How to make Prof. Salt's rod leashes

This video is in response to questions about how I made the rod leashes I use on the kayaks. Making them is pretty simple and cost effective. I also include how to adapt them for paddle leashes. Enjoy.

[@richardthaxton8469]

I followed your instructions and made several leashes. I agree that making and using DIY pieces of gear is far more fun than going out and buying them. Thanks for the video.

[@shamsheed6479]

Nice Video, very informative thank you. Also Just a bit of advice to tighten the coil, after you finish what you did just put one end in a drill and reverse the coil, by turning it the other way round, you'll see that you'll get a better tighter coil.

[@frankiej1230]

great idea my friend, keep those videos going, haven't gone in surf in kayak yet, friends r afraid in the east cut jetties

[@miestro51]

This is one of the most practical and useful videos I've seen for kayakers, beginners to pros. Very well done, and thank you.

[@wgmadden1]

You're welcome and thanks for the compliment. I didn't invent that style of leash but had lots of folks asking about how to make them. Now you know!

[@tonygonzalez7029]

Hello Glenn, Your the man!!!! Ive been wanting to make these myself and been searching all over the net for them....FINALLY!!! someone that shows u, woohoo, cant wait to get off of work, gonna hit HOME DEPOT, just stareted fixing up my new OUTCAST FISHCAT 4 so need rod leahes and man did this come at the perfect time.....thanks again! u DA MAN thanks a million Tony G

[@ricoloco3754]

Thank you Professor, I finished my leash and they work like you said. You are a real help and I can feel you really like teaching. Thank you again.

[@KayakFrank]

Looks much better than the bungee ones I made. I can't get a long enough stretch on mine, contrary to yours. Also yours are very lightweight compared to the bungee ones. I will "borrow" the wife's pan (when she isn't looking), and get a couple of these going. Great work.

[@HIMEESE]

whoa! you just gave me another idea with the zip ties,now i can cut my size down on the carabiner, to my reel.Thx again!!! Glenn. Gotta love you tube video's for great ideas!!

[@danalvarez146]

That's exactly what I needed...Thanks Glen!

[@bassiclogic]

Thanks for the great video!

[@ceejkay]

Hey Prof. salt i just got a kayak and this has helped me out. leashes are a must have for a beginner. thanks for the vid; tight lines- Ceejkay

[@ceejkay]

great vid. ive used old car chargers but never thought to use weed wacker string.. Thanks for sharing

[@BluPhiTray]

Great video Prof. Salt

[@fabrizziov]

I cant tell you just how much this helps me! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@fcojavierhdezrobles]

Nice video, hope to see more

[@stoner516r]

Great video. I've been using paranoid leashes they work but always get tangled. I know this is an older video but I got cramps in my hand. I chucked it up and set it on torque held the line with a blue towel and quickened the process. Incidentally we have similar jobs. 91D in the army. Spent the last 25 years working for ortho. Gotta love this stuff doing what we do. Keep up the great videos

[@wgmadden1]

Thanks, Stephen. The drill is used in the second video, as hand cramps are pretty common while making several leashes at a time. Ortho is a great specialty, and thanks for your service!

[@OsodeJefe]

Wow. And your right I went out same day and made two (.095) size they are so strong and hard to cut. Also did the backwards thing so much better. These will be so much better then my crab line. Thanks Glenn for the videos.

[@joedixon6779]

easy and very functional... nice job...

[@wgmadden1]

I'm glad it helped, Tony. I will make another video soon to show some additional tricks to make them faster and easier to produce.

[@MilSimFotog]

thanks, wonderful DIY video. Love it. I will prob make some. I used phone cords, steal them already premade:)

[@JUBA223]

Great tip! thanks so much : )

[@bradcurtis9562]

Very helpful. Thank you for taking the time to make the video.

[@thomasroylane]

Thanks mate great idea.

[@mmccourt1981]

Excellent video, thanks for taking the time to show us

[@armandocastellanos7544]

awsome...great great idea professor

[@richardmarsh7378]

Back twisting the loops will make it come together

[@scottsmolik4795]

Awesome video. Thanks for showing how you do it.

[@kyearnold9728]

thank you sir :)

[@THEFALCON58]

I reverse the coils back the other way and this tightens them up more spring then put on heat shrink tube then crip both ends. then shrink it with a heat gun

[@loganhudson9928]

love this vid! make some red ones because it's greens opposite color! nice yak too! yak on!!!

[@ShutterUp]

Thank you Glen. I made a couple last night. I had one major fail but the other one is perfect. The one that failed was thinner line, longer and I reverse twisted it right out of the freezer. The successful one, was thicker line, and I let it sit on the rod overnight. Off to the hardware today to get the crimps. I got them all set up, told my wife about it, next thing I know she told