Having the right rodholder on your boat to handle the big fish is just as important as the line you use. Using rod holders will free your hands and secures your equipment so when the catfish strikes, it doesnt pull your rod into the lake or river.

Even a small catfish call pull your rod and reel in water if you just have the rod leaned up on the side of your boat. Having a fish take your equipment doesnt make for a good day on the water.
Use them when anchoring, drifting or trolling.

Fishing rod holders

What is a rod holder?
A fishing rod holder allows you to fish several techniques while your hands are free to do something else until the fish strikes.

Mounting the rod holder securely to the boat will give you the confidence in knowing that when you turn your back, a fish will not be able to pull your equipment into the depths.

Some Rod Holders have duel positions allowing the angler to choose the angle of attack for the particular situation.

You can use your rod holders for trolling, achoring, drifting.

When the rod is positioned in the rod holder, gravity takes over to keep it place. When the fish is hooked, the pressure of the fish keeps your fishing pole secure, the harder a fish pulls, the tighter the rod is held in the rod holder. Just remove the rod from the holder by lifting the rod tip up and out with the rod fore grip and feel the fight.

Fishing Rod Holders

Why Do I Need a Rod holder?

Rod holders are an important part of the equation when you’re setting up a fishing boat. The most obvious reason being, the angler doesn’t have to physically hold the rod themselves to wait for a strike. This in itself can be a chore without the use of a rod holder, holding a rod in hand for hours will cause fatigue and can take the fun out of the fishing trip, especially in bad weather.

The use of one or multiple rod holders will allow the angler to keep their attention on other factors that can make them more successful like the electronics and boat control. Spreading multiple rod holders out across the back of the boat will help keep your fishing rods organized and lines tangle-free. This puts your rods within easy reach when the fish strikes.

Whether trolling drifting or anchor fishing, rod holders offer anglers with simple solution to a common problem, allowing an angler to up his odds by employing the many different fishing techniques when out on the water.

Not only that, but they come in pretty handy when you take a day to just relax, grab a sandwich and a drink with confidence in knowing your pole will be fine while you patiently wait on the fish to find your bait.

Rod holder choices

How to choose a good rodholder
Rod holders come in a wide range of shapes and sizes along with a variety of different materials being used in the manufacture them, such as steel, plastic and aluminum..

Steel is probably the most durable in terms strength with aluminum being similar but coming in at a close second for durability, leaving you with both being respectable choices when deciding on your rod holder purchase.

The non-metal materials used to manufacture rod holders are extremely tough and resistant to breaking, but simply cannot hold up against the metal rod holders in under certain circumstances.

So which one is Best Rod Holders?

There is not going to be a definitive answer here, as they will all work.

However my suggestion for purchasing the right rod holder for your application would be determined on the conditions you would use the rod holder.

Anglers who spend a lot of their time fishing big water, heavy current or waves and put in a lot of hours with their equipment, is to choose one of the metal units for best results.

For the anglers who fish smaller water and only use their equipment periodically, one of the high-quality non-metal rod holders will work fine and will provide excellent value.

Rod holder features

Options for multiple uses
A Look at Options and benefits:

Some models of rod holders can only be set in one position, leaving little options to the angler as to how they can fish.

If you are an angler who likes to employ several techniques of fishing I would not recommend the single action types of rod holders.

Instead look to the manufactures that produce the all in one multi angle rod holders, like Monster Rod Holders. They also produce a unique multi position rotating swivel base that gives anglers an additional option to the way they fish.

Multi position rod holders can be adapted to certain situations that will better suite the needs of most any angler.

More options for the use of rod holders include THE ROD RACK.

A rod rack is simply a stationary bar that is mounted to the rear of the boat to install several rodholders for rod managment. Rod holders are spaced equally aross the rack to maintain some orgianaztion in keeping your line from becoming tangled.

ROD HOLDER MOUNTING OPTIONS

Mounting rod holder to your boat.
Mounting a rod holder permanently to your boat can have both positive and negative results; it will depend on how you use your boat. If you use your boat exclusively for fishing the permanent install will be positive, however if you use your boat for fishing and family uses, the permanent install can put a damper on family fun, as they may get in the way.

