Updated November 5, 2022
Fishing from a kayak can become an exercise in juggling. Paddling, gearing up, cutting bait, grabbing a drink, or any of the other basic movements on board are not easy when you have to maintain touch with your rod and reel.
A rod holder frees up your hands making your situation more organized and relaxed.
Below a small representative collection of quality kayak rod holders is reviewed as an introduction. Starting with a comparison table, key features are outlined, with photos and video, followed by a basic buying guide to aid in your selection process.
If you have any questions or concerns, please use the comments section at the bottom. I’d love to know your thoughts.
For more reviews of boats, kayaks, canoes, and accessories, please check out these popular posts:
Anchor Ropes Boat Anchors Kayak Storage Racks Kayak Compasses Kayak Anchors Kayak Bilge Pumps Inflatable Canoes Electric Pumps for Inflatables Motorized Kayaks Pedal Kayaks Ocean Fishing Kayaks Fishing Kayak Paddles Waterproof Bags Canoe Paddles Canoes Kayak Shoes Kayak Helmets Kayak Wetsuits Kayak Roof Racks Kayak Carts Kayak Drysuit Review Kayak Paddles Kayak Life Vests Women Kayak Life Vests Marine VHF Radios Small Outboard Motors Kayak Trolling Motors Kayak Fish Finders Marine GPS Marine Binoculars Women’s Kayaks Touring Kayaks Tandem Kayaks Whitewater Kayaks for Beginners Lake Kayaks Ocean Kayaks Fishing Kayaks Beginner Kayaks Recreational Kayaks Inflatable Kayaks Inflatable Boats
Best Kayak Rod Holders
- Cannon Downrigger Rod Holder
- Attwood 5009-4 Heavy Duty Adjustable Rod Holder
- Lixada Adjustable Rod Holder
- Scotty #282-BK Baitcaster Rod Holder
- RAILBLAZA Rod Holder II
- PLUSINNO Fishing Boat Rod Holder
- CE Smith Tournament 3 Rack Rod Holder
- Amarine Made 30 Degree Rod Holders
Kayak Rod Holder Comparison Table
| Picture | Rod Holder | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
  | Cannon Downrigger Rod Holder | 4.7 | $$ |
  | Attwood 5009-4 Heavy Duty Adjustable Rod Holder | 4.6 | $$$ |
  | Lixada Adjustable Rod Holder | 4.3 | $ |
  | Scotty #282-BK Baitcaster Rod Holder | 4.8 | $$$ |
  | RAILBLAZA Rod Holder II | 4.9 | $$$ |
  | PLUSINNO Fishing Boat Rod Holder | 4.3 | $ |
  | CE Smith Tournament 3 Rack Rod Holder | 4.5 | $ |
  | Amarine Made 30 Degree Rod Holders | 4.3 | $ |
| Picture | Anchor Rope | Rating | Price |
It can be top or side-mounted with a 360-degree base and a spring-loaded tension knob for easy adjustment of the angle.
There are also 4 reasonably priced accessories available separately to further adapt the mount to your personal preferences.
- Durable composite material
- 3-position track mounted
- Suitable for baitcasting or spinning rods
- Top or side mountable with a 360-degree base
- Spring-loaded tension knob for quick adjustment to pivot the angle
- Accessories available separately to adapt to your preferences
Rating: 4.7
Price: $$
Attwood 5009-4 Heavy Duty Adjustable Rod Holder
Rod tip heights can be adjusted vertically 180 degrees with the easy-grip large lock-nut.
It’s a quality rod holder for your baitcasting or spinning rods by Attwood which has been in business for more than 100 years.
- Combo mount (to flush mount or surface mount brackets)
- Quick-release latch mechanism with an ergonomic design
- Adjustment with an easy-to-grip large lock-nut
- 180-degree vertical adjustment range for rod tip heights
- Suitable for bait-casting or spinning rods
Rating: 4.6
Price: $$$
You can rotate your rods 360 degrees horizontally, and the up-and-down adjustment is secured with a large locking knob.
Available at very affordable pricing, it’s a solid choice for use with most fishing rods.
- Durable, high-impact-resistant plastic and stainless steel hardware
- 360-degree horizontal rotation
- Front locking ring for secure attachment during travel
- Up and down adjustment with a large locking knob
- Suitable for most salt and freshwater rods
- Low-priced
Rating: 4.3
Price: $
Scotty #282-BK Baitcaster Rod Holder
It has a cushioned cradle for a baitcasting reel, a front slot for a spinning reel, and an open bottom providing space for trigger grips. A soft latching strap holds the reel in place.
Constructed of durable composite material, installation is simple, and it will last for years.
- Includes gearhead and track adapter
- Lockdown rod holders and accessories with a simple twist
- Durable high strength composite material
- Cushioned cradle for a baitcasting reel and a front slot to accommodate a spinning reel
- Soft latching strap to secure reels in place
Rating: 4.8
Price: $$$
With flush or surface mounting options it has a rotating collar to firmly keep your rod in position.
The Starport supports a number of other accessories and it comes in white or black.
