I am thinking about putting a "hidden" tube style hook keeper on a couple of rods - similar to the hook keeper that Shimano uses with their Cumara rods. For rods that would be fished with light hooks I thought I'd use about a 1/8" ID stainless or brass tube and seal the inside end with epoxy.

Any comments pro or con to this style hook keeper, and any installation tips would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Dan

Have not seen it but if it hides the keeper by using a tube inside the handle I can see liking it better than the keeper types that protrude. All I have ever experienced with most common hookkeepers is line snarling and knuckle busting.

Dan,
Many folks who are building split grip rods, put a conventional hook keeper just in front of the butt cap. Out of the way, and allows the use of a longer leader.

Take care
Roger

Richard,

When I use a hook keeper, I use the drop shot type and put it about 3/16" in front of the butt grip on a split grip handle. I also offset it to the side of the reel handle. Once I have the rod in my rod hand, the lure is right there ready to go. The line also remains close to the blank and helps keep tangles down a bit when transporting the rods. If I can't put the keeper there, I either use the butt guide frame or reel frame on a casting reel.

Joe

Edit: Sorry Roger, typing at the same time.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/20/2011 10:34PM by Joe Vanfossen.

roger wilson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dan,
> Many folks who are building split grip rods, put a
> conventional hook keeper just in front of the butt
> cap. Out of the way, and allows the use of a
> longer leader.
>
> Take care
> Roger


Let me ask a dumb question, how big are the rocket launchers on your boat? That's been my problem with those hook keepers. I can't tie on a plug, hook it there and then put it in the rocket launchers on my leaning post or T-top.

Joe,
Right on.
Another thing to reduce line tangles when you are storing multiple rods in a close space, with a leader and or bait on the rod hooked to the hook keeper is to twist the line.

Take the line that is running down the rod to the hook keeper and wrap it around the rod a few times. Use the guides to latch the line as you loop it around the rod. It is remarkable how much better the rods store and the tangles minimized by just doing a few line twists around the rod with the leader.

Roger