Hold That Rod!

hold that rod!

By Dan Armitage

Adding a simple rod holder to the rail can morph any pontoon boat into a more efficient fishing machine! Note the red clamp-on holder to the upper left.

hold that rod!

By Dan Armitage

For many boaters, February is the height of the off-season, when Mother Nature conspires to make open water fishing uncomfortable for many, and impossible for those northern anglers whose fishing holes are literally iced-over. This mid-winter “down time” is a good opportunity to take stock of your boat and fishing gear and determine what may need updated (read that: spool reels with fresh fishing line). Boaters do the same, going over their gear in the off season to see what needs updated or added to make their craft safer, more convenient to operate, and easier to fish from. Conveniently, winter is when local sports and boat shows are popular, offering show-goers a glimpse of the latest boats, tackle and accessories with which to outfit their vessels.

As the popularity of pontoon and deck boats has grown in recent years, it makes sense that more owners are including angling as an on board activity option for their family and friends. Whether they realize it or not, those who purchase one of these adaptable, family-friendly watercraft already have an able fishing platform underfoot. The broad-beamed boats are extremely “fishing friendly,” offering the stability and deck space that drew many of us to consider a pontoon or deck boat in the first place.

When a pleasure boater asks me what gear they need to allow them to effectively fish from their boat, assuming they have basic fishing tackle including rods and reels and lures, the first item I recommend is adding rod holders.

(left) For the ultimate in portability, SeaSucker offers suction-cup-mounted rod holders that may be a good option for a boat used for occasional fishing. (center) Some aftermarket rod holders, such as this portable Roberts-style design, use clamps for rail mounting or, as in the model, permanently mounted bases that allow the holder to be stowed when not being used. (right) Avoid using inexpensive clamp-on rod holders for all but the lightest fishing use. They have a way of working loose.

Note I wrote rod holders, for use while actively fishing, not rod racks, which are for rod storage. Rod holders are devices that attach to the boat’s rail, gunwale or deck that hold a fishing rod’s butt section while pointing the tip out over the water – or at least up into the air – keeping the rod and reel accessible to the angler yet out of the way and not poking passengers or getting stepped on. Again, rod holders are designed to be used while fishing, and most aftermarket rod holders are portable and adjustable, so you can position the tip of the rod out over water or point it back toward the stern, depending on where you want your bait to be. Rod holders are especially welcome when you have youngsters aboard who want to “fish” but may not be patient enough to hold the rod for more than a few minutes at a time.

There are two main styles of rod holders: flush-mount and surface-mount. Flush-mount rod holders are permanent and not adjustable; tube-shaped and angled, they are sunk level with the deck or gunwale to hold the rod and reel by the rod butt. Most factory-installed rod holders are flush mounts, and are made of metal or plastic. The advantage of flush mount rod holders is that they are always available yet never in the way. They also can be used to secure other items such as cupholders, grills, and small food prep and cutting boards. You can install flush mounts in aftermarket applications using a hole saw, silicone and sheet metal screws – as long as you have a level surface and space below to accommodate it.

closeup of rods placed in vertical storage

Adding a vertical rod storage rack keeps rods out of the way on the deck yet ready to fish when the action begins.

Rod racks are designed to hold fishing rods when they are not being used to catch fish, usually in a secure, out-of-the-way location where the fragile rod tips will be protected from accidental breakage. Although there are many designs, most rod racks fall into one of two categories: vertical racks or horizontal racks. As you can guess, vertical racks hold the rods in a vertical position with the tips pointing skyward. This design keeps rods readily accessible and are popular choices aboard pontoon boats due to the amount of deck space they offer. Horizontal racks hold the rods in a horizontal position, usually along the gunwale, rail, fence or inside covered rod lockers or in-floor storage compartments. Most pontoon boats rigged for fishing offer both, the horizontal for protected longer term or towing storage, and a vertical rack for keeping the rods secure and out of the way, yet handy and ready to fish while the boat is on the water.

For most aftermarket applications, I recommend surface-mounted rod holders, which rely on mounts that clamp to a rail or are attached to a vertical or horizontal surface along the boat’s gunwale. I prefer Roberts-style rod holders; they are adjustable and portable, and offered with a wide variety of mounting options for rails, horizontal or vertical surfaces. Roberts-style mounts may be completely portable clamp-on styles for use on round or rectangular rails, or use bases of a semi-permanent nature, secured with screws or bolts which remain in place while the bulkier holders themselves can be stowed when not in use. Cabela’s, Scotty, Attwood, West Marine – most marine suppliers offer their own style of Roberts-style rod holders. Other types of fully adjustable portable or semi-portable surface-mount rod holders that also do an excellent job are available from sources such as Drift Master and Tite-Lok.

The key is selecting a rod holder that will mount on your boat where you want it and will remain secure enough to hold the rod and reel in the event a large fish hits the bait and starts pulling on the line while the rig is in the holder. While most fishing will be done with the angler actually holding the rod and reel, casting and retrieving the bait, some fishing tactics such as trolling or still fishing allow the angler to place the rod and reel in the holder to do the holding while waiting for a fish to strike. Some cheap clamp-on models can loosen with boat vibration alone–let alone surrendering a rod and reel to the first tug of a fish–so no matter what holder you install, test it to make sure it will stay securely in place before using it. Most will serve to secure the rod and reel while the boat is underway to and from the fishing grounds as well as being there when an angler needs an extra hand, or to hold the rod when trolling, drifting or still fishing.

With rod holders, anglers aboard your pontoon or deck boat have a secure place to put their rod and reel while they fish or need a break from holding their rigs, and are the best accessory you can add to adapt your boat for angling–occasionally or otherwise.

Bennington 20SF

Bennington offers a full lineup of fishing-friendly models in its Fish line of pontoons for 2025. Like the others, this 20-footer is a family-friendly boat that can be customized for occasional angling or to create a full-time fishing machine, with floor plans to match. Every model includes four fishing-specific seats, livewells at the bow and stern, rod and plier holders, lockable rod storage locker, an aft fishing station, and a host of available options including a Garmin 53 cv EchoMap fishfinder. Non-anglers will enjoy the Bennington’s soft touch L-bench with sun pad and stereo options. This is a smart-looking, adaptable boat with some creative storage options and thoughtful layout.

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