- Includes Starport for an adjustable ball and socket mounting
- Surface or flush mounting options
- Stainless steel mounting hardware and durable plastic construction
- Adjustable 360-degree horizontal rotation in 12 setting locations
- 90-degree vertical movement range with a knob for adjustment
- Rotating collar to secure the rod in place
- Comes in white or black
- Range of Railblaza accessories can be mounted on the Starport
Rating: 4.9
Price: $$$
PLUSINNO Fishing Boat Rod Holder
Made with durable and eco-friendly ABS and corrosion-resistant stainless steel hardware, it has 360-degree horizontal rotation, and vertical angle adjustments are adjustable with rotary buttons.
A good match for baitcasting, spin casting, and spinning rods and reels, per piece the pricing is low.
- Comes in 1 or 2 pack
- Durable eco-friendly ABS construction and stainless steel hardware
- Rotary button to control 360-degree horizontal rotation
- Rotary button controls vertical angle adjustment
- 2 available clamp attachments: RH20 opens to 1.97”, RH30 opens to 4.75”
- Suitable for baitcasting, spin casting, and spinning applications
Rating: 4.3
Price: $
CE Smith Tournament 3 Rack Rod Holder
Constructed from sturdy UV-resistant polypropylene with stainless steel hardware, it also has locations to hold 7 fishing lures, a knife, and a pair of pliers.
Great for organizing your rods and gear, it comes in black or white, at very affordable pricing.
- Best for crate mounting
- Durable UV-resistant one-piece molded polypropylene
- Horizontal and vertical mounting holes
- Stainless steel mounting screws
- Includes 3 rod holders, 7 lure hanging holes, 1 knife slot, and 1 pliers slot
- 11” height x 12.5” width
- Comes in black or white
- Low-priced
Rating: 4.5
Price: $
Amarine Made 30 Degree Rod Holders
Constructed of 304 stainless steel with a shiny polished top plate, they are mounted at a 30-degree angle with an 8.66” internal length to hold your rods in a stable fishing position. Construction includes a rubber cap, tube line, gasket, and gimbal pins.
Pricing is quite affordable.
- Flush mounted
- 2 pieces included (1 rod per unit)
- 304 stainless steel tubing and polished top plate
- 30-degree angle to vertical
- Includes rubber cap, tube liner, gasket, and stainless steel gimbal pins
- 8.66-inch centerline length
Rating: 4.3
Price: $
Kayak Rod Holder Buying Guide
Mounting Options
- Clamps – If you are renting a kayak or changing vessels on occasion, this provides a temporary mounting option that won’t require any drilling or potential damage to the structure. Clamp-on rod holders are typically easy to mount.
- Threaded – These have a machined end designed to be screwed into an installed piece. This is a secure mounting system but make sure your kayak has the appropriate piece to connect to.
- Flush – This type requires a hole in the structure of the kayak in which the rod holder is placed so that the top is on the same plane as the kayak structure. It’s a permanent fixture screwed or bolted in.
- Track or Rail – This type of rod holder mounts on tracks or rails that are installed as a permanent fixture of the kayak. Some models will come with the rail portion as part of the package that you can install yourself, usually fairly easily with screws.
- Crate – Certain rod holders are designed to be mounted on crates that you can purchase especially for fishing or that you can customize or fabricate yourself. The crate can be used for the storage of various accessories and items and the framework can serve as the location to mount rod holders. Often times the holders are for multi-rod use like the CE Smith Tournament 3 Rack Rod Holder reviewed above.
Rod Capacity
Most rod holders designed for kayaks hold only one rod at a time. If you want to have more than one rod in use you could consider mounting more than one holder. If you are using the crate mount option outlined just above, then the holders will frequently hold 3 or more rods.
Materials
A kayak rod holder needs to be sturdy enough to withstand the rigors of the environment and the pull of a fish. Many commonly use plastic of one kind or another and stainless steel hardware both of which are corrosion-resistant and fairly strong. These materials are inexpensive. Other materials that in many cases are more durable include aluminum, fiberglass, nylon, and aluminum. These are more expensive but can be more durable in the long run.
For more reviews of boats, kayaks, canoes, and accessories, please check out these popular posts:
Anchor Ropes Boat Anchors Kayak Storage Racks Kayak Compasses Kayak Anchors Kayak Bilge Pumps Inflatable Canoes Electric Pumps for Inflatables Motorized Kayaks Pedal Kayaks Ocean Fishing Kayaks Fishing Kayak Paddles Waterproof Bags Canoe Paddles Canoes Kayak Shoes Kayak Helmets Kayak Wetsuits Kayak Roof Racks Kayak Carts Kayak Drysuit Review Kayak Paddles Kayak Life Vests Women Kayak Life Vests Marine VHF Radios Small Outboard Motors Kayak Trolling Motors Kayak Fish Finders Marine GPS Marine Binoculars Women’s Kayaks Touring Kayaks Tandem Kayaks Whitewater Kayaks for Beginners Lake Kayaks Ocean Kayaks Fishing Kayaks Beginner Kayaks Recreational Kayaks Inflatable Kayaks Inflatable Boats
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