be easy to drive into the ground and hold the rod securely.
There are a lot of great rod holders on the water, but our picks stand out among the crowd. Just remember–the only way a rod holder can protect your rod is if you use it.
Best Fishing Rod Holders: Reviews and Recommendations
Best for Boats: CE Smith Flush Mount Rod Holder
Best for Boats
Specs
Capacity: 9 inches deep
Dimensions: 13 x 5 x 4 inches
Materials: Stainless steel
Pros
316 stainless steel is strong and corrosion-resistant
Welded gimbal bar
Welded cap to tube connection
Vinyl liner is notched to prevent twisting
Cons
Expensive
Heavy
CE Smith is well known for high-end fishing and boating gear, and their flush mount rod holder is overbuilt and extremely well designed. The fully welded stainless steel tube, cap and gimbal resist corrosion and are nearly indestructible. A white vinyl liner secures and protects the rod. It features a wide mounting collar, a stainless steel gimbal bar welded in place, and a vinyl insert to protect the rod butt from damage. And the low profile cap looks as good as it works. This rod holder has been tested on heavy offshore tackle and downriggers over the years and has stood up to it all.
Best for Kayaks: YakAttack Omega Rod Holder
Best for Kayaks
Specs
Injection-molded, reinforced plastic
Locking ring
Adjustable mount and arm
Quick release
Pros
Easy to install and remove
Quick adjustment of horizontal or vertical angle
Rod can be locked into the holder
Cons
Requires two steps to disengage the lock and remove the rod
For kayak and small boat anglers, there may not be space below deck to mount a flush mount rod holder. An elevated rod holder is the solution—and it keeps the reel farther from the water, a big plus when fishing saltwater, which can damage reels. The best kayak fishing rod holders allow the rod to be adjusted on two planes to set the perfect position for fishing or transporting the rod.
The YakAttack Omega Rod Holder has become the standard for security and versatility—it’s the best rod holder for fishing kayaks
and small boats because of its sturdy construction and ease of operation. The rod holder mounts to any standard gear track. The star of the show is the unique LockNLoad track mount that allows you to quickly adjust and remove the rod holder. To remove the rod holder, just push a button to pop it off the gear track mount. The Omega offers easy adjustment and locks position into place.
Best for Garage: KastKing Fishing Rod Rack
Best for Garage
Specs
Weight 4.8 pounds
Dimensions: 28.5″ H ×29″ W ×13″ D
Materials: Aluminum
Capacity: 24 rods
Pros
Holds 24 rods
Requires less space
Sturdy, corrosion-resistant aluminum
Cons
No wheels
The award-winning KastKing’s Fishing Rod Rack is the best fishing rod holder for a garage. It features a sturdy and compact platform for storing up to 24 fishing rods. The rack holds spinning, fly, and baitcasting rods, evenly spaced so they don’t tangle. Padded cradles keep the rods safe from scratches. You can set the adjustable racks to hold any type of fishing rod, along with paddles or stakeout poles. The lightweight aluminum frame is sturdy and won’t rust.
Best for Trucks: Thule Rodvault ST
Best for Trucks
Specs
Weight: 37 pounds
Dimensions: 100” L x 15” W x 10” D
Materials: Aluminum rod tubes and thermoformed reel case
Capacity: Six rods up to 8 feet long
Pros
Aluminum rod tubes are corrosion-resistant
Glass-infused nylon reel case
Padded rod tubes protect rods
Locking hatch and mounts
Cons
Limited capacity
Thule racks are well respected for innovative storage and durability, and the brand is well known for its kayak roof racks
. Designed to fit on almost any vehicle, the RodVault ST holds six spinning, baitcasting or fly rods up to 8 feet long. The locking hatch keeps rods safe, and you can also lock the rack itself to the crossbars to prevent theft. The mounts will fit almost any factory or aftermarket crossbars. They feature an aluminum shaft with a sharp point, which you drive into the sand or soft ground. The rod holder will stand solidly upright.
The rod butt is adjustable to fit any size baitcasting or spinning rod. For surf rods with a long butt for casting, the Adjustable Sand Spike allows the rod to be removed quickly. Best of all, the V-collar and rod butt glow in the dark for night fishing.
Best for the Beach: Offshore Angler Adjustable Sand
Best for the Beach
Specs
Dimensions: 50” L
Materials: Aluminum and luminous plastic
Pros
Durable aluminum shaft
Luminous collar and butt holder
Adjustable butt holder for long rod butts
Cons
Plastic collar and butt holder
The best fishing rod holder for the beach must do two things: Stay firmly attached to the ground, and hold the rod securely. Popular with surf anglers and shore fishermen, the Offshore Angler Adjustable Sand Spike does just that. It features a strong aluminum shaft with a sharp point, which you drive into the sand or soft ground. The rod holder will stand solidly upright. The rod butt is adjustable to fit any size baitcasting or spinning rod. For surf rods with a long butt for casting, the Adjustable Sand Spike allows the rod to be removed quickly. Best of all, the V-collar and rod butt glow in the dark for night fishing.
What to Consider When Choosing a Fishing Rod Holder
Before buying a rod holder, first consider how it will be used. Flush mount rod holders are strongest and least obtrusive, but they require clearance below deck. Be sure to measure the space for the rod tube.
Kayak anglers and small boaters prefer elevated rod holders to keep the reels away from spray and errant waves. Don’t drill holes until you place the rod holder in the location you want it, and make sure that the rod butt will clear the deck. Or, choose an elevated rod holder that mounts to a gear track for quick adjustments and removal.
When it comes to storing rods at home, a rod rack keeps rods organized and safe. Look for a rack that is light and strong so it is easy to move even filled with rods. Verify that the rod holder is appropriate for the rods you plan to store. Rods with large reels need more space.
Most damage occurs when transporting fishing rods
to the water. Piling rods in a truck bed or jamming them in a trunk or back seat with other gear doesn’t make for an easy ride. To keep rods out of danger and out of the way, a rod holder mounted to a roof rack is the best option. Check the length of the rod tube and the size of the reel box to match the rods you plan to carry.
Rod holders for surf and shore fishing must be wide and long enough to hold the rod you plan to use. Then, consider the ground where you will drive the spike. Soft sand is easy to pierce but hard ground will require a narrower spike. Bring a rubber mallet so you can pound the spike deeply into the sand or ground.
There are a lot of considerations when choosing a rod holder, but when it comes to holding a fishing rod and reel worth hundreds of dollars, the effort that goes into choosing the right one for your fishing is well worth it.
FAQs
Q: How do you mount a fishing rod holder?
To mount a fishing rod holder on a boat so that it’s flush with the transom requires cutting and drilling, so you must first be certain you’re mounting it in the right location. Place the rod in the holder and set it next to the spot that you want to put it and make sure that the location and angle of the rod is correct. If the deck material is thin, use a backing plate to increase strength. Seal the edge and holes with silicone sealant. If you are mounting an elevated rod holder, make sure that the rod butt will clear the deck.
Q: What is the best fishing rod holder?
The best fishing rod holder is tough, secure, and easy to use. Look for quality materials like reinforced plastic and corrosion-resistant stainless steel. With a flush mount rod holder, steel rod holders with a vinyl insert are strongest. For an elevated rod holder, make sure the rod holder is easy to adjust and remove. CE Smith is a well-respected maker of flush mount rod holders. Thule makes rod carriers that are of excellent quality.
Q: How far apart should fishing rod holders be?
To make sure that the rod holders you are installing will be the correct distance apart from each other, hold the rod holder with a rod in it in the intended location (you may need someone to hold the holder for you. Note the angle of the rod, and insert and remove the rod from the holder so you can tell how much room you’ll need to do that. Rod holders should be placed far enough apart so they don’t interfere with other rods, a T-top, antennas or outriggers.
Best Fishing Rod Holders: Final Thoughts
Best for Boats: CE Smith Flush Mount Rod Holder
Best for Kayaks: YakAttack Omega Rod Holder
Best for Garage: KastKing Fishing Rod Rack
Best for Trucks: Thule Rodvault ST
Best for the Beach: Offshore Angler Adjustable Sand
Fishing rods break, but often the reason is not because a big fish snapped it. Typically breakage is the result of the rod falling over at home or on a boat and someone steps on it. Or, a door slams on it, or a car window closes on it. That’s often the end of the rod, expensive or not. Rod holders aren’t just conveniences, they’re investments in tackle…and in fishing time.
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For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.
