Modifying Down East Rod Holders
Team_Ryba
Posted 5/7/2014 8:41 AM (#710460)
Subject: Modifying Down East Rod Holders




Posts: 46


Just bought four new down east S-14 rod holders for the up coming season. I have noticed that the triggers on my st. croix trolling rods interfere with the closing mechanism on the rod holder. Anyone find a way to modify the rod holder to make this fit?

Thanks,

TR
byteme90k
Posted 5/7/2014 8:50 AM (#710462 - in reply to #710460)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 220


Location: Pittsburgh, PA
I have heard of more people modifying the trigger on the rod, than the down easter.
cave run legend
Posted 5/7/2014 8:54 AM (#710463 - in reply to #710460)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 2097


If its going to be that much trouble return them.
Cal
Posted 5/7/2014 9:02 AM (#710465 - in reply to #710460)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 177


Location: ON
Dremel trigger
muskie! nut
Posted 5/7/2014 9:11 AM (#710466 - in reply to #710462)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 2894


Location: Yahara River Chain
If its going to be that much trouble return them.


The rods or the rod holders???
Chain Gang
Posted 5/7/2014 10:29 AM (#710483 - in reply to #710460)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders




Posts: 489


They make downeasters with trigger cut outs. Or you take a Metabo and cut a small square out the the rod holder
allegheny river kid
Posted 5/7/2014 2:33 PM (#710523 - in reply to #710460)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders




Posts: 463


Location: Sw Pennsylvania
If the rods you intend to use are for trolling only purposes I would completely grind the triggers off.
BWB
Posted 5/7/2014 3:28 PM (#710534 - in reply to #710460)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders




Location: North America
If you put them in the holder properly they will fit in there like a glove.
greenhyena
Posted 5/7/2014 4:46 PM (#710547 - in reply to #710534)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 240


Location: Oconomowc, WI
BWB - 5/7/2014 3:28 PM

If you put them in the holder properly they will fit in there like a glove.


yep, mine fit fine with the trigger on the backside of the holder
DonPursch
Posted 5/7/2014 4:53 PM (#710549 - in reply to #710460)
Subject: RE: Modifying Down East Rod Holders




Posts: 540


Location: Leech Lake, Walker MN
Put it in the holder up on the fore grip no problem
ShutUpNFish
Posted 5/8/2014 7:23 AM (#710648 - in reply to #710460)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 1202


Location: Money, PA
I used a belt sander to grind off the triggers on all of my trolling rods....Those triggers are a PIA when it comes to Down Easts....I don't fight them anymore!

The suggestions of putting the holders on foregrip or rear grips is not the way the holder is intended to be used, and the reels I use will spin because of their weight. And some rod triggers are thicker/wider than others...They do not all fit like a glove. Try fighting that rod into the holder with a trigger on a down rod trolling 5 mph!?!? Its NOT fun! Thats why the only true "fix" is grinding off the trigger....If this is a problem for someone who feels this is in some way damaging the rod, modify the opening on the holder by grinding that larger....The trigger gone effect is much simpler.
cave run legend
Posted 5/8/2014 10:26 AM (#710701 - in reply to #710460)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 2097


I prefer my Scotty power blocks. They will take any rod and are a breeze to take in and out.
Team_Ryba
Posted 5/8/2014 11:13 AM (#710707 - in reply to #710460)
Subject: RE: Modifying Down East Rod Holders




Posts: 46


Thank you for all of the input!
jano
Posted 5/8/2014 4:56 PM (#710770 - in reply to #710460)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders




get a real trolling rod without trigger,or cut it.what kind of reel do you use?
its strange because i have seen all kind of rod and reel and all of them were ok into the d-e.
wavridr
Posted 5/9/2014 6:03 AM (#710831 - in reply to #710460)
Subject: RE: Modifying Down East Rod Holders




Posts: 298


Location: Not where I want to be!
Return 'em and buy Folbes.  Also much quieter.
Team_Ryba
Posted 5/10/2014 3:15 PM (#711012 - in reply to #710460)
Subject: RE: Modifying Down East Rod Holders




