Rod Location for Salmon Trolling While Paddling

For those who paddle rather than pedal where do you put your rod when trolling for salmon?  I have read that salmon usually hook themselves if you are using a circle hook and you aren't supposed to set the hook anyway, so is there any advantage to having direct contact with the rod while paddling or is it okay to have it in a rod holder until you see the tip bend?

First you only need a circle hook if your mooching if your trolling you only need barbless I use dbl   octupus hooks trolling baite ,single if trolling an apex or hoche.on my eddy Caribbean I have a down rigger behind the seat right side rod holder in front of me. On my stealth I have an down rigger behind the seat right side with the rod holders behind that. It's a little harder to set the rods but you know when a fish is on. I also troll with down rigger on right and rod on the left. Makes the kayak paddle straighter. Un less aim pulling two rods.

I troll with a traditional weight drop rig and like it in front of me.  It is far enough forward to not interfere with my paddle stroke but allows me to keep an eye on it. When I see the strike I just paddle a bit harder to set the hook.  It also allows me to see it slowly load up if I pick up seaweed or other debris