Let's discuss hook keepers 2024
MickD reply :
I would like your opinions on hook keepers, the style and location you prefer and why.
I've built rods for many years and have tried all kinds of keepers and put them in a number of positons and have finally settled on what I think is the best option, a REC RHK-M keeper, ID 1/8 inch.. If I want to keep a lure on the rod while using a rod sock, I'll put it right behind the grip/reel seat on the blank at 180 degrees (I do split grips exclusively), if not I'll put it at 180 degrees right in front of the reel seat/grip. Why the REC? Essentially corrosion proof, very tough, easy to put a hook into, unobtrusive, works for drop shot to hold the line at the sinker (install it sloping to the rear).
I've tried the 90 degree location, and occasionally the line will snag it (spin). I've tried the folding keepers and I have to fart around with them to get a hook into them, and they sooner or later break. I've tried the little drop shot keepers, the "U" shaped ones and it's hard to keep wrap epoxy from clogging them, and they really don't work well with lure hooks. I've tried ceramic ring single foot fly guides at 180 degrees and found them very satisfactory, easy to use, but few have the corrosion resistance of the REC. They can be bent to work with drop shots. They work very well in fresh water, however. I've tried the big drop shot keepers and while they work well, the finish comes off. If put on at 90 degrees, they snag the line now and then.
On fly rods I don't use keepers, preferring to keep the area below the first guide completely clean. I use the frame of the first guide.
What do you prefer and why? thanks,
Choporoz reply :
I don't know jack about rod building or the challenges of obtaining/installing different keepers. But from a user standpoint......I have baitcasting rods from seven different manufacturers, and the keepers that prefer far and away over all others are the ones on Daiwa rods (almost identical to the one on my Veritas, as well.) Open, looped metal on bottom of rod, in front of reel seat.
A-Jay reply :
After many years of trial & tribulation, I have come to believe in one style hook keeper & one style only ~ as the Best.
For stock rods - it comes on the Quantum Tour KVD Cranking line of rods.
It accommodates everything I throw, stays out of the way & doesn't snag my line.
As for location on the blank, I prefer it as pictured rather than down in the split grip space.
A-Jay
buzzed bait reply :
i prefer the ones like a jay shows above. i also prefer it on the underside of the rod to avoid tangling up my line.
i actually strongly dislike the placement of the one on my daiwa tatula as it seems to always get slack line caught in it.
i'm not a fan of the placement on my dx703sf which is between the butt end and the reel seat area. also not too fond of the closed box type keeper that is on the original generation champion extremes i have.
MickD reply :
On 10/11/2016 at 10:02 PM, Choporoz said:I don't know jack about rod building or the challenges of obtaining/installing different keepers. But from a user standpoint......I have baitcasting rods from seven different manufacturers, and the keepers that prefer far and away over all others are the ones on Daiwa rods (almost identical to the one on my Veritas, as well.) Open, looped metal on bottom of rod, in front of reel seat.
This is the keeper I was referring to when I mentioned they are hard to epoxy without clogging them with epoxy. You have to get epoxy under them. They are a little small, too, IMHO.
On 10/11/2016 at 10:06 PM, A-Jay said:After many years of trial & tribulation, I have come to believe in one style hook keeper & one style only ~ as the Best.
For stock rods - it comes on the Quantum Tour KVD Cranking line of rods.
It accommodates everything I throw, stays out of the way & doesn't snag my line.
As for location on the blank, I prefer it as pictured rather than down in the split grip space.
A-Jay
I like this keeper for function, but put it at 90 degrees and you may have the line catch on it. Also, in black, the finish came off of mine. That location is my favorite unless I plan to use a rod sock on the rod. It is easy for the builder since the foot is well away from the loop.
A-Jay reply :
On 10/12/2016 at 12:22 AM, MickD said:I like this keeper for function, but put it at 90 degrees and you may have the line catch on it. Also, in black, the finish came off of mine. That location is my favorite unless I plan to use a rod sock on the rod. It is easy for the builder since the foot is well away from the loop.
As mentioned - For me line flows nicely with this one, No Snagging.
Haven't had a problem with durability.
I use Rod sock on every rod (sometimes with baits attached) and by simply using a shorter sock - there's no issue; as long as the guides are covered the socks doing it's job.
A-Jay
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
I use that Kigan keeper a lot. I've used Rec fly guides as keepers on cranking rods and guys like them.
wnspain reply :
On 10/12/2016 at 1:10 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:I use that Kigan keeper a lot. I've used Rec fly guides as keepers on cranking rods and guys like them.
Hey DVT, if have the ability, could you post some pics of the keepers you referenced?? Thanks in advance...
S Hovanec reply :
On 10/12/2016 at 1:29 AM, wnspain said:could you post some pics of the keepers you referenced??
Kigan
basscatcher8 reply :
I like the one Cho posted above and I like to use the old fashioned one loop with the two feet to wrap around style. Usually on my spinning blanks and I always put them facing down. Seems to work better for keeping the baits from getting tangled on stuff. I haven't had an issue with the line catching them.
MickD reply :
The Kigan looks very functional, ". One thing I like about the REC single foot fly guides and their keepers is that they almost disappear on the rod. I favor function first, but if I can get the same function with better "style," I'll go that way every time. Thanks for all the posts on this-much appreciated.
Hogsticker reply :
Fuji EZ keeper. I can move it wherever and whenever, it accommodates everything, and most importantly it keeps hooks away from my blanks.
