Tuna 2024

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dbaken said:
It would be nice to be able to easily switch between 2-3 rods while on a trip. I could see using a rod with a Leviathan line for trolling, switching to a rod with an intermediate sink tip for bait stops, and if the tuna are really aggressive, switching to a rod with a floating line at a bait stop for poppers. But I'd be reluctant to take the time to go into the cabin and pull out another rod out of its case to switch.

Wonder if Nick would consider adding fly rod holders somewhere on the boat? Or that might be overkill?
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I would love to see fly rod holders on that boat. I have been carrying a second rod rigged with a popper for the right opportunities but if the rod is buried in the cabin, I am less likely to grab it.
Steve
 
dbaken said:
It would be nice to be able to easily switch between 2-3 rods while on a trip. I could see using a rod with a Leviathan line for trolling, switching to a rod with an intermediate sink tip for bait stops, and if the tuna are really aggressive, switching to a rod with a floating line at a bait stop for poppers. But I'd be reluctant to take the time to go into the cabin and pull out another rod out of its case to switch.

Wonder if Nick would consider adding fly rod holders somewhere on the boat? Or that might be overkill?
Click to expand...

That's the main reason I use heavy twist ties to have ready to fish rods lashed to the cabin rails. This discussion made me realize I need to tie a bow rod separately with the reel facing forward that I can grab once I get up front.

Edit: These things are great ...

Screenshot_20240919_114010_Chrome.jpg
 
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If someone has ideas of how to adapt the existing rod holders on that boat to securely hold fly rods (at least when trolling), I would be all for it.
Steve
 
Cabezon said:
If someone has ideas of how to adapt the existing rod holders on that boat to securely hold fly rods (at least when trolling), I would be all for it.
Steve
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Agreed. Sounds like a good winter project.

I also liked the flexible rod sleeves @Buzzy was using . Kinda thinking a few of those fixed to the cabin in a way that fully assembled rods could be slid in/out might be a better storage solution than the gear ties.
 
SilverFly said:
That's the main reason I use heavy twist ties to have ready to fish rods lashed to the cabin rails. This discussion made me realize I need to tie a bow rod separately with the reel facing forward that I can grab once I get up front.

Edit: These things are great ...

View attachment 127485
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i go through so many of those things it's crazy. I buy them in bulk yet continually find myself running low :ROFLMAO:
 
dbaken said:
Wonder if Nick would consider adding fly rod holders somewhere on the boat? Or that might be overkill?
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There are several attached to the bait tank/cutting board area. Remember that almost any rod sufficient for tuna is going to have a sizeable fighting butt that’s enough to stick in a rod holder. Note the Oyster bamboo rod camera right. It spent a long time there while three of us were fishing. It's in a rod holder.

JKW_5925.jpeg

I usually bring three rods, one rigged for poppers.



Edit: I suck at spelling.
 
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It would be nice to use the "rocket launchers" to keep the rods out of the way, secure but still accessible. The area around the bait tank is very busy when several folks are fighting fish and Cal and or Nick are reaching for gaffs.
 
SilverFly said:
I've caught plenty doing that. What Nick is helping me see, is that it's likely unnecessary in most situations. Aggressive albacore bent on eating something aren't going to be put off by the fly being too shallow.

That doesn't mean I'll stop stack mending if there are less aggressive fish on the sounder that are hesitating to come up. I want a fly in their faces even as we get back on the troll. More than once that's resulted in a hookup as the engines kick into gear.
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I was ribbing @clarkman as we were on the same trip.
 
I used the twist ties on the one piece rod I brought. Should have also put the popper rod next to it.
 
It does make it a little harder to grab that rail to move down to the deck to land all the fish I hook from the bow, when there are umpteen rods strapped to it. But it works pretty well for one or two.
 
Matt B said:
It does make it a little harder to grab that rail to move down to the deck to land all the fish I hook from the bow, when there are umpteen rods strapped to it. But it works pretty well for one or two.
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Good point Mr Party Pooper. ;)

Dammit, hadn't really considered the safety factor even though I've carefully held onto bundled rods myself while traversing the cabin.

I think there might be other configurations on the cabin top that should leave the grab rails open - subject to the Captain's approval of course. Kinda thinking a 2 contact point setup at the aft and fore cross bars.

Depending on how much horizontal (beam) space there is (lotsa hardware, antennas, and other snaggy stuff up there) ... it might be possible to secure several rods side by side individually. That would also eliminate the bundled rod knitting cluster effect.

Anyway, something along those lines, and maybe a few rods with rocket launcher attachments, could make switching rods much easier and faster.

Anything that improves our ability to respond quickly/efficiently to changing situations out there could make the difference between a mediocre day and a stellar one.
 
Googled converting rod holders to fly rod holders. These might work for the rocket launchers:



Might work for the troll:
www.boatoutfitters.com

Single Rod Holder Converter - Flyrod

No more trying to force your fly rods into conventional fishing rod holders. Simply insert the converter into your flush mount rod holders and start fishing!
www.boatoutfitters.com www.boatoutfitters.com

Not to expensive.
 
I know weather reports are fairly inaccurate even this close in, but it's looking a bit sporty for us this weekend. For my selfish sake I hope the weather guessers are wrong. For @Nick Clayton 's sake I kinda hope they're right and he gets a weekend "off".

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Jake Watrous said:
Yeah, but hope springs eternal.
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My June - October every year can be summed up as an endless series of these "no go" forecasts. Saying I'm "jaded" would not begin to describe it :ROFLMAO:

This big blow that's about to pop very well could spell the end... I sure hope not, though, as I really want to get out for an October tuna run.
 
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