Hook Keeper

fishingfanatic14 · March 05, 2011, 08:12:03 PM

My dad and I, mostly my dad, came up with a cool way to keep you hook. On the trigger on the back of your rod take a small drill bit and just drill a hole through it. we have done this to all our rods that done have good hook keepers. also after you drill it file down the rough parts. we recently noticed the shimano rods have this and we didn get this idea from them. we have been doing this for about 10 years

Bassinkorea · March 05, 2011, 08:13:57 PM

That sounds like a great idea

Do you have any photos of this?

fishingfanatic14 · March 05, 2011, 09:25:20 PM

no yet but will upload some

Bassinkorea · March 05, 2011, 09:31:38 PM

Quote from: fishingfanatic14 on March 05, 2011, 09:25:20 PM
no yet but will upload some

Great!

Baron49 · March 06, 2011, 11:17:06 AM

All my American RodSmith rods have the same thing. Personally I find the hole in the finger grip annoying, but it goes away after fishing with them for a while.

Kal-Kevin · March 06, 2011, 08:38:51 PM

never thought of doing that, I have added the wire ties that had the ring on them but they got in the way!

fishingfanatic14 · March 07, 2011, 06:28:03 PM

yea, I have heard of people doing the same thing and it didnt work

fishingfanatic14 · March 22, 2011, 09:49:04 PM

Sorry for the late pics!

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Bassinkorea · March 23, 2011, 06:38:12 AM

Again, great idea, thanks for adding the photos

bassn1 · March 23, 2011, 06:42:36 AM

Not a bad Idea

Think I may try it. Great Tip

fishingfanatic14 · March 23, 2011, 03:25:43 PM

Thanks guys! Make sure you once you make the hole you get a dremel tool or something and smooth off all the excess plastic.

davew41 · March 30, 2011, 09:46:09 AM

Great Idea

SGT RICO · May 31, 2011, 07:11:13 PM

Neat Idea!!

COUSIN-IT · May 31, 2011, 08:23:26 PM

great idea Iam gona do that to the rods that dont have hook keepers

MaineSkeeter · June 01, 2011, 08:49:33 AM

Great Idea

iClass · June 04, 2011, 07:59:58 AM

Have a rod or two I may try it on...If I like it, well then I can see some serious modification time coming! Thanks for the tip.

Donald Garner · June 04, 2011, 08:30:05 AM

Great idea and thanks for sharing that tip.

White Lightening · June 14, 2011, 10:59:19 AM

Great tip. I always had issues with keeping my hooks secure when the rods don't have a hook keeper.

fishingfanatic14 · June 14, 2011, 02:24:00 PM

It also isn't always in the way like some of them are when you get your line caught on it

DavidK · July 01, 2011, 03:15:45 PM

When I saw this tip many years ago, the reason most were doing it was to save the finish on the rods. Trebles can wreak havoc on the thin finish that most rods have.

tepponogu · August 07, 2011, 12:52:13 AM

Anyone have a good way of doing this on a spinning rod? My spinning rod has no keeper or trigger.

Boston1011 · August 07, 2011, 02:43:10 AM

That is a pretty good idea. I would have never thought about that.

E5Zero · August 13, 2011, 12:27:54 PM

Quote from: tepponogu on August 07, 2011, 12:52:13 AM
Anyone have a good way of doing this on a spinning rod? My spinning rod has no keeper or trigger.

They sell a hook keeper with a loop on it that slides up and over the rod. Castaway rods come with it, I found a 4 pack at Academy, pretty handy. I like drilling the finger, keeps the bait off of the rod.

tepponogu · August 14, 2011, 02:58:53 AM

Quote from: E5Zero on August 13, 2011, 12:27:54 PM
They sell a hook keeper with a loop on it that slides up and over the rod. Castaway rods come with it, I found a 4 pack at Academy, pretty handy. I like drilling the finger, keeps the bait off of the rod.

Thanks. I'll have to take a look at those.

River Runner · September 08, 2011, 07:41:42 AM

My team partner and I have been doing this for 20 plus years. There's some advantages and disadvantages to this system modification. The disadvantages are when you drill the trigger it weakens it. I have had the triggers break off. Rarely, but it has happened. I use an 1/8 in. drill to drill the trigger with. After drilling I use a larger bit to remove leftover plastic. I do this by hand it removes very easily. One thing I like about this system is. Your bait is more protected from catching on things. This is a plus if you are a none boater with your rods next to your legs during transportation. I never liked the metal hook attachments most rod makers put on their rod. I have had the line get behind the metal and cut the line on hook set. Also the crankbaits are exposed more with the metal attachments. I have not seen any rod makers take up this procedure yet, but it's only a matter of time. Just like the jointed buzz baits my partner and I developed many years ago.

Hook Keeper

iClass