MickD reply :
Hovanec, geat epoxy work there.
S Hovanec reply :
On 10/12/2016 at 5:00 AM, MickD said:Hovanec, geat epoxy work there.
Thank you.
Big Bait Fishing reply :
i usually like open ended hook keepers on my rods , recently bought a few SK2 trigger pieces to experiment with and i think i've come up with the best solution , i drilled a small hole in the back part of the trigger , not all the way through , but about 3/16'' deep . it will hold any hook and keeps the hook point covered and it protects the point and myself !
here is a picture of the trigger that will go on my next rod and i will have them on all future rods (casting)
MickD reply :
On 10/13/2016 at 4:32 AM, Big Bait Fishing said:i usually like open ended hook keepers on my rods , recently bought a few SK2 trigger pieces to experiment with and i think i've come up with the best solution , i drilled a small hole in the back part of the trigger , not all the way through , but about 3/16'' deep . it will hold any hook and keeps the hook point covered and it protects the point and myself !
here is a picture of the trigger that will go on my next rod and i will have them on all future rods (casting)
Pretty cool! Functional, unobtrusive, no epoxy problems, works well with rod socks. Why didn't I think of that? The only thing it might not handle well is a small treble?
Big Bait Fishing reply :
On 10/13/2016 at 4:55 AM, MickD said:Pretty cool! Functional, unobtrusive, no epoxy problems, works well with rod socks. Why didn't I think of that? The only thing it might not handle well is a small treble?
thanks ! i hate scratching my blank and could not find a location on the rod that i liked to put a hook keeper .
i don't use much baits with small trebles besides some twitch baits , the trigger will hold the rear trebles and i cover the others with an Owner treble cap .
rippin-lips reply :
On 10/13/2016 at 4:55 AM, MickD said:Pretty cool! Functional, unobtrusive, no epoxy problems, works well with rod socks. Why didn't I think of that?
Phenix did that years ago.
I prefer the drop drop shot style but none of my rods have hook keepers on them. Most Jdm rods don't have them. I use a cable tie.
Big Bait Fishing reply :
On 10/13/2016 at 6:16 AM, rippin-lips said:Phenix did that years ago.
I prefer the drop drop shot style but none of my rods have hook keepers on them. Most Jdm rods don't have them. I use a cable tie.
i tried the way Phenix did , but by not drilling all the way through the trigger , the hook doesn't go through to catch on anything and is protected since the hook point won't be dulled or rolled because of the relative softness of the graphite reel seat material .
the picture below is shows the hook in .
the one below that shows it is not drilled all the thru ..
Jeff H reply :
On 10/12/2016 at 4:42 AM, Hogsticker said:Fuji EZ keeper. I can move it wherever and whenever, it accommodates everything, and most importantly it keeps hooks away from my blanks.
I like these too, have them on my customs and on dropshot rods where the keeper is in the split area (don't care for that).
MickD reply :
I've tried the blank in the split area, too. Did it to keep a lure farther away from a rod sock, but I don't care for it on the water. It's unnatural to find and use. I still think the right place ergonomically is right in front of the seat/ramp/fore-end at 180 degrees, both casting and spin.
S Hovanec reply :
On 10/16/2016 at 10:40 PM, MickD said:I've tried the blank in the split area, too. Did it to keep a lure farther away from a rod sock, but I don't care for it on the water. It's unnatural to find and use. I still think the right place ergonomically is right in front of the seat/ramp/fore-end at 180 degrees, both casting and spin.
The only time I put the keeper in the split grip is on a dropshot rod. For my personal rods, they are also the only rods that have a split grip. I like that hook keeper placement, for that application, more than I dislike split grips.
Don't take that the wrong way, that I don't like split grips. they're OK, just not my thing. Plus, split grips take away a large part of the canvas for what I do best, cool cork stuff.
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 10/16/2016 at 11:00 PM, S Hovanec said:Don't take that the wrong way, that I don't like split grips. they're OK, just not my thing. Plus, split grips take away a large part of the canvas for what I do best, cool cork stuff.
Can't paint a picture without the canvas!
spoonplugger1 reply :
Rich Forhan was using a 1/8 " hole in the trigger of a Fuji casting seat 15+ years ago. It's also in his book from the early 90's. Powerhand Baitcasting was the title, lists the different techniques and the custom rods needed to do them.
The developer of Revolver Rods, the first bass rods I am aware of that had split grips, spiral wraps, skeleton reel seats, and other innovations you now see used on rods today. He also is a lure designer.
papajoe222 reply :
I've done away with adding hook keepers to my builds for a couple of reasons. The first is I hate scratches in the finish and with my old eyes, that's a given. The second is.............I forget, but I'm sure its a good reason. Seriously, I like placing it behind the handle on split grips so it's out of the way. I really like BBF's solution.
.ghoti. reply :
I normally use the kind choporoz posted. If it's a split grip, I put it in the split, otherwise right in front of the seat, on the bottom.
I like the EZ keeper, and have those on factory rods that came without a keeper.
Lots of good ideas here. The Kigan looks like a perfect dropshot keeper. BBF's idea is brilliant. I have some single foot Recoil fly guides for an upcoming build. I'm gonna "borrow" one of those to wrap on one of my existing rods to try out.
Big Bait Fishing reply :
hook keeper location is always been hit or miss as i always carry my rod in front of the reel , where it balances in my hand , most of the time where the hook keeper and a sharp hook is !!
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