09-09-2007, 12:59 AM
Vertical rod holders attached either to your yak/pontoon boat or a milk crate carried on either vessel are fine in the open waters of the ocean or in lakes or ponds but make sure you carry your rods horizontally when river fishing. I almost lost my vintage Fenwick Ferralite glass ultra-lite on a recent river float for smallmouth bass. At the first logpile I came across I hooked a big bass which promptly powered back into the sticks and snagged me up. In order to make headway against the current I back paddled closer to shore and back to where the fish had me snagged up. I was so intent on getting to the fish I didn't notice the jig on my other rod (in a milk crate rod holder) had caught on the shoreline vegetation. When I did take notice my rod was bent in half under a lot of strain. I quickly reached in my pocket for my scissors and cut the line thus saving an irreplaceable rod. I will be carrying my rods horizontally on any future river trips.
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