Using low profile mounts will allow you to remove the rod holder easily while the boat is in family mode. Other choices include rail bases that attach to either a round or square rail that is permanently, attached to your boat.

Permanent drill mounts can be attached to your on most flat sturdy surfaces, providing a “near-flush” install. The hardware is simple to install, and will usually involve only two- to-four holes being drilled, causing minimal “damage” to your boat.

TIP: For a stronger more durable contact drill smaller pilot holes for the install hardware

Channel catfish are the most abundant catfish in the U.S. They indeed are the most sought after catfish that angler’s fish for, simply because they will thrive in waters from big rivers to the local city pond and everything in between, they are very opportunistic and accessible to anyone.

Channel cats will eat just about anything you put in front of them and for this reason you have many choices. The best channel catfish baits are going to be the natural baits but they have been known to bite on everything from ivory soap to slim Jims.

However your choice of bait will depend on some factors: your time factor ( how much time do you have to find bait) Water temperature, time of day, and weather conditions are just some of the variables when choosing the best bait for catching channel catfish.

Below is a guideline for the best catfish baits that have been time tested and proven to catch catfish now!

Cut bait is the perfect bait to channel catfish, especially if you’re after the big ones. But don’t let that statement keep you from trying other baits as I said above that channel catfish are opportunistic feeders and bait selection will come down to how much time do you have to chase bait.

CUT BAIT:

Cut baits cover a wide variety of fish baits it will really depend on the region you are fishing in and what is available to you. The most common ones are: shad, bluegill, sun fish, herring, perch, shiners, suckers and minnows. Some of these baits can be obtained at your local bait shop and others you will have to catch from the wild with a pan fish rod and reel combo. Make sure it is legal to use them in your area. I know that crappie is not legal in some states but is ok in others.

I cut them into 1in.X 1in.chunks depending on the size of the fish I’m targeting but the 1 inch chunks will be perfect for channel catfish in the 2-6 lb range which is a good national average for recreational anglers.

WORMS:

Night crawlers, garden worms and Catawba worms are all included here. These natural baits have been used I suppose since man invented fishing, and will defiantly catch catfish but are best used in the spring. Fish them around run offs, drainage ditches and creek mouths. The downside to worms is that all fish eat worms and you will find you are losing a lot of bait to the bait stealer’s such as sun fish and suckers or most any pan fish.

MANUFACTURED/PREPARED BAITS:

Prepared baits can be purchased at any tackle shop or your local Wal-mart. These manufactured baits can be very effective. They come in a variety of different choices from dough balls, dip bait, dehydrated and preserved. The dip bait seems to be the most popular among catfish anglers and works best in the warmer months. The prepared bait would be a good choice for anglers that don’t have a lot of time to actually fish; maybe they have a couple hours after work and just want to get away. Manufactured baits are easily obtained and have a pretty good shelf life.

SHRIMP:

Another great bait for those folks that don’t have a lot of time to catch wild bait; is fresh or frozen shrimp. You can easily purchase shrimp at your local grocery either with or without shell.. Depending on the size of the shrimp and the size of the bait you want you can use them whole or cut them in half. Again I personally would choose a more natural bait such as the shrimp and cut baits because of the scent and they stay on your hook and can be fished in fast currents when necessary and the pan fish will not bother them.

CHICKEN LIVERS:

Still on the go and don’t have a lot of time?

Chicken liver can also be purchased at your local grocery store and are very good bait however they are tough to fish with because they do not stay on the hook well, most anglers will end up slinging the livers off on the initial cast and get frustrated. Anglers who do have good success with chicken livers will wrap them in pieces of old nylon stockings making it near impossible to sling off. Cut stockings into 2 in X 2in. squares and add a chunk of liver and wrap it and tie together using a small bread tie. Now take the chicken liver and attach it to the hook though the stocking. They will stay on the hook much better while the scent is still able to attract the catfish. Fish on the bottom and check your bait every 20-30 minutes. If all the blood is gone replace the bait.