When you troll with the hell pet or even with a DD22 do you hold the rod or do you put it in a rod holder? I noticed on the video that they were holding them the whole time. Wasn't sure if that was just because they were catching them non-stop or if that is just the way it is done. I have been using rod holders and am not sure if I am missing bites or not. Thanks for any input.

Jason

Personal preferrence, but i use the rod holders. Mainly when i troll i pull 4 sometimes 6 rods so kinda hard to hold all of them

Rod holders. When you troll your not setting the hook. No need to hold the rod. Keep your hand free to drink beer!

If you are trolling to find fish, making passes and not hooking up , put then in a rod holder. But.....if you are on them and picking up fish quick, then hold them!

Are you using planeing boards??? If not my hats off to you.

Hey Bama, Take you hat off....



No boards, i dont troll that often but sometimes you have to, expecially during the summer its hot with kids and wife on the boat.

I run 2 rods of each side and then sometimes add 2 out the back. Redfish guide showed me a couple secrets to keep them from getting tangled up. And then i can if so choose to run my down riggers so that make the total count 8. Gets real Hectic when you come over a school of big hybrids

Thanks for the replies!
I usually put them in the rod holder, but thought I would ask the question.

I run 3 lines and get those tangled up, but I know alot of Walleye fisherman from up north run 4-6 poles without planer boards and I have seen up to 10 with planer boards in a boat like mine. Now that is crazy!

Dutchman;
I am usually alone in my boat and with no positioning capability trolling, and sometimes drifting,is my only choice. I'm well aware that trolling removes some of the excitement of hooking up, especially when holders are used. As a result, I always hold the rod. I can feel what the lure is doing at all times and have had occasion to hook up on fish that "taste" the lure. I can actually feel the decrease in tension and set the hook. I am not a "meat" fisherman so quantity is not so important. Also, I don't miss feeling that "violent" strike. I catch a lot of legal hybrids and the "violent" strike is not that uncommon. This is, of course, is JMO.
J.B.

If I am not trolling with at least 4 rods I feel like I am missing out! Most of the time I will have 6 out though!

Man, I must be good at it, I can tangle up with one rod out.