Just looking for any and all ideas.
I currently use a piece of PVC with a 45* cut on the end. It works ok, but it's kind of a pain getting the rod in and out since the butt end is so long. Just wondering what everyone else uses and looking for any ideas before I start making some new ones. I'm thinking of using some aluminum angle and making my own.
Scored 12 feet of killer aluminum angle from the dumpster at work. Cut it in half, made a point on one end. Bolted a 2-3" piece of 1 1/2" pvc to the other. Cut it vertically to remove a section for the rod to rest in. About 18" down I bolted a 2-3" piece of the same pipe to hold the rod butt. The end rests on the bolt.
What santa-squatch looking guy said. Making your own is actually pretty easy. $20 or so from Home Depot in material. A lot less if you dumpster dive.
Good luck.
I picked up a replacement at Turners for the one I left, I'm dumm sometimes, on the beach. It was $29 plus tax.
Jim
I make my own as well. I use 2 and 3" sch40 pvc and cut the bottom. A 10 ft length is ten bucks.
Less than $20 for a real nice one from Squidco.
I use a Angler's Fish N Mate and love it. Light weight and I've never had one pull out. You can find them for around $35 with free shipping. Verne
http://www.rodrack.com/sand-spikes/50-sand-spike/
Additional question:
What are the best lengths?
7 ft is good for me. I'll burry it 2 feet deep so I got 5 ft. sticking out the sand. I've got one that's 8ft long.
: xjchad September 23, 2015, 04:05:31 p
Just looking for any and all ideas.
I currently use a piece of PVC with a 45* cut on the end. It works ok, but it's kind of a pain getting the rod in and out since the butt end is so long. Just wondering what everyone else uses and looking for any ideas before I start making some new ones. I'm thinking of using some aluminum angle and making my own.
Measure how much length of the butt of your rod you want in the PVC pipe. Drill a hole through the PVC pipe, Insert a bolt through the holes and secure it with a nut. This way the butt of your rod will not go all the way in the PVC pipe.
: Castmaster October 04, 2015, 06:20:26 p
: xjchad September 23, 2015, 04:05:31 p
Just looking for any and all ideas.
I currently use a piece of PVC with a 45* cut on the end. It works ok, but it's kind of a pain getting the rod in and out since the butt end is so long. Just wondering what everyone else uses and looking for any ideas before I start making some new ones. I'm thinking of using some aluminum angle and making my own.
Measure how much length of the butt of your rod you want in the PVC pipe. Drill a hole through the PVC pipe, Insert a bolt through the holes and secure it with a nut. This way the butt of your rod will not go all the way in the PVC pipe.
I do this. It also keeps your spool from sitting on the PVC which ads more tension. I measure it so my reel sits about 6 inches above the top of the spike.
Thanks for all the great ideas guys! 8)
One more thing. Do you all just use your weight to push it into the sand, or bring a mallet? What's the best way to sink it so it stays?
Most have a little welded "wing" to push with your foot. Do not trust low tide sand to hold well.
Mine hold fine high on the shore but the other week at TP on the tidal plain I had a few rod dives as it lost grip.
Jim
In wet sand I push down while sucking the air out the spike. Sucking the air out really drives it down.
On dry sand I use a small garden hand shovel to dig a hole then fill it.
Each way takes seconds and holds the spike strong. Just remember to take the reel out of gear.
If the waves wash back and forth past your spike, make sure to check that the sand at the base isn't washing away.
I've always used the angle iron type with a piece of pvc tube mounted midway for the rod butt to sit in, with a bolt across the bottom of it like Castmaster talks of. Ive had the same two holders for over 20 years, still going strong and I haven't left one behind yet in all those trips. One is made of Aluminum angle iron the other from steel angle iron, both a bit under 6 ft long. The pro of the steel one is that it's rigid when in use and won't flex when your rod get's doubled over and seems to have a better "hook set before you can get to your pole" ratio and doesn't rock in the wind when it's gusting as much as the more flexible aluminum one. The Con of the steel, it's Heavy!
As far as how I get them sunk into the sand, wet or dry... They have the foot wings welded on 18" up from the bottom but after they're started in then you can just kind of rock it back and forth while applying a bit of downward force and they will dig their selves down into the sand as deep as needed with out any effort.
I also like to attach a fish rag to the bolt that the butt sits on so it's hanging right there so I always have a place to wipe off my hands just before I pick up my rod and reel and also have a slot for pliers to sit in.
Joe
I make my pvc ones 5ft and suck them into the moist sand about 18-24". You can put a bolt through the tube about 10" down from the top to stop the rod.