How to position rod holders for trolling on a hobie

I have been trying for months to find the best orientation for my rail mounted rod holders so that I can pedal without bumping the rod butt, able to see the tip, and not having the whole rod holder rip out of the plastic rail if I get snagged (happened a few times if the drag is too tight and I forget to turn on the clicker).

How parallel to the water do you orient your rods (leads to knee bumping)? How perpendicular to the kayak?

Seems like a dumb question, but I can't figure this out.

Thanks
Dirk

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People have been using extension to raise their rods to clear when pedaling a hobie. What kind of Hobie do you have? Is it a built in plastic gear trac? I would only mount fish finder on those.

I use a rocket launcher, which solves the problem. As a bonus, if I ever feel the need to launch a rocket while on the water, I’m all set.

For what it's worth, my Outback is set up with the rod holder near my right elbow. I situate the rod parallel to the kayak so my tip is right at the bow, maybe 30 degrees elevated from the plane of the water. If I use a downrigger, I set it on the same side as the rod, in a mount by the pedals. My fish finder is mounted on the left at a comfortable arms reach from my seat. Everything is located in my direct line of sight and nothing crosses the deck of my ride, keeping pedal movements free and clear.

Mount the rod from the opposite side of the kayak, have the reel facing inward towards your lap.  Then tip it forward just a bit.  For me, I mount my rod on my right side, crosses to the left side with enough angle up and forward so it clears my legs and the rod end just above the water and now just about a couple feet in front of my left side.  My fish finder is also on the left side so the rod tip and the fish finder are in the same line of sight.  The reel nearly in my lap, I can reach it to adjust the drag, reel up slack, etc.  Hope that makes sense.  I'll find a photo and post if I can...

I had the same problem when I started. Take a look at the Scotty #429 Gear Head Mount Extender. This unit will allow to move the rod holder out and away from the sides of your kayak.   
Kevin.

Mount the rod from the opposite side of the kayak, have the reel facing inward towards your lap.  Then tip it forward just a bit.  For me, I mount my rod on my right side, crosses to the left side with enough angle up and forward so it clears my legs and the rod end just above the water and now just about a couple feet in front of my left side.  My fish finder is also on the left side so the rod tip and the fish finder are in the same line of sight.  The reel nearly in my lap, I can reach it to adjust the drag, reel up slack, etc.  Hope that makes sense.  I'll find a photo and post if I can...

Which side do you land fish on?  I set up the rod to cross in a similar fashion to you, but I have the fishfinder on the same side as the rod holder.  I like that you have your rod tip in your peripheral vision while looking at the fishfinder.  However, I don't want the fishfinder in the way of landing fish, either.

Mount the rod from the opposite side of the kayak, have the reel facing inward towards your lap.  Then tip it forward just a bit.  For me, I mount my rod on my right side, crosses to the left side with enough angle up and forward so it clears my legs and the rod end just above the water and now just about a couple feet in front of my left side.  My fish finder is also on the left side so the rod tip and the fish finder are in the same line of sight.  The reel nearly in my lap, I can reach it to adjust the drag, reel up slack, etc.  Hope that makes sense.  I'll find a photo and post if I can...

Which side do you land fish on?  I set up the rod to cross in a similar fashion to you, but I have the fishfinder on the same side as the rod holder.  I like that you have your rod tip in your peripheral vision while looking at the fishfinder.  However, I don't want the fishfinder in the way of landing fish, either.

I'm fishing off a Hobie PA14.  The fish finder is in close, next to the tiller.  It's mounted on a RAM ball mount, tightened only moderately snug.  If it gets in the way, I can just smack it and it folds down.

Mount the rod from the opposite side of the kayak, have the reel facing inward towards your lap.  Then tip it forward just a bit.  For me, I mount my rod on my right side, crosses to the left side with enough angle up and forward so it clears my legs and the rod end just above the water and now just about a couple feet in front of my left side.  My fish finder is also on the left side so the rod tip and the fish finder are in the same line of sight.  The reel nearly in my lap, I can reach it to adjust the drag, reel up slack, etc.  Hope that makes sense.  I'll find a photo and post if I can...

