What rod holder to purchase?

I am looking to purchase a rod holder to start spider rigging from the front of my 16' Bass Tracker. I would greatly appreciate any feed back from those who have used the Mr. Crappie pro series rod holder compared to the Drift master Lil T with Lil pro rod holders or Tite Lok black widow spider Rig. I use 11' BnM jigging poles with spincasting reels. I am looking to purchase one of the above and am looking for the better quality holder since they are all in the same price range. Thanks to all and good luck fishing. SMITTY 58D

Before I purchased any I would check out the ones that a fellow Crappie.com member manufactures and sells. His web sight is www.hitekstuff.com. I have heard several good reports on them. I personally have the tite-lok brand ultras on my boat and like them very much but purchased them before the hitekstuff ones were produced. I just don't like the idea of the plastic ones that are sold by Mr. Crappie.

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Originally Posted by RogerA

Before I purchased any I would check out the ones that a fellow Crappie.com member manufactures and sells. His web sight is www.hitekstuff.com. I have heard several good reports on them. I personally have the tite-lok brand ultras on my boat and like them very much but purchased them before the hitekstuff ones were produced. I just don't like the idea of the plastic ones that are sold by Mr. Crappie.

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These look really good.

Yes I agree with Roger go to that site and look at the pics of Brad Whitheads boat very nice set up.I'll have me a few sets if I ever get rid of the homemade ones i have.Hey Smitty I saw where you say you use spinning reels I beleive you will find out that baitcasters work a hole bunch better.It sure is a lot easier for me to strip off 22 1/2 foot of line from a baitcaster.Thats just my two cents.If i was rigging my boat to start I'd rig it like Brad has his he uses baitcasters also.Good luck

I've got a Mr Crappie T-bar with 4 holders sitting on the floor behind me.
I got it at Cabelas (on sale for $75). Haven't installed it yet but I can tell you this much: It is very sturdy and well designed. It is BIG... 26" bar. It adjusts and can be removed from the base without any tools. The holders are a bit stiff when removing from the T-bar but a little parafin or soap should cure that. When removing the T-bar from the base or removing a holder from the T-bar, the bar (or holder) must be pulled up and turned 180 degrees before it will come completly off. A safety feature I find annoying... but would keep a holder from falling in the lake.
If I keep the unit, I will add the 6" extender to raise the entire bar enough to clear my trolling mtr when the bar is mounted in the front. It's ok the way it is when mounted on the sides or in the back. The bar itself raises the holders 11" from where they would be if flush mounted.

I am considering returning the unit only because I have a very small boat (Champion Mean 16), and would prefer a smaller bar. I am considering the Hi Tek but am leaning toward the Bee Ready http://www.beereadys.com/ 3 holder model with riser because it is only 12" wide and because it looks like it would be easier to adjust and move around using multiple bases than the Hi Tek. If I planned to spider rig all the time... and had the cash to put 4 units on the boat, it wouldn't matter but I'd like to install 4 bases so I could move both units to the front for spider rigging or one in the bow and one in the back when still fishing or drifting with a buddy.

Like you, I'd appreciate any input from anyone who uses their T-bars this way.

Hey thanks guys I'll take a look at the websites you suggested. I'm going to switch to a bait caster here in the near future, the spin cast are alright but I think my bait casters are alot more efficient when it comes to this kinda fishing. Thanks again for all the great input. If anyone else out there has any ideas let us know. Smitty 58D

Looked at everything again... Think I'm going with the Hi-Tek... Probably the 12" bar with only two holders. Plan to put the bases on all four corners... Might go with a triple holders in back... use one to hold a PVC pipe to keep a light away from the boat when night stalking. Or I could get a bigger boat. :)

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Originally Posted by ShortStorie

I am considering returning the unit only because I have a very small boat (Champion Mean 16), and would prefer a smaller bar. I am considering the Hi Tek but am leaning toward the Bee Ready http://www.beereadys.com/ 3 holder model with riser because it is only 12" wide and because it looks like it would be easier to adjust and move around using multiple bases than the Hi Tek. If I planned to spider rig all the time... and had the cash to put 4 units on the boat, it wouldn't matter but I'd like to install 4 bases so I could move both units to the front for spider rigging or one in the bow and one in the back when still fishing or drifting with a buddy.

Like you, I'd appreciate any input from anyone who uses their T-bars this way.

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The Hi-Tek holders are very easy to move around with extra bases and are more adjustable than the Bee Ready. Then again I do make them and I am probably bias but there are several people on this site that uses them. Maybe another user can add some input.

