Page 4 - Crappie NOW | October 2016

Story & Photo by Ron Presley HOW TO?

T thing to get them rigged again for
here is no one cookie-cutter fishing. Some anglers have several rods
setup that applies to every crappie with different baits so they don’t have
fishing boat. The following are good to change baits on the water. Storing all
product and design ideas that can help the rods safely is a must.”
make most fishing rigs more comfortable
and efficient.

Adapting Racks and Holders to “For a thief to get my rods
Angling Needs out of the locker they will
Fishing rods are one of the most have to rip stuff apart. If it
important pieces of equipment a crappie takes them too long they are
angler has. It is important to protect them. not likely to pursue it.”
There is nothing worse than beginning
that first pass through a crappie hole
and discovering a broken tip or handle.
Fishing rods take plenty of abuse Rod Lockers
from anglers while fishing, but more Crappie Dan contacted David
when in transit from one location to Baynard with Driftmaster Rod Holders
another. No one knows better that Dan concerning the issue of transporting
Dannenmueller, one half of the Crappie rods. He discovered that Baynard was
Country Fishing Team. He and his already working on a system to secure
fishing partner, Garrett Steele, travel the long crappie rods above the gunnel of
country fishing crappie tournaments and a boat. After many improvements and
they haul a lot of B’n’M rods with them. revisions, the new Driftmaster Rod
“The problem is not just the abuse Locker features accessibility, protection
in transit,” explained Dannenmueller and security.
(AKA Crappie Dan). “There is also The newest versions easily
the possibility of theft while stopped accommodate eight pre-rigged rods and
overnight or along the road for lunch. It keep them from tangling. With the locking
happened to me at Granada. All my rods cover in place thieves cannot remove the
were stolen right in front of the hotel. reels from the rods so they remain safe
Matt Morgan loaned me a set so I could too. Standard versions feature an 8-inch
fish. From that point on I decided I would vertical stem to clear boat hatches and
not be vulnerable again.” leave them accessible.
“With 16-footers and 14-footers The tip saver end holds each rod
you can’t really take them in anywhere,” separately and protects them between
added Steele. “They might get broken if rubber coated fingers. The middle and
you carry them into a motel room and the tip saver end can be mounted to
if you break them down it’s a laborious accommodate different rod lengths and
boat configurations. The Rod Locker can

4 Crappie NOW Ocotber 2016