When fighting a fish or for that matter just reeling in the line. Under which arm do you place the rod butt? I'm a righty and find it easier under my left arm, but have seen people with it under their right arm also.
Depends on which arm is more tired.
Quote from: Bryan Young on May 31, 2013, 07:40:42 PM
Depends on which arm is more tired.
I thought that's why they put rails on the boats? ;D ;D
I think it changes during the day for me. But usually under my right arm. But I'm right handed.
Karl, I too am right handed. Just can't get the feel with it under my right arm though. Strange huh?
Quote from: BMITCH on May 31, 2013, 07:32:55 PM
When fighting a fish or for that matter just reeling in the line. Under which arm do you place the rod butt? I'm a righty and find it easier under my left arm, but have seen people with it under their right arm also.
It all depends on the size of the fish. If its bait fish or small fish just tuck it under your elbow and wind with the opposite hand. For medium sized fish put on a rod belt. If its a monster sit down in the chair, put on your seat belt and all the harnesses & get ready for a war where anything goes. Rudy
When I think about it I think it depends on where I want, or can, point my rod. I usually have it on an angle, either left or right. And the butt goes under the opposite arm.
Quote from: BMITCH on May 31, 2013, 08:01:21 PM
Quote from: Bryan Young on May 31, 2013, 07:40:42 PM
Depends on which arm is more tired.
I thought that's why they put rails on the boats? ;D ;D
I know I'm vertically challenged, but this is going way too far >:( ;D >:( ;D >:( ;D
Bryan, I use the rail cause of age. Nothin to do with height. Way to many years goin toe to toe. Leverage is our friend. ::)
I'm right handed and the butt usually goes under my right arm.
I put it in my Rod belt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D
Never could get coordinated with it under either arm... :-\
For me I wear a fanny pack in front with a pocket with hooks and swivels and a pocket with pre-cut leaders. There is a third rear pocket on this pack that contains the remains of an old leather fighting belt so I always jam the butt of the rod into the fanny pack with a straight left arm on the fore grip and right hand on the crank. For me this is the best leverage and least tiring. Too many people bend the left arm which tires the muscles. Keep it straight, pump and wind. If age is a factor lay it on the rail and crank with a low gear.
Quote from: SoCalAngler on June 01, 2013, 05:33:09 AM
I'm right handed and the butt usually goes under my right arm.
I just seem to get all jammed up with it under my right arm and cranking with my right. Newell nut. I'm with you on the rail use. I've landed a lot of large fish with rail assistance. I try to stay away from belts. Most of my offshore fishing is on party boats and the rail is your friend. I've seen a lot of fish lost due to guys not able to get that rod out of the belt quick enough and line rubbing on the hull. I guess when the fish is out and away it's no issue though. I like to use either the rod hookie or one of the oversized rod butt cushions. With those you are still able to put the rod up under your arm. Again I was just wondering what other people think/do.
Bob
Left.
If you are strictly grinding the lever, think about it, you can get more power when the vectors are more in line with the arm doing the pushing (from 9 oclock to 3 oclock) and then the pulling (3 back to 9) of the handle. Can you 1-arm bench press and row more on that arm's side, or when you have the hand and arm going allmost all the way across your body? Pretty sure it's the former for both...But other than the grinding, I agree that the rod can feel a bit jammed up when under the cranking arm. Neither are optimal leverage wise compared to a belt or rail
Crank with right hand, rod butt in left armpit. Or the rod belt. Right-O, Nessie! ;)
Rob
Your right about the rod under the left arm & turn with the right hand. That's the way I was taught. Then came the day when I was trapped & pinned between a wall & live 12" Steam Pipe. Tore up the Left Shoulder pretty good. I was out of work 9 months.
Now the rod goes under my right arm. I lost over 25% of the use of my shoulder.
Mike
OUCH!! Sorry to hear that. :(
Just to set the record strait I thought we were talking about cranking a reel not fighting a fish. I like to fish longer rods with smaller reels for many applications. Say I'm fishing a surface iron setup, I like a rod around 8' long deckhand style, I'm not a glutton for punishment so no 9'-10' rods for me. Also most of my rods in lighter line tests, 25 lb and under are also 8 footers. I cast out and when I retrieve my iron the rod's butt goes in my right armpit. The same if I'm fishing plastics or even when retrieving live bait. Note to those that don't fish livies often, say your on a long soak and have not been picked up but fish are boiling around or metered, a slow or moderate retrieve can and often will entice strikes. Of course the bait needs to be hooked in such a way that it looks natural when reeling in, like nose hooking. Now depending on the size of the fish hooked dictates where the butt of the rod goes after that. Smaller fish say 20 lbs or less the rod most likely will stay there. Now if the fish are bigger or I have one very PO'ed SOB the rod butt goes in the lower gut/upper groin area for the fight and after a few fish a rod belt is worth every penny.
BMITCH,
It should not take any longer to remove a rods butt out of a belt than it would to remove it from your gut. Maybe you were talking about a harness? Some of the newer harnesses have a quick release for removing the straps from the reel's lugs which aids in stopping what you were talking about. The older design with clips on the straps which go to the lugs can and often do make it harder to get rod out of the harness.
After all is said and done I say fish the way it feels right for you.
Just a question for debate. I've seen it fished both ways and with good results either way. I know it's a what feels "right" to each individual. So. Cal. Thanks for the input.
Bob