These quick release style holders are great. Before Scotty introduced these last(?) year I've been using another brand that works on the exact same principle. Recently bought an R5, and I'm interested to try it out.
For those who haven't tried this style of holder, the retaining bar is designed such that the more downward pressure on the front increases the downforce on the rear. Therefore the rod should be put in with the tip level to the water or slightly pointing downwards. Having the tip pointed up makes it less secure, and more likely a jostle knocks the rods out. Luckily, in that case, at least it tends to fall backwards into the boat rather than into the water, but it'll still give you a heart attack.
The only potential mishaps I've had is when the boat is rocking or bouncing. Anything that can reduce the effective weight of the rod (like accidentally knocking it with an oar) increases chances it slides out unexpectedly.
Also as Rodney demonstrated in the vid, to take out the rod, you lift it straight up out of the holder, not pivot. I think that's the biggest adjustment for those not used to them. But once you develop the muscle memory I think they're the quickest to use.
- The adjustable tension seems like a nice feature and I'll be interested to see how well that works in practice. Another friend mentioned it, and seems to like that aspect.
- the one I purchased is a very tight fit into the mount. Too tight IMHO, but maybe it'll loosen after some usage
- I would suggest getting the locking mount (241L) so you don't have to fumble around trying to align the tab/slot
- as shown in the vid fly rods work best when the reel hangs behind the holder. Most fly rods (especially in lighter weights) do not have long enough butts to securely hold with this style of holder, so use the handle.
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Topic: Scotty R-5 rod holder video review (Read 1494 times)