Securing kayak rod holders

I lost three rods worth $700 the second day of the Kayak Bass Fishing National Championship. While I was rooting through my crate behind the seat, my butt got a little too far outboard, and I flipped into 52-degree Kentucky Lake. Miraculously, three rods stayed in the tubes and I could, wet and shivering, keep fishing, but I’m not counting on miracles anymore. 
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Here are two simple, yet rarely used, hacks to keep rods in rod holder tubes. Apparently, few yak bass anglers think they’ll capsize.
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<em>All captions: Dave Mull</em>
I lost three rods worth $700 the second day of the Kayak Bass Fishing National Championship. While I was rooting through my crate behind the seat, my butt got a little too far outboard, and I flipped into 52-degree Kentucky Lake. Miraculously, three rods stayed in the tubes and I could, wet and shivering, keep fishing, but I’m not counting on miracles anymore.

Here are two simple, yet rarely used, hacks to keep rods in rod holder tubes. Apparently, few yak bass anglers think they’ll capsize.

All captions: Dave Mull

Attach an inexpensive carabiner to nylon cord with a pair of cable ties. Run the other end of the cord through a hole in the crate and tie an overhand knot.
Attach an inexpensive carabiner to nylon cord with a pair of cable ties. Run the other end of the cord through a hole in the crate and tie an overhand knot.
Repeat for each rod holder, and put the carabiner on the rod above its handle.
Repeat for each rod holder, and put the carabiner on the rod above its handle.
Another option is to run a tarp bungee through the screw hole of the rod holders. These bungees can be bought in bulk for very little money.
Another option is to run a tarp bungee through the screw hole of the rod holders. These bungees can be bought in bulk for very little money.
Just put the bungee over the reel handle or around the reel. This technique is better because you won’t scratch your rod or reel with the bungee; it’s also more easily removed when you want to use the rod
Just put the bungee over the reel handle or around the reel. This technique is better because you won’t scratch your rod or reel with the bungee; it’s also more easily removed when you want to use the rod