SOA trolling flat line project

[boon]

I'll be honest I wondered for a long time what the heck the lugs were for. Then I wondered what the heck they had to do with trolling. Then I wondered how the heck people didn't get more rods pulled overboard. But I guess the answer is light drag setting

Suffice to say that hanging the rods from the stern rail because you don't have any rod holders was not the original intention of them.

I maintain that the entire thing is 110% janky and it's like they've come up with a "good enough, I guess" solution and just stuck with it.
There are multimillion dollar sportfishers out there set up more or less purely for trolling, and let's just say they don't have the reels sitting on the covering board or rods dangling from the stern on a couple of straps.

[Keta]

The straps allow the boats to make much sharper turns as the rod tips swing and always point toward the lures eliminating many tangles.

I always inspect the straps and clips and have only found one clip that should have failed several trips before.  I keep a extra heavy strap I built when I worked for Wilderness Pack Specialies with quality stainless steel clips in my takle bag.

[MarkT]

I'll be honest I wondered for a long time what the heck the lugs were for. Then I wondered what the heck they had to do with trolling. Then I wondered how the heck people didn't get more rods pulled overboard. But I guess the answer is light drag setting

The lugs are for attaching straps to when you're in a fighting chair or standup harness.

[jurelometer]

We should take a poll on how many folks have lost or watched someone else lose a rod overboard on a long range trip.  I'll bet it is quite a few.

-J

[MarkT]

We should take a poll on how many folks have lost or watched someone else lose a rod overboard on a long range trip.  I'll bet it is quite a few.

-J

I've seen it, never done it!

[Keta]

I have seen 2 go over the side, 1 gone and 1 recovered.

[Porthos]

We should take a poll on how many folks have lost or watched someone else lose a rod overboard on a long range trip.  I'll bet it is quite a few.

-J

Ron Jones should be able to provide a first-hand account of how that feels while on the 2018 SOA 8-day charter! 

[Bill B]

I've seen 3 go over, 2 are probably what Lee saw. 

1. Mix up at the corner when a deckhand was trying to clear a tuna induced tangle.

2. A fisherman was caught off guard and the fish yanked the rod out of his hands

3. Careless fisherman was casting and the rod slipped from his grasp.  Luckily it was recovered by another fisherman (Alan) and returned.

[Crab Pot]

Guilty 

I lost a Phenix M1 with a Calcutta 700s on it.

Inshore rock cod fishing on a 18 foot boat that got hit by a cresting wave from out of nowhere. Knocked me right on my pink pillows. Hit my wrist as I was falling on the gunal and that was all she wrote.

Tried to snag it or the line for about a half hour but...

My contribution to the Sea God's.

[Brewcrafter]

Seen 3 go over on the RP; never once on a troll.  One was a result of deckhands clearing a tangle and the macrame passing of rods.  "Got it?"  "Got it!"  Important to communicate clearly in those situations, and this angler didn't communicate.  Luck was on his side as once the tangle was cleared deckhand was left holding some spectra that felt "heavy" and he handlined the rod back up.
Other two rods were tossed while losing grip on a cast.  The most recent by one of my closest buddies on the trip this last June.  Ouch...  Happens.... - john

[Keta]

So much fun tossing a $1000 rod and reel over the side.... NOT!!!!

[jurelometer]

Now I am the thread off-topic culprit

Getting back on topic - I used to drag an Aftco roller troller flatline clip or two with me all over the planet when I was in my trolling phase. I lurved those things.  I seem to remember that the stainless clip was bendable if you were not getting the right range on the release adjustment wheel.  Don't know if you can bend it enough to prevent premature release of a jumbo Marauder, but  I could drag pretty large skirted lures and Magnum Rapalas at wahoo speeds.

If you want to use PJ's setup and don't want to scratch up the reel, might be worth looking into using something other than those carabiners to attach to the harness lugs.

-J

[Keta]

I use these.  Do not go "cheep" though, non "stainless steel"  springs can fail.

[Bill B]

I have a rod leash with this type of clip.  Just can't bring myself to trust it with a $1500 trolling rig.  I like Lee's clips better.  Bill

[MarkT]

I have a rod leash with this type of clip.  Just can't bring myself to trust it with a $1500 trolling rig.  I like Lee's clips better.  Bill

I trust those!