Posts: 46


St. Croix 8' premier glass
Shimano Tekota 600LC
todd_yester
Posted 5/10/2014 5:56 PM (#711024 - in reply to #710460)
Subject: RE: Modifying Down East Rod Holders




Posts: 148


Location: pittsburgh, pa
take a dremel and file the triggers a little thinner at the base of the trigger attached to the reel seat. do it just enough so you can put the rod in and the trigger will slide into the downeast. i prefer to have a trigger on my trolling rods and will custom order them to have them. I like the way it locks your reel into the down east almost so the reel doesnt flop to the side. and it keeps your rod straight out on a side rod guides up instead of angled towards the stern.

Todd Yester
Wimuskyfisherman
Posted 5/10/2014 9:02 PM (#711038 - in reply to #711024)
Subject: RE: Modifying Down East Rod Holders




Posts: 229


I have been putting the foregrip of my rods in the holder and that works great.
muskyrat
Posted 5/11/2014 6:29 PM (#711111 - in reply to #711038)
Subject: RE: Modifying Down East Rod Holders




Posts: 455


Great until the rod breaks. Do what Todd said. Easiest best solution. As he said the trigger centers everything preventing wear on the reel base.
GregM
Posted 5/15/2014 5:11 PM (#711640 - in reply to #711111)
Subject: RE: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 1189


Location: Bagley,MN 56621
I just ordered 2 S-14 down east rail mounts, then placed a St.Croix with an Abu reel in it.....looks like they will work fine. Theholder clamps both in front and behind the reelmount, but yet it is still in front of the trigger and not in the way. It should work shouldn't it? I didn't have to modify the trigger at all, the holder fits fine between the rear reel holder part and the trigger.


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cave run legend
Posted 5/15/2014 5:19 PM (#711642 - in reply to #711640)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 2097


Wouldn't it be easy for downeast to modify their design and produce rod holders that caters to today's rods?
todd_yester
Posted 5/15/2014 5:50 PM (#711646 - in reply to #711640)
Subject: RE: Modifying Down East Rod Holders




Posts: 148


Location: pittsburgh, pa
GREGM,
That will work fine but the the rod and reel are sloppy in there like that i think. if you file the trigger down a little and make it thinner it will slide right into the groove in the downeast locking the rod and reel in place so it sits straight. All rods are different and have different size triggers so some have to be filed and some dont.

Todd Yester
ShutUpNFish
Posted 5/16/2014 8:16 AM (#711722 - in reply to #710460)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 1202


Location: Money, PA
GregM,

Theres a big difference between placing the rod into the holder in your garage from when your on the water trolling 5mph with the pressure of a 8" bait on the end of your line. That trigger WILL cause you grief, trust me. I would do what either ToddY says, to thin the trigger down or grind it off completely. I ground mine completely off and my reels don't flop around at all.

Down East has been making and selling those rod holders for a lot of years...They are the most durable, quick release holders on the market and they sell a ton of them; they are not about to change their design now.
Mikes Extreme
Posted 5/16/2014 12:05 PM (#711756 - in reply to #711722)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 2691


Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Custom file them to fit. They will be fine. I have run these same Down East holders for 20 year. All my rods are made to fit perfectly. Don't be afraid to trim the triggers to make them fit.
Shep
Posted 5/20/2014 11:31 AM (#712190 - in reply to #711756)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 5874


Folbe!
cave run legend
Posted 5/20/2014 11:54 AM (#712193 - in reply to #712190)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 2097


Do they run folbes on Keyes? Mike had trouble getting the rods out a few times and missed fish. I thought you just grabbed them out?
SteveHulbert
Posted 5/22/2014 9:06 AM (#712472 - in reply to #710460)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 202


Location: Angola, IN
It's been my experience that anyone who uses Folbe's or Scotty's does so because they can't figure out how to use a Down East.

