Trolling rod holder system for Islands

Recently I mentioned that we (SLH) had come up with what we thought was a clever way to attach RAM balls to the Island aka brackets in order to attach RAM rod holders. I've just written up an article that goes into detail on how we did that and why. Note that on the first field test a mako shark grabbed the lure while I was trolling at high speed, and it hit hard... so hard it ripped the rod holder socket right off the ball in a nano-second. I knew this was possible, just didn't think I'd hook such a large and aggressive fish here down south (Victoria). Although I lost my rod and reel as a result (not to mention the shark) I'm glad it happened because it made us think very closely about how to prevent it from happening again. We came up with a few work-arounds, but concluded one solution as being superior to the others, for several reasons (explained in the article).

Said article also describes my new heavy-duty retracting bungee leash system, which although somewhat elaborate, is highly effective. A few photos below. The full article can be found here:

http://slhobie.com.au/info/articles/565-tube-rod-holder-system-for-adventure-island

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Kayak Fishing Specialist: SLH
https://slhobie.com.au

Interesting. With the pin through the ram ball, isn't it effectively a fixed mount? I'm trying to figure out what the advantage is of that system vice something fixed with less parts. I looked at the article and it seems your rod leashes use an open hook for retention - do you unhook it for fighting the fish? I see it was a conscious decision to anchor the leashes to the rod holder vice the hull; I guess I have a fundamentally different practice - my rod leashes stay lashed whether the rod is in the holder or I'm fighing fish. I've never had my drag locked down so hard that a hit would break off a rod holder....but I've never had a mako hit my gear either!
-RH

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2013 Tandem Island "Victory Lane"
Oahu, Hawaii
www.rotorheadsblog.blogspot.com

Looks nice Josh, very elaborate.
I agree about the drag setting. Only time I lost a rod was with someone else's reel having the drag set too tight. No matter what hits my my setups, it isn't going to matter because the drag is only set tight enough to sink the barb hard into the fish, not pull the rodholder clean off the kayak. Live bait, obviously no drag to very little. Also keep a rod leash on the rod at all times attached separately to the kayak. Thus the railblaza rod holders are sufficient.

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Mark
Tandem Island- 2013
2 - Sports - 2014

Rotorhead, the locking pin does not impede movement left and right (though it does make it stiffer, which is good) but eliminates forward/backward movement. It locks the rod holder exactly where I want it. Yes, the hook is open. The tension means that a snap clip is not required. The leash is holding the rod firmly in the holder. Even if I capsized I wouldn't lose them. I never ever fight a fish with the rod leashed, for several reasons. I'm not going to drop it once I'm holding it, and I absolutely do not want stuff dangling about with potential to get caught up on stuff. I don't like dangly bits and loose ends on a boat that is busy as an island, especially with hooks and what not involved.

Re: drag... believe it or not, I actually checked my drag before deploying the lure. I'm not sure what went wrong. I can only surmise that it was a bit gritty and the mako hit that hard that the drag didn't even get a chance to engage. It did give me cause to go and service all my reels. And yes... makos hit really hard, and this wasn't a small one. I did get a quick look at it. Near on 3 metres length

The rod extender tube leashes are attached to the kayak, but its hard to see in the photos. The RAM tubes aren't, and theres a reason for it. To get the tension I want, if I leash to the hull it would bend the tube in whatever position the leash pulled from. I am very particular about the position of the rod holder. With the locking pin I could leash the rod holder to the hull, but then again, with the locking pin there is no need to.

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Kayak Fishing Specialist: SLH
https://slhobie.com.au