Overboard rods

What is the best way to prevent losing your rod & reel overboard?  Does anyone have experience with "The Rod Guard"?  Thanks

Wrap them in pool noodles.
Leash them if you don't mind getting tangled around if you flip your yak.
and don't carry more than you need for the target fish.

Small float or a leash. Can't really fish with leash attached though. If you use a float test it out before you go out. Make sure it floats the rod plus any terminal tackle. I usually will carry 5 rods in freshwater. They sell some floats for 10 bucks at a few places that work well. Noodle are too big for freshwater rods usually. They work on my salt rods though.

(RacinRob) What happens if there is a big ling on the line. I'm not so sure about the float system. But maybe the fish you catch are not that big.  

(RacinRob) What happens if there is a big ling on the line. I'm not so sure about the float system. But maybe the fish you catch are not that big.  

No, not that big. 21# Salmon in ocean. 36" Lings, not that big either. Oh, almost forgot. Lost PAC Hali at my kayak last year. keep fishing for sturgeon too. I do leash my rods when balance fishing for sturgeon. Unleash while fighting. If I'm losing the rod my plan is to hit the line release on the way out and it will free spool to the surface. Bottom line, when fighting big fish, hang on.

leashes have worked well for me soo far. i use old cell phone car charger cords, glue and zip tied together.

The simple answer is don't drop your rod overboard. I stopped leashing my rods 5yrs ago. Over 150 ocean trips and haven't lost a rod yet. And yeah I know I'm probably jinxing myself but I've been saying that for like 3yrs now haha.

after loosing a set up two years ago while trying to snap a pic of a ling I use short phone cord leashes when the rods are in the holders and when I land a fish. But I usually unclip when fighting a fish. The floats just and bulk to the rod.

Here's a link to a modified rod float using a medium size pool noodle.

http://norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=40396

HI Yakers:

 I use a brass Clip and Line to keep Rods
                                                           Regards
                                                           Ernie
http://www.longridersgear.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=571

I use a leash when stored in open water.

 I leash them unless the rod is in my hands.  I like these as they quick release

http://kayakfishinggear.com/seairsportrodleashwithquickreleasebuckle-availableinblackonly.aspx

phone cord leash.........you can build them with small fastex clips or brass snaps.

Everything I take on the water, is sacraficial. I buy ugly stick rods, and penn 209 or diawa reels. Have flipped and the leashes tied my feet up and I could not get free. I tried pool noodles, but they are a pain in the but, line cleared when not loaded up, soon as you hook up with a lunker and load up the rod, the line cuts into the foam and zip tie, and SNAP! There goes your fish. I usually take one, maybe two rods, and a net because F&G says you have to have one, but I never use it, almost never. I take just enough out there, and plan on loosing it all every trip. That way, I am not heart broken over loosing a $500 rod/reel setup again.  There are three kinds of kayak anglers. 1. Those that have been overboard. 2. Those that will go overboard. 3. Those that are going overboard again.

phone cord leash.........you can build them with small fastex clips or brass snaps.

that is what i do. I add a small loop of thin bungee just above the foregrip. That way I have a loop that stays open so I can clip and unclip one handed.