I bought two of the fixed beeready with extra bases. I love them. I use up to an 12' crappie poles on them. I've used them for heavy catfishing, etc. I am going to order me two more this week. I have them mounted on an crappiepro.

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Originally Posted by SMITTY 58D

I am looking to purchase a rod holder to start spider rigging from the front of my 16' Bass Tracker. I would greatly appreciate any feed back from those who have used the Mr. Crappie pro series rod holder compared to the Drift master Lil T with Lil pro rod holders or Tite Lok black widow spider Rig. I use 11' BnM jigging poles with spincasting reels. I am looking to purchase one of the above and am looking for the better quality holder since they are all in the same price range. Thanks to all and good luck fishing. SMITTY 58D

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I've got Little Drifters, Tite-Loks and various others, but I bought a pair of Scotts a little over a year ago and absolutely love them. Their without a doubt the best I've ever use. What I really like about them is that the rod is so easy to grab when a fish hits, not having to reach in between the yolk of the holder (Tite-Lok) or way out in front the reel and yolk of the Little Drifter, when I'm using long handled rods. As of this week, I now have six sets of his and I'm mounting them all on a boat today that I just bought. Plan on selling the others for scrap metal real soon!

Give them a real hard look and I believe you'll like them!

Thanks guys for the input. Scott I'll probably be sending you a request for the 2 two rod holders in the next few weeks. Is there any special tools needed to install the holders?

Scott...Thanks for answering my post... I had come to the same conclusion.
Just debating between the "short" two holder and the three holder. Will probably spring for 4set ups and two extra bases.

In the photo, the 2 rod holder with the 12" crossbar LOOKS shorter than the 4 holder bar mounted on the same boat. Know it says they are both 18" ... Is it just my eyes, the camera angle, or was that particular set up actually lower?

Also, on the 18" 3 holder set up, do you mount two holders on one side of the riser and one on the other? Don't see how it could work any other way.

Thanks,
Mark

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Originally Posted by ShortStorie

Scott...Thanks for answering my post... I had come to the same conclusion.
Just debating between the "short" two holder and the three holder. Will probably spring for 4set ups and two extra bases.

In the photo, the 2 rod holder with the 12" crossbar LOOKS shorter than the 4 holder bar mounted on the same boat. Know it says they are both 18" ... Is it just my eyes, the camera angle, or was that particular set up actually lower?

Also, on the 18" 3 holder set up, do you mount two holders on one side of the riser and one on the other? Don't see how it could work any other way.

Thanks,
Mark

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The short actually has a shorter upright (eventhough there is a screw up on the website) but I can also make the 18" upright with the 12" bar on top. Just let me know before or when you order exactly what you are looking for.

Yes, 2 holders are mounted on one side and one on the other.

Thanks for your interest!

You won't be dissapointed with the Hi-Tek rod holders Scott makes. Very sturdy and lots of adjustment.

I have a couple of these rigs for the front of my boat... They are very sturdy, well-built holders. I went with the 5/8 inch base with a four-pole holder. I bought 2 of them and have really enjoyed them so far... Just something else to look @ f you haven't purchased one.

http://www.perottibilt.com/

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Originally Posted by callshy

The short actually has a shorter upright (eventhough there is a screw up on the website) but I can also make the 18" upright with the 12" bar on top. Just let me know before or when you order exactly what you are looking for.

Yes, 2 holders are mounted on one side and one on the other.

Thanks for your interest!

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Scott,
What diameter is the bar? Is it stainless or aluminum stock? I'm planning on installing what amounts to a rail with three risers in a triangular pattern that will be within easy reach from my boat seat. I'll be using 4 rod holders on each leg of the triangle (8 in all) and would be interested in your product if the bar is strong enough to span about 30 inches for each side of the triangle without too much flexing.

I love my Tite-lock holders. They are strong and adjustable to most types of fishing.

I ordered my Hi-Tek's today. Four 2 holder set ups with 18" risers and 12" top bars. Two extra mounting plates so I can change the arrangement for still fishing, spider rigging or even long line trolling.

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Originally Posted by SpeckChaser

Scott,
What diameter is the bar? Is it stainless or aluminum stock? I'm planning on installing what amounts to a rail with three risers in a triangular pattern that will be within easy reach from my boat seat. I'll be using 4 rod holders on each leg of the triangle (8 in all) and would be interested in your product if the bar is strong enough to span about 30 inches for each side of the triangle without too much flexing.

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3/4" solid aluminum rod. Are you saying that you would want 15" sticking out each side of the riser post? I am thinking it would be sturdy enough.

I would recommend Hi-tek to anyone. Rigged up my boat this past week and put them to the test at Logan Martin and they worked like a champ!