Couple weeks ago I did purchase some big game rod and seller had them DIY cover very simple and nice using some harder fabric, I love the idea and I asked her if she can make some for me for one of my tuna/trolling rods and after measuring the AFTCO rollers she made pattern and made a beautiful cover and finish it with a hot sticker to make it even nicer. Just wanted to share it as first post in this threat, Please welcome to share your DIY projects here to help everyone to use them.

Nice, Ata....that rod/reel combo looks kind of expensive i would guess. Awesome.

20 minutes ago, detroit1 said:

Nice, Ata....that rod/reel combo looks kind of expensive i would guess. Awesome.

Yup they can get pricey But Except the butt the rest is almost no cheaper option. I could save $200 on the butt but since it is my only combo it that class, I went ahead and paid $400 for the terminator adjustable butt so I can use it in any application.

If you want to mark your rods, One way to color coding them with Tape, But I used shrink wrap and it is really nice, Plus put my info under shrink wrap if I need to prove ownership. I add double sided tape to make them stay for life.

I don't have any DIY/Hacks. 

I usually find myself spending more and the last DIY project, I end up in the Emergency Room getting stitches.

ATA said: "Plus put my info under shrink wrap if I need to prove ownership."

 

That is a great idea. Have you had issues in the past with rods and reels stolen?

 

The one issue I am curious is how do people store their rods? Most of us probably store them in safe ways, but I know some guys who don't and wind up with bent rods down the road.

 

I have considered building rod racks, but have found 5 gallon buckets to be quickest, simplest, cheapest safe way to store rods vertically with no load at tips to cause any bends.

 

A buddy of mine thought he was doing a good thing when he built his rod rack on the ceiling to get them out of the way, and he stored his rods horizontally and with weighted lures hanging off of them. I tried to warn him, but once he built it, it was a done deal. Now some of those rods are all bent out of shape.

20 hours ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

That is a great idea. Have you had issues in the past with rods and reels stolen?

Not to me, But I heard the places I go fishing, They break into the cars and trucks and took the tackle in the parking lot. Mostly after that they will put them online in websites to sell. I am just thinking to do that so if it happen to me, I have one more chance to get my stuff back. 

You don’t want to put a soft  rod butt into a trolling rod holder! The bending force with big tuna prevent getting the butt out of the holder. 
Very nice rod cover and trolling combo👍

Getting into off shore big game fishing is addictive, enjoy it while you can.

Tom

Yet another shrink tube DIY while we at it, Use any kind of broom stick laying around and cut it to desirable parts and use the shrink tube to make FG or another line puller to snitch the knot. If you see the pictures you can see even I made one set with markers for my tackle box so I can use the marker for adjusting color of lures and use them for pilling my knots as well. Just some idea that I taught it will be useful and saving you some money.

Still very much a work in progress but DIY rod and tackle storage.. upcylcled (free) baby changing table and coffee table. Had casters lying around from a different project… spent months trying to get free pegboard, finally broke down and bought some.. 2 days a later a buddy says hey “need any pegboard?”

 

wound up using some premade clips from Basspro (linked below) to hold the rods but def brainstormed some diy options.

 

https://www.basspro.com/p/organized-fishing-regular-rod-holder-clips

 

Don’t laugh at all the googan stuff found a guy selling in bulk basically giving it away.. the spinnerbaits and swimbaits are actually real good at $2 a pop.

Finally found a perfect place to measure the fish and eater lines when I need, right out of the RV. it cost about $12 for a ruler and the glue to attach it for good. Just want to share if you think of having one.

1 hour ago, ATA said:

Finally found a perfect place to measure the fish and eater lines when I need, right out of the RV. it cost about $12 for a ruler and the glue to attach it for good. Just want to share if you think of having one.

Sweet man! Love it. I just may pirate that. Thanks for sharing

I always wanted to have some place to keep my rods, either for rigging or rigged up and ready to go. Finally, I made the decision and attached a Berkeley rod holder to the RV. I just want to share the idea if you think of something like that in your mind for your RV truck, or even a kayak and boats.

I am pretty sure you guys see the dice baits and saw the way you can do it with skirt materials. I did it with the pink Seaguar PE because i saw how fish react to my line, So i decide to make dice bait using that braid and see what going to happen. Ill keep you updated in few days.

DIY Connection knot assist, looks pretty cool with some wood, shrink tube, and end caps.

On 9/11/2025 at 7:13 AM, FloridaFishinFool said:

I have considered building rod racks, but have found 5 gallon buckets to be quickest, simplest, cheapest safe way to store rods vertically with no load at tips to cause any bends.

Is that with or without reels attached?

Mostly without reels. My son has a couple in his bucket with reels on them, but they stand upright harmlessly with no bending at all. I can easily store over 100 rods safely in the footprint of just two 5 gallon buckets.

One thing I do the buckets is to use round foam like what is used on air conditioner lines or water pipes to keep them from freezing. Simply install this foam around the top lip of the bucket and this helps keep them vertical without damage for long term storage. I think it can hold around 50 rods per bucket without reels.

Good long term storage with ease of access. And its easy to move rods around like this as well. I keep my rods inside the house in the air conditioner and don't store them in a hot garage. Never have any issues doing it this way. Some of these rods are close to 50 years old like new. Permanent storage without any bending of any rods.

(2 more buckets beside this one.) I keep one of my buckets for new unused blanks & spinning rods only, and the other for baitcast rods. My sons and I have learned when we lean a rod, we support it down low near grip and don't lean rods against the wall at the tip which can cause bending or leave heavy weighted lures hanging off rod tips that can also cause permanent bending. This is the simplest cheapest way to store rods long term with no damage ever. You can see the rod or rods you want to use and they slide in and out easily.

If I need to move the whole bunch of rods I simply lean it all over and cradle rods in one arm and grab the bucket handle and can move them very easily and effortlessly. Sure beats custom wood wall racks for a lot of rods. A real space saver. Fits neatly into a room corner.

Some DIY new fuzzy baits, going to report if I catch anything on any of them.

Using JB weld to fix my Hinkle Trout and upgrade the hooks for couple of swimbaits to see if it will be effective.

Made a template to do 1:1 factory Yamamoto fuzzy Senko clones, minus one row for a wacky band.

With half price worms from DSG and skirt tabs from TW my total cost per worm is $0.59.

If anyone is interested the factory setup is a 4" section of fuzz, 14 bands with 2x2.2" strands each spaced at 0.3077" and each band alternating 45 degrees.

Paper template taken to the next level. I designed a little jig to thread fuzzy senkos and had a buddy print it. Cuts the time to thread a worm down significantly.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Signal_Swimbait_Double_Attack_Rig/descpage-SSDAR.html

Signal Swimbait Double Attack Rig was interesting, but

Reviews weren't looking good, since people lost expensive glide baits on them. So I got to work and made my own version high quality and tough with high-end tackle and line.. Going to try it next time I am on water and report back.