I am doing a repair on a casting rod. This is the first casting rod I have ever had in my hands. I have to keep telling myself "The guides go on top". The problem is: when I tore the rod down, I didn't pay attention to which way the hook keeper was located. Does the hook keeper go on the top with the guides, or does it go down?

Mike Bradfrod
R.M.B. Fishing Rods
Nampa, Idaho

Either down or off to the side.

Mike, I like to put them on the top

Hi Mike,
My preference is to put the hookeeper down.

ESFNEM Col
Port Kembla, NSW
Australia

Mike,
Consider how you would hold the rod and how you would fish.

Suppose that you have the rod in your hand that you normally use to hold the rod.

Now, with the rod having about 5 feet of slack, sweep the hook, jig or bait back toward you and grab the hook or bait with the free hand.

Now, in a smooth motion, take the hook, move it over to the rod and hook it into the hook keeper.

Where should the hook keeper be - for an easy and smooth hookup of the hook?

Not on the bottom, because, you have to lift the rod, in order to see the hook keeper to hook the hook into it.

Not on the top of the rod, because you run the risk of having the keeper in the way when casting.

So, now you are left with two possibilities, - on the right side or the left side of the rod.

Place it on the side of the rod that is on the side of the rod where the free hand grabs the bait.

I like to keep the keeper at least 3 or 4 inches in front of any fore grip, or reel seat. You don't want the hook keeper to ever be in contact with your hand when casting, or fishing. It needs to be completely out of the way and not to be touched accidentally when casting, fishing or retrieving.

Does this position of the hook keeper make sense to you?



Good luck

Roger

I vote down.

_________________________________________
"Angling is extremely time consuming.
That's sort of the whole point." - Thomas McGuane

I am rebuilding 2 old Ferrulite Fenwick rods, one with Carboly guides, keeping on (schmutz cleaned by a Jeweler),
the other with ceramic guides at owners request. Both have Hook Keepers on Right side of rod.

Hook Keeper?

What style? open closed, drops shot, ring

Bass Fisherman?

What lure tip up or tip down?

Does he cast (roll, side arm, skip, roll, zip), pitch, flip, .........

No matter where you choose to put it it will be wrong!

NONE IS MY VOTE

Usually on the SIDE where the handle is

Bill - willierods.com

Loose line has a habit of snagging on a hookkeeper. You might consider Rich Forhan's Revolver style keeper where he bores a small hole in the casting seat trigger and uses that for affixing one of the lure hooks. When not in use, there is nothing to hang or snag on.

...............

Anywhere will work,, just not on the top. Try not to overthink it, it's a fishing rod, not a space shuttle.

"when I tore the rod down, I didn't pay attention to which way the hook keeper was located."

If this is a customer rod I would ask the customer. If it's yours put it where you want it. Many of the above comments are right on. I have managed to get line snagged in every position I put one. So, if the rod is for recreational fishing, don't sweat it. For competition don't add a problem.


Chuck

_________________________________________
"Angling is extremely time consuming.
That's sort of the whole point." - Thomas McGuane

I normally use a drop shot style hook keeper on the reel handle side just in front of the butt grip on a split grip rod that is being used for single hook lures. The line stays close to the blank with the lure readily accessible for fishing. For treble hook lures or full length rear grip rods, I skip the hook keeper and use the reel frame. My boat carpet loves treble hooks, so I try to keep them a little further away. Of course, like all of the above these are my preferences.

Thanks guys. I normally don't do rod repairs, but this is a special situation, so I took it on. I finally had the light bulb (dim as it normally is) go on in my head. I went to the rod makers web page, and found a picture of the rod. The hook keeper was down. I will finish it tomorrow.

Mike Bradfrod
R.M.B. Fishing Rods
Nampa, Idaho

If right handed, but in on the lift side of the blank - opposite if Left handed. Line doesn't catch it and it's handy.

Been doing it that way for years with no problems. Second choice is down.

Cheers

Generally/regularly, I place them on the left side. The majority of rods I've done were for right handed anglers, the cast right handed and can just hang their lure/hook on the left with their left hand.

I like mine on top on casting, bottom on spinning...

I don't think this will help you but I always use small hook keepers and put them on top of the blank. I use all of my casting rods in boat rod holders and if you have the hook keeper off to one side or the other they hit the side of the rod holder when being quickly pulled out especially if using the large size keepers. FWIW.