Which side do you land fish on?  I set up the rod to cross in a similar fashion to you, but I have the fishfinder on the same side as the rod holder.  I like that you have your rod tip in your peripheral vision while looking at the fishfinder.  However, I don't want the fishfinder in the way of landing fish, either.

I'm fishing off a Hobie PA14.  The fish finder is in close, next to the tiller.  It's mounted on a RAM ball mount, tightened only moderately snug.  If it gets in the way, I can just smack it and it folds down.

Ah, makes sense.  Thanks for the clarification.

I have a Hobie Revolution.  For long line and downrigger trolling, I mount my rod on the left gunwale of my kayak with the tip pointing to the right, so the rod crosses the centerline of my kayak, and I position it so the rod is a couple of inches behind my left toe when my left pedal is all of the way back.  With the rod in this position, I can easily monitor the tip of the rod for strikes, I can quickly grab the rod out of its holder when I get a strike, I don't have to reach out to the side of my kayak when taking the rod out of it's holder, which unbalances the kayak, and because the reel's handle is facing me I can crank in line when the rod is in the rod holder. In addition, the butt of the rod hangs over the left side of my kayak, and isn't in the way of anything.  I don't like to use extenders which raise the rod holder up above the gunwale, and mount my rod holder as low as possible on the gunwale.

Scotty Gearhead rod holder bases are fine for mounting gear on a gear track which isn't under any stress, such as a fish finder, but Gearheads are a poor choice for mounting a trolling rod holder, because they constantly twist under the tension of the rod, so you have to keep correcting the orientation of your rod holder.  The problem is bad enough when the rod is pointing to the right, and thus is tightening the Gearhead, but the problem is severe if the rod is pointing to the left, because the tension on the rod will loosen the Gearhead.  For a description of a DIY rod holder base which holds the rod holder in a fixed orientation, see https://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=13167.msg144750#msg144750.

Ive been running my deck like this, using YakAttack mounts. When downrigging, Ill adjust the rod holder angle, but still remains nicely outta the way.

Working nicely for me in the freshwater, trolling for trout, kings and kokes.

Scotty Gearhead rod holder bases are fine for mounting gear on a gear track which isn't under any stress, such as a fish finder, but Gearheads are a poor choice for mounting a trolling rod holder, because they constantly twist under the tension of the rod, so you have to keep correcting the orientation of your rod holder.  The problem is bad enough when the rod is pointing to the right, and thus is tightening the Gearhead, but the problem is severe if the rod is pointing to the left, because the tension on the rod will loosen the Gearhead.  For a description of a DIY rod holder base which holds the rod holder in a fixed orientation, see https://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=13167.msg144750#msg144750.

I had the same loosening issue at first. I just removed the rubber washer and added a flat and a lock washer to the bottom of the gearhead. Locks in solidly now. I really like the DYI mount that pmmpete made in the link above. I'll have to make a couple and give them a shot.

im still trying to figure it out but i keep a lock and load mount on both sides depending on the drift or if my reel is lefty or righty, I definitely like having the rod tip and the FF in the same field of view but most of my gear is lefty and its a little weird bringing stuff up i have to position my netting on the left side of my boat.

the yacattack 4" arm that comes with the rod holder was working fine for me but i bought the 8" extender as well and its working out, just check your drags so they dont pull gear off the plastic tracks. I tried putting the holders on my metal tracks but it didnt feel as good so back to the outsides. I can also turn the rod holders to face outward. I have a normal yakattack holder and a AR tube. but the normal one is my favorite.

I use an extender to raise the rod above my legs - works perfect. I like having the rod run across the boat... In my mind, if something fails, I'll have a pretty good shot at grabbing the rod before it goes overboard.

Kinda hard to tell in the picture, but I have my rod facing about 45 degrees from the bow; used in conjunction with a DR it's about perfect.

nice pics