I stopped wrapping hook keepers into my builds years ago. Too may problems with them, from fishermen grabbing the rod right where the hook was being kept (ouch) to line getting wrapped around them (almost always with inexperienced fishermen). On my personal rods, I would just reel the lure to the tip (the place I would NEVER grab a rod).
I'm building a saltwater fly rod right now (for fishing from a boat), and it got me wondering: do those of you who throw big flies from flats boats prefer a hook keeper?
I'm doing a feather inlay with a # 20 hook in place of a butt wrap, but I'm unsure about the hook keeper.
Opinions?

I bring the leader around the butt of the rod and stick the fly hook in the frame of the stripping guide.

...........

Gary,
I wrap a Carolina style or a drop shot hook keeper, on the bottom of the back foot of the stripping guide. It stays out of the way and you won't grab it by accident when you hook a big red. Rusty Byrley

I no longer put hook keepers on any of my fly rod builds. Most fly fishermen regardless of the weight do as Tom does, some even putting it further up the rod than the stripper.. There is an added advantage to this, in that it keeps a long leader from being drawn back into the guides.

An exception would be on Bamboo rods where in my customer wants the more traditional look.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/2010 10:57PM by Phil Erickson.

I always put a hook keeper on my bamboo rods, to me a rod with no hook keeper looks like a pair of dress pants with no belt. I figure my customers can either use them or not but it doesn't hurt anything to be there. Yes, it takes a few minutes to wind one and the nickel silver strap and ring keepers aren't free either, but it looks right and it seems a better choice than sticking the fly in the cork as I've seen on many old rods.
john

I actually had the crazy notion of tossing one of these on my next personal rod. But they don't (apparently) make them in the x-large size (yet). It looks like something you'd expect to see on an infomercial, but no way would you ever see it on a manufactured rod. It kind of says 'redneck custom.' It looks like it could be very practical. Outside the box for sure.

[www.getthecatch.com]

You may want to take a look at the REC Recoil teardrop style keepers. They are pretty low profile and shed tangles well.

I never use hook keepers on fly rods. I prefer wrapping the leader around the bottom of the reel and attaching the hook to guide frame further up from the stripper. This not only keeps the entire leader out of the guides but also stretches the leader keeping it straight. I do this with bamboo rods too. Let the "Tradition Police" try to stop me!

While I do use hook keepers on non-fly rods I make sure to place them further forward from the grip than is usually done. a few inches. This provides a safe area for me to hold the blank without coming into contact with a hook. Rods with reels attached balance forward of the grip so this is the most comfortable place to hold the rod. It doesn't make sense to me to put a hook keeper right where you want to hold the rod.

Brian,

Mudhole sell those. I have a couple all though I haven't used them yet

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!