Do Fishing Rods Float?

Do Fishing Rods Float?

The answer to the age-old question as to whether fishing rods float the answer is that yes, some rods will float on their own but not all. The reason that most will not float is due to the weight of the reel. Simply put, if it has a reel, it will not float because the heavy weight of the reel will drag it down. Most fishing rods of today have reels so it is a good bet that they will sink and not float. No one wants to lose their favorite fishing rod to the bottom of the lake, pond, or ocean. There are ways in which you can make sure you do not lose your fishing rod if it does not float.

Protecting Your Fishing Rod From Sinking

When children are fishing, many times they get excited when they feel a fish on the hook or get distracted and let go of the rod and it falls into the water. If you are fishing in shallow water, there is a possibility that you can just reach out and grab it out of the water. If you are fishing from a boat, you will probably not be that lucky to grab it. They now make a floating kid’s rod so there is less chance of losing it. This rod is specifically designed with a child in mind.

Fishing Rod Float

This is a very popular option among kayak fishermen. Most are about six inches long and are made of the same material like a pool noodle. All you have to do is open the Velcro straps and attach them on to your pole somewhere near where the reel is. If the pole slips out of your hand, both the rod and reel will stay on top of the water. They fit most fishing poles.

Rod Holder

This is the type of holder that you find on the side of a boat. Such as the type that you see on the fishing shows where they are attempting to haul in those big game fish. You can even find them on a boat as small as a kayak now. They are just a cup holder in the side of the kayak that you can put your fishing rod in. Whether you are fishing from a kayak or large boat, this is a way of not only keeping your fish rod from falling overboard but can also keep your fishing rod out of your way and within easy reach when you are trolling, baiting a hook, steering, or paddling. 

On a larger boat, you can get rod holders that fit on a track so you can have several holders in one place. Many times this is the way deep-sea fishing charter boats keep their fishing rods organized and ready for use. When you fish alone on a boat, having several of these will allow you to fish with more than one fishing rod and have more lines in the water at the same time.

If you are fishing from shore, there are even some that you can push in the ground to put your fishing pole in while you are waiting for a bite. Some are mounted on the boat or kayak and others have a clip-on configuration so you can remove them when not in use or you are not using your boat or kayak for fishing purposes. These rod holders come in fiberglass, stainless steel, aluminum, and ABS plastic. They are good to use whether you are fishing in salt-or freshwater.

Fishing Rod Leash

The average fishing rod leash is about 15 inches long but you can get them up to six feet long. This length will give you plenty of room to fish without worrying about the leash getting in the way when you cast or pull your catch in. All you do is attach one end of the leash to your rod and the other end somewhere on you that is not going to come off. Most are saltwater approved and have a tensile strength of 50 pounds.

For some that go kayaking, they do not want to put a fishing rod holder on their kayak so they use a fishing rod leash. One reason they prefer a fishing rod lease is if the kayak should flip, their fishing rod could just slip out of the holder and sink in the water. With the fishing rod leash, their rod would be attached to the leash. The leash would be attached to the kayak or even your life vest so even if the fishing rod went into the water, it would be easy to retrieve. Some leashes are like a bungee cord and they can stretch without much effort and others have a stainless steel core covered in a plastic coating.

Do-it-Yourself Float

This type of rod float is made from pool noodles with Velcro straps attached. You can also use zip ties to fasten them to your rod. Just cut a length off and attach it to the rod near the reel. The only downside is regular pool noodles are kind of bulky.

Conclusion

It is a consensus that a fishing rod will not float due to the total weight of the reel, lures, and bait. If you want to make sure that you do not lose your rod and reel to the bottom of the water, there are different things that you can do to modify your rod so it will float and even then there is no guarantee just how long it will float. Even with the rod holders, there is a chance that your rod could be pulled out of the holder and lost to the water if you do not catch it. The best way to keep your fishing rod from sinking is to use a fishing rod leash. One other solution is to go back to the old fashioned rod and line with no reel. If this gets pulled in, there will be a few seconds before it sinks so you may have time to grab it.

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