Down East are the best. Anyone who does any serious trolling uses them.
Shep
Posted 5/22/2014 9:31 AM (#712479 - in reply to #712472)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 5874


Or maybe they can't stand the noise, the damage to the rod handles, the problems with mounting them on rails, and any number of issues.
 
Downeasters the best? To some yes. To others no. Use what you want.
 
 
 
SteveHulbert
Posted 5/22/2014 11:37 AM (#712496 - in reply to #712479)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 202


Location: Angola, IN
Shep - 5/22/2014 9:31 AM

Or maybe they can't stand the noise, the damage to the rod handles, the problems with mounting them on rails, and any number of issues.
 
Downeasters the best? To some yes. To others no. Use what you want.
 
 
 


Like I said, serious trollers use Down East. No serious troller mounts their rod holders to rails.

And like I said earlier, people who don't use Down East don't know how to use them.....which is why yours made noise and they damaged your rod handles.

ShutUpNFish
Posted 5/22/2014 12:08 PM (#712501 - in reply to #710460)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 1202


Location: Money, PA
Its all in what you get used to really...I used to use Fish-Ons for years (IMO the best plastic holder), but over time the plastic wears. As for longevity and durability, you really cannot beat the Down Easts. I was tired of replacing cracked mounts and wore out gears and pins....In regards to removing a rod (with a fish on the line) the Fish-Ons were much more user friendly and rods easier to remove from the holders. However, once you get used to the Down Easts, they truly are the best IMO. Ultimately though...to each his own.  My set up below...to me the ultimate in a trolling system!
.

Shep
Posted 5/22/2014 3:09 PM (#712514 - in reply to #712496)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 5874


SteveHulbert - 5/22/2014 11:37 AM
Shep - 5/22/2014 9:31 AM
Or maybe they can't stand the noise, the damage to the rod handles, the problems with mounting them on rails, and any number of issues.
 
Downeasters the best? To some yes. To others no. Use what you want.
 
 
 

Like I said, serious trollers use Down East. No serious troller mounts their rod holders to rails. And like I said earlier, people who don't use Down East don't know how to use them.....which is why yours made noise and they damaged your rod handles.

I'm talking the noise when you are not using them. I had them for many years, and I know how to use them. What's your problem with rails? The only way to mount them on a Ranger. But I guess no serious muskie angler would have a Ranger, right Steve?.

SteveHulbert
Posted 5/22/2014 9:17 PM (#712558 - in reply to #712514)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 202


Location: Angola, IN
I have no problem Shep. But no serious troller fishes out of a Ranger either. You can be a serious musky fishermen with a Ranger, no doubt. Incredible boat. But if you primarily troll or make a living trolling, NO ONE buys a Ranger.

Hey ShutUpNFish....nice Cisco system. No one matches Cisco in quality. They are the leader.
Shep
Posted 5/27/2014 9:25 AM (#712965 - in reply to #712558)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 5874


So if you don't primarily troll, or make a living from trolling, then you are not a serious troller? And if a Ranger, Triton, Tuffy, Princecraft, Skeeter, Warrior, Lund, etc is not capable of serious trolling, what boat is required?

I think Doug Johnson, Brett Jolly, Brett Alexander, Dennis Radloff and many others are pretty serious about trolling, and I'm quite certain would disagree with you there. And neither of them own the boat you are implying they should have.

ShutUpNFish
Posted 5/27/2014 12:53 PM (#712992 - in reply to #710460)
Subject: Re: Modifying Down East Rod Holders





Posts: 1202


Location: Money, PA
Easy guys...Its all cool and everyone has their own opinions. I think what he is trying to say is that most trollers, who troll pretty much exclusively and troll bigger waters, typically (and I stress typically)...run Deep V style Aluminums or big water Fiberglass boats such as Lunds, Alumacrafts, Starcrafts, Crestliners, Grady, Sportcraft, Parker etc...Definitely no disrespect to Ranger Boats, but I would never own one for my style of fishing and where I fish either.

Thanks Steve, I love my Cisco/Down East combos!