You have your new jon boat and are ready to hit the water and catch some fish – or are you? There is one vital aspect of using your new jon boat to fish that you may not have thought about. How are you going to store your fishing rods?
Jon Boat Fishing Rod Storage
Properly positioning your rods will not only allow them to be readily accessed when the time comes but will also protect them from lose or damage during transport. There are several options available and each has advantages & disadvantages, the key is to pick the style that works best for your and your boat based on individual needs and fishing activities.
Built-in Storage Locker
The simplest, and most secure, means of storing your fishing rods in a built-in rod locker. These compartments are secure storage areas specifically designed to store and protect your rods. Most include rod clips or holders to prevent the individual rods from shifting and potentially breaking during transport and can also be locked for additional protection against theft.
Unfortunately, not all jon boats are equipped with rod lockers. Yes, you can add a locker if you boat is big enough, but the cost can be higher than desired, and they take up a lot of the otherwise open space. Plus, while many of the lockers are excellent options for in transit storage then are not always the easiest when it comes to on the water access, especially if you wish to switch rods frequently. But do not worry, if you do not want to invest the time or money to install a locker there are other options. Many of these options will also allow for easier access than the built-in locker.
5 Gallon Bucket with Organizer
Sometimes you can solve a problem by not over thinking it and turning to the basics. Think about how you and so many other anglers transported your rods before you had a boat – the basic 5-gallon bucket. It has worked for generations and will continue to be a favorite for generations to come. But does it work in a jon boat? Yes and no.
Yes, you can use a bucket effectively for smaller, light weight rods. However, it is doubtful that this method will work for larger rods as the weight and length will cause the bucket to tip. To reduce the possibility that your gear will tangle or be damaged as the boat moves about it is recommended you add an organizer to the bucket. Organizers , such as those available from Charter Marine, not only secure your rods they also allow you to carry & secure a wide range of tackle and tools as well.
While not perfect for every situation a 5-gallon bucket with an organizer is a viable option for those who use their jon boat to fish fresh water or inshore areas with light or medium weight gear.
Individual Rod Clips
Rod clips (such as those from Mayitr) are both simple and versatile. They can be mounted in pairs anywhere you have space including bulkheads, under gunwales or along bench seats and require nothing more than a pair of stainless screws to do so. When it comes time to insert a rod just clip it in place. Access is as simple as gently pulling the rod free.
Aside from being easy to install and their ability to be mounted almost anywhere individual clips can also be customized to meet your individual needs. You can mount your favorite rod close at hand, your buddy’s next to his usual seat and spare out of the way. Clips can be mounted closer together for short rods and farther apart to accommodate longer rods. Many companies, including Mayitr, sell these clips in multi-packs so you have the ability to mount as many or as few as you need. It is recommended that you select a brand that is constructed of rubber, or at least rubber coated, to prevent damage to your rod’s finish.
Wall Rack
A larger wall rack, with the ability to hold between 3 & 6 rods depending on size, is an easier and more economical option for those wishing to store all their rods in a single location. This design generally includes a hard-plastic frame with a flexible foam or rubber insert into which slots or grooves are cut. Much like the individual clip, these grooves allow rods to be inserted for secure storage and the foam/rubber protects the finish. Additional advantages include the ability to mount either horizontal or vertical, allowing you to take advantage of the best possible positioning for your situation and boat design. The vertical mounting option is especially attractive for those who have a center console, the sides of which are otherwise wasted space.
Although these wall mounts are easy to install, allow for storage of multiple rods in a single location and allow both horizontal and vertical use they do have their limitations. One, they are best used with similar sized rods. Two, they require more space than the individual clips. Three, they require a large amount of flat surface for mounting.
If you think a wall mount rod holder might be right for your boat check out the Extreme Max 3005 and Berkley Rod Rack, both available via Amazon.
Gunwale Mounted
Gunwale mounted rod holders are not normally considered for storage, intended instead for use while trolling or bait fishing – someplace to put the rod between bites. But this does not mean they can not be dual purposed and done so in a manner that does not leave you settling. These mounts are usually able to be adjusted in several directions which allows you to swivel the rod parallel to and flat against the gunwale or facing rearward in an antenna like position. Both allows for easy, space saving transportation of rods in a location that does not interfere with boat operation and protects the rods from potential damage.
Gunwale mounts are available in a variety of styles including permanent, clamp on and even those that fit into preinstalled mounting holes (often used as rod holders on their own) and even cup holders. This means that almost any jon boat can be quickly outfitted with the perfect gunwale mount. It is recommend you select a model such as the Bekith Powerlock that includes a tension lock for additional protection against the rod being dislodged. This additional feature will also provide a great degree of flexibility when it comes to the size rods it will secure.
Portable Carry Case
For those that do not wish to install a permanent rod holder, or those who use multiple boats or perhaps rent jon boats when needed, there is the option to use a portable carry case. These cases come in a wide range of designs including hard side cases or tube, soft cases for single or multiple rods and even organizer bags with exterior rod storage. Examples of each can be found on Amazon. Regardless of what type of rod you prefer or how many rods you need to carry there is a case available to meet your needs. But you need to consider your choice carefully.
The idea of a case is inviting, especially if you will be traveling on commercial carrier and need to secure your gear anyway – you can get double duty out of it. However, not all are created equal and not all are well suited for use on the boat. All of them will take up considerable space, even the single rod tubes are several feet in length and when empty usually find their way under foot. None are especially easy to remove rods from and some require the manipulation of several straps, zippers and bungees to do so. But despite their shortcomings they may be the only options available when traveling or using a jon boat that you do not have the ability to alter. In other words, a portable carry case is not the ideal means of storing a rod on a jon boat, but it is better than the alternative which is a broken or lost rod.
Other Considerations
As you can see there are numerous options available to you when it comes to storing fishing rods on a jon boats. We have tried to offer a wide view of those options, as well as some pros and cons for each, but of course there are many more available. Remember, you need to evaluate each based on your personal situation. With that in mind we would like to leave you with a few more questions you need to ask before deciding which method might be best for you.
- Do you want to store rods in the same location when transporting the boat that you use when the boat is underway? If the answer is yes you need to look for additional securing against theft, or the ability to hide the rods out of sight, as well as greater protection from the elements.
- How many rods will you be storing and are they all the same size? The ability to store a larger number of rods or rods of a larger size will require more space, which will also limit the type of mount and where it can be located.
- Which is more important the ability to organize & protect your rods or the ease in which they can be accessed? It is rare to find any mounting system that will allow you to achieve both goals so it is important to know which is more important early on so you are not disappointed later.
Good luck, good fishing!
