Fishing rods

I’m looking for options to transport fishing rods.
Where and how are you putting them when your out on the road…

 

Do you have a roof or cargo rack of any kind? Does your rod break down?

 

I carry fly rods and stick I put them on some magnet sumo mounts when I’m at the river and they stay there or in my hand until the trip is done.
I’ve done freeway speeds with them on the truck no problem…the magnets are very strong.

I don’t recommend traveling long distances with them, but I’ve done it. I prefer to just break the rods down into two sections and put them in the back where they free hang from the frame of the softopper in some bungie loops

 

Open your sliding rear window. Stick the rod tips out of the rear window and place the reel on your front dash. Guides and old timer Spey casters (13 ft+ rods) have been doing it for decades without breaking rods. Death to rod lockers.

 

Ski racks

 

Flambeu Bazuka pro tube on a bed rack. Or use some S brackets on the gear track and mount the Bazuka on it with large hose clamps

 

I second ski racks

 

No roof racks currently, I’m looking at the options.
I’ve got fresh and salt rods 5’6” to 12’ long and only 1 or 2 might break down.

 

I’ve done it in other vehicles for sure but just spent a ton of money on a new interior I’d rather not take take chance on damaging.
I’d also like something more secure and convenient.
The main use is from the house to the marina a few miles away…an occasional day trip…

 

Perfect timing. A few observations/opinions and a related question….

Hard to beat a rod vault style carrier if you transport frequently. They do require a rack and it looks like they’ve become ridiculously expensive, but they are fool proof.

Ski/snowboard rack works great. Rod tips always rearward and rods should be rigged or ferrules taped. Obviously the tips shouldn’t have anything to bounce against, but non-obviously this includes each other! Best approach is to bungee or soft tie the tips together.

Sumo or any magnetic/suction style holder - convenient but DO NOT use them on highway or washboard. They will be fine 99% of the time but the 1% is guaranteed to be catastrophic. Good for around town though.

Finally, keep your rod tips as low as possible if you use a Sumo or beach bumper style set-up. Eventually you’ll mis-judge an overhead obstruction or not be paying close attention.

Question - does anyone know of (or have ideas for making) a very temporary but relatively water-tight cab/cap pass-thru gasket? On an old rig I used an under-cap rod rack and passed rod tips thru using a small strip of foam to close up the small window gaps. Worked super good enough.

Stupid me - just realized the slider on my new Leer cap opens opposite the Tacomas. Arrgh! A 1” crack for rods to pass thru makes 6”ish opening in both the truck and cap, and they are not even aligned with each other. Kind of at a loss on how to transport a few 9’ 1-piece rods inside the vehicle without getting a bunch of water inside. Ideas?

 

I set up rail blaza kayak rod holders on the roof rack....

 

Question - does anyone know of (or have ideas for making) a very temporary but relatively water-tight cab/cap pass-thru gasket? On an old rig I used an under-cap rod rack and passed rod tips thru using a small strip of foam to close up the small window gaps. Worked super good enough.
HeyB- we used to open the truck rear window and the camper shell window and put an inflatable water toy or inner tube between then to seal the opening. Works great, absorbs the movement between the cab and shell, but only for temporary. If left for extended periods, rubs paint off.

 

I had mine like this for a while during kayak tournaments. It'll be on the bed rack once I get that. It's nice tho the thing telescopes up to 10ft.

 

I use a ski rack, but my longest rod is 8f6i, it sticks out about 3 feet from the bed.