Shoulda work?

[Bluegillman]

This is the only way I could figure it to hold on. Didn't glue it yet want to take a test and see what would be better. I cut a slot on the long one and ran the strap thur it and out the bottom and around the tube and tighten. Seems to hold but still moves. Guess I don't need to glue as the strap is holding it together but not the tops. Any ideas that I should do on it farther?





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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Looks like you have a workable design. Those old Fishmasters don't come with a lot of D rings and fancy stuff, so you have to improvise. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Those things always need to be tried on the water before you can really tell how they work. If it gets the job done, then it is a great design. If it doesn't, then you can keep tweaking it until it does.[/#0000ff]
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[Bluegillman]

I tried to put it on the side away from my casting arm and there is nothing to "catch" with it. So I put it across the front. I might have to try double loop on the strap on the d rings to keep it from moving. MMM let's see.... TubeDude what did u do on that on yours?
Zonker, I didn't see any rod holders on your tube?
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]That old Fishmaster tube was made in the early days, before tubers really knew what they wanted and needed. There were very few D rings, pockets or other things that we take for granted on our newer models.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]On my Super Fat Cat there are D rings all over the top, the sides and even 4 underneath, for attaching backpack straps. I use them all for either tieing or clipping cords, straps and bungees to add extra gear or to secure it while transporting.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]To attach my rod holders, I make two loops from nylon rope and attach them to the two outside D rings that are 13" apart, just below the outside edge of the pockets. I space the rod tubes so that two of them are 13" apart (with one in the middle) and then push those two down inside the loops of rope. To keep the holders from flopping around, I tie a loop of stretch cord (bungee) on two of the D rings underneath and then bring that up to hook on the bottom of the rod holders. That is shown in the pictures on the pictorial I did. [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=262881"]LINK TO THREAD[/url][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I think the reason you don't see rod holders on Zonker's craft is because he usually carries only flyrods. If you take more than one, it is usually stowed laying down and pointing backwards, to keep it from getting tangled by flyline during the casting process. Flyfishermen quickly discover that anything that sticks up from the tube is likely to catch the line...either on a cast or while fighting a fish. Neither is good.[/#0000ff]
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[zonker]

BG,

Tubedude is right about the fly rods. It you have too many things sticking up it's "tangle times four." Actually, I do use a rod holder but it is a single and it's commercially made by Scotty, the same people who make downriggers for boats. It was suggested to me by Flygoddess and I really like it. I've admired all the ingenious rod holders for spin and casting rods that the guys and gals on this forum use. I've even made a couple, figuring I might get something going in the spinning/casting area. But still most of the time I'm in the tube the fly rod is my tool of choice. I just don't need 4 or 5 flyrods on board with the tangle factor involved. I did try a horizontal rack for flyrods awhile back. But again, I discovered I really didn't need that many rods. If I ever do go with spinning or baitcasting from the tube you can bet I'll be looking like a fully functioning and broadcasting radio station with all the rods sticking up.

Here's a shot of my SFC in the configuration I use.


[inline sfc-2.jpg]

Buddy holder for fish finder on left, Scotty rod holder on right, net and small pump in the back, standard SFC apron across the middle. It works best for me when flyfishing. When fishing deeper water I substitute an Eagle Cuda for the Fishin' Buddy finder. Just one guy's take.

Here's a blow up of the rod holder...

[inline sfc-rodholder.jpg]

z~
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[flygoddess]

I use the same thing Zonk. I have three of them and I bought the flush mount attachment for my pontoon, but use the straps on my Echo or SFC. I will say the price tag on them are hard to swallow, but they hold fly rods and reels so darn good, I won't ever give then up. The safety strap over the top is an added bonus, specially on windy days. By the way, the flush mounts (the hole that holds the holder with a flush mount plate to bolt to flat surface) were $8. ea., so that gives you an idea of what the holder it's self costs.
But with $600. rods on board not to mention reels and line, it is worth it.
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[Bluegillman]

[size 1]""If I ever do go with spinning or baitcasting from the tube you can bet I'll be looking like a fully functioning and broadcasting radio station with all the rods sticking up. ""[/size]
[size 1]Ha that made me laugh! I thought about that too! I get your point about the flyrod. The lake was glassy today and the flyrod would had been a blast to try. No winds at all and fishing wasn't good on one lake. I told my buddy with his new tube lets get off this lake and move on the one that I knew would give us a better fishing day. I did good only six nice bass about fifteen inches and buddy caught none. That was because he brought that silly rod that he thinks is better for tubing as it is a "fold up thing". I watch him and too many little things went wrong with that darn thing...... Once he made a cast and it flew out of his hand and I happened to turn around to find him looking down the water and I went like "now what"... he was trying to find that rod... water was pretty clear and that darn rod is also green too, matches the lake's bottom. I wade over and spot that silly rod and thought for a few seconds about leaving it there on it's final resting place..... but felt sorry for him on that and helped him "fish" it up....[/size]
[size 1]Ok I did that double loop strap on the d ring and it worked just great. Nothing moved and it stayed put. I got two photos and lets see if I got it on right again.... I'm looking at myself and yea you said it right ""broadcasting radio station"" ....boy I'm laughing at that![cool][cool][cool][/size]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Looking good (the tube and rodholders anyway). As long as you can fish with them in their current design and position, then that is a working design. If you are like most of us, I suspect that you will keep tinkering with it. I know I sure have gone through a lot of experiments over the years.[/#0000ff]
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