Hitch mounted fishing rod carrier

Has anyone ever used a hitch mounted fishing rod carrier for taller one piece fishing rods.

I’ve never used such a device. Can you drive at highway speeds with these? I know this is a subjective question but just seeing if anyone has real world experience and any specific suggestions

 

How tall are rods are you using? I can fit them up to 7 ft 6 in inside the cabin.

If you're just trying to save room inside the cabin, or if they're too long to fit inside, I guess I don't really see there being an issue as long as they are secure. A lot of fishing boats have rod holders sticking straight up and down and some of those guys are going 60 to 70 mph running out to their spots.

Sorry, I realize you're asking for real world experience. Just throwing in my $.02.

 

Appreciate the post. I am just thinking of something if I take a long road trip out west. My main rods are 7 and 7’6 I keep in my boat usually on the floor. I don’t have a rod locker in my Crestliner like modern boats. I think the larger issue is the big heavy line counter reels I have. Although I could always take off and on. It’s just extra work.

In my boat I have them in a holder upright but the max speed is 35mph or so in the boat.

 

I always think about taking the reels off of my heavier rods while traveling, but I almost never do. Ironically, I pretty much end up rerigging those rods every time I use them so it's not like I'm really saving myself any work by leaving them on.

My dad had a 17 ft side console Crestliner with a 90 horse Mercury for a few years. Excellent boat!

 

I am blessed. My Grandfather left my Dad and I this boat. It’s a 1990 with a 115 Merc and I have a 1976 10hp kicker for trolling.

Sadly I have not even towed it my 4R. Between my own health issues, caring for my Mom with Alzheimer’s and helping my 84 yo Dad the short Michigan summers have not had time to use the boat. But I hope and pray for next year for better times and I have the 4R God willing when I retire. I picked a Silver 4R hoping it matches the boat a bit better while in tow. Here is to a better 2026 and health and travels

 

It's a beautiful boat!

Cheers to a better 2026!

 

Thank you sir

 

My friend Marcel have a large PVC pipe mount on his tayata matrix roofs rack it hold 2 6’6 ugly stick and we go in alders swails and mud puddle with no damages

 

You need more rod holders.

 

I prefer rods up on the roof in a ski rack. They are less likely to hit a low branch or get dirt and debris on them.

 

Good point. With the way dust always collects on the back of the liftgate, I'd imagine a set of fishing rods would get pretty filthy riding your own back there.

I would definitely get some nice slipcovers for them if I was going to drive around with fishing rods back there.

 

Just landed my personal best for largemouth bass last night. Fort Myers Florida

 

That's a tank!

I visit Lee County every winter for a couple of weeks. I do tons of salt water fishing, but one of these times I'd love to get into some Florida bass fishing. My PB is 23", 7#, but I'm in Wisconsin.

 

That’s awesome. Yeah, from Illinois and we head down here for the winter. I’ve been fishing for 35 years. Self taught. Caught it on a Berkley Choppo white. I was so pumped and proud. You still have me beat. Mine was 6.5 and 23 inches

 

I used reel bags front and rear but never had the rods on except to go a few miles from my old beach house to the ramps going over to the beach and there were no low hanging stuff like limbs or wires on the routes I used.

Hosed off rods/reels when back at the house. Then sprayed them with Hoppe’s MDL; doesn’t leave the varnish crap like WD-40 can.

 

Nice!

 

appreciate that! It always happens when you least expect it. We are on a golf course with 30-50 ponds. The wife and i just decided to go for a walk - i had no intentions of fishing. I told her, ill just bring my pole in case i see something. As we crossed a golf cart bridge i saw a bunch of bait fish hitting the top of the water. I cast over them and BAM - she struck that lure. I couldnt believe it and the fight was on.

 

Oh I got one way bigger in my office on the wall….plus if you press the button he sing to you!

take me to the river

haha

 

On the roof using Yakima Ski Racks

Drive in the rain with the poles on a hitch mount and they will be filthy.

 

thank you for the laugh. That was good.

 

Think, front hitch not rear like mine. My guess is yours get dirty as well in the rain from vehicles in front and passing as mine do even in front. But I just use reel covers front and back.

 

Nope.

I've never had to clean them after driving in the rain/wet roads.

I wasn't mistaken and meant the rear. You never notice how much dirtier the rear gets when driving in the rain or when the road is wet?

 

of course they get dirtier in the rear, but as I said in a previous post, I don’t have to drive long distances to get from my beach house to the beach where I fish

 

My original post wasn't for you. It was for the OP.

I don't care if you drove only 20ft you wouldn't catch me dead with your set up but you do you.

Also doesn't look very legal with all that stuff up front. Not to be part of the police or anything.

 

Ok got it. BTW all is perfectly legal where used on Bodie, Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands in NC. A very common set up for us surf fishers there. One of mine from the 1980s