Trolling solutions

So, I've been thinking about trolling for the upcoming Salmon season. I generally have to keep my rod in front of me so I can see it. But that is incovenient when trolling due to getting in the way of paddles.

Putting it behind you is the easy solution. However, more challenging for me since I can not hear a bell or clicker placed on it.

So, I am trying to find solutions, either new or existing, so that something could get my attention when something bites.

What do you guys think?

I always troll with the rod under my legs and in front of my paddling strokes.  Love it.

I like your style.  Come to Humboldt and I'll give you a crash course.   

In front of you is the only way to go, in my opinion. With barbless hooks and spastic salmon, you need to be able to see the bite right when it happens, drop your paddle and quickly grab the rod, point the tip up, and keep tension. If the rod is behind you, you'll have to stop paddling, turn around and grab the rod in an awkward position.

Just put it far enough forward that it's not in the way of your paddle stroke. You can also point the tip forward a little for some extra room.

Or get a Hobie.

I installed Scotty Rocket Launchers on both sides of my sonar shield on my Trident 13. They are angled back and outwards, so my paddle strokes will clear the rods. At the same time, the angled rod allows me to easily pull line out of my reel.

I always troll with the rod under my legs and in front of my paddling strokes.  Love it.

I like your style.  Come to Humboldt and I'll give you a crash course.   

This!  Only way to go when using barbless.  I lost a couple good hits this year because my rod was in a holder infront of me and I wasnt fast enough to get it out.  Now I have been using the under leg method and its much better!   

Rocket launchers in the from of the yak and it doesn't get in the way! Works for me on my outback.

I always figured people trolled with the rods behind them.. I guess I was wrong. I've tried the under-the-leg method, but I find that my paddle keeps hitting it. I wonder if it has to do with the Predator 13's design, where the sides are raised up.

I always troll with the rod under my legs and in front of my paddling strokes.  Love it.

I like your style.  Come to Humboldt and I'll give you a crash course.   

Yeah, I foresee you and I going on a trip sometime early 2015! Been wanting to hit your service up for a long time now.

I always figured people trolled with the rods behind them.. I guess I was wrong. I've tried the under-the-leg method, but I find that my paddle keeps hitting it. I wonder if it has to do with the Predator 13's design, where the sides are raised up.

This is how I went about figuring out where to put my Scotty Rocket Launchers so that it would not interfere with my paddle strokes. I set the angle of the rod holder and put a rod and reel in it. I then had a buddy hold the rod holder at various locations on the kayak while I sat doing my paddle strokes. Eventually I found a rod angle and location that allowed my paddle strokes to clear the rod and allowed me to easily reach my reel to pull out line. In the location I selected the rod is angled back and outward such that the arc of my paddles strokes all happen beneath the rod. I hope this made sense to you.

For the Predator 13, you can try putting the rod holders on the forward mounting plates?

Hobie, in front no problemo---2 rods.

For salmon trolling in a paddle kayak, I use Eric's technique. Use a glass rod like an Ugly Stick to absorb the stress on the tip of the rod. On the Hobie, I use a forward rod holder with the rod pointing backwards and flared out at a 45 degree angle. Whatever you do you want to be able to:
1. Easily wind in or strip line
2. See your rod tip

You want to be able to see the tip of your rod for hit and runs, jellies, seaweed, etc. If you use a line counter reel, which is very helpful, you want to be able to see the counter mechanism easily.

You can mount the rod holder behind your seat angled straight out and if you position them correctly they won't interfere with your paddle stroke. I use my rear rod holders when freshwater trolling with 2 rods. It is easier to paddle an S pattern with the rods to the rear but you have to turn your head to see the rod tip. I have clickers on my freshwater rods. Most guys use forward rod holders though.

My first choice is, get a Hobie... but if you want to paddle, I'd consider mounting a T-bar shaped piece of PVC to brace against on the side of choice gunnel. That way you only have to lay your leg on the rod butt, and the T-bar would take the brunt of the pulling. You then only have to lift your leg a little to grab the rod. Most of the pulling force is down and back, so it would naturally stay in place pretty well.    I think after a while if you are holding all the tension with your legs it will become fatiguing. Eric, you are obviously an animal, so you are exempt...

When I paddled, I always had the rod in front in a Scotty, angled 90 degrees to the yak ( straight out). The holder was just far enough forward to be out of my stroke, but close enough to reach. Sounds insane, but I've never lost a salmon from that position.

Now that I pedal, and in an AI, with a downrigger, the rod is basically just being my hip, but angled slightly forward so I can see the rod tip in my peripheral vision.
Still haven't lost a salmon yet, but I only have four from the AI, so there's still time.
I do lose more stripers from this position, but I think this is due to the rod being more quickly accessed than when forward, I try to SRT when they've just made a short strike...

Can't beat a Hobie for trolling, IMHO. When trolling on my Hobie, I've got the rod holder right at my right elbow, angled forward at about 30 degrees or so.

Btw, if you're trolling with a downrigger, I think you'll know when a fish pulls the line from the clip, even if you're not looking at the rod tip.

When I paddled, I always had the rod in front in a Scotty, angled 90 degrees to the yak ( straight out). The holder was just far enough forward to be out of my stroke, but close enough to reach. Sounds insane, but I've never lost a salmon from that position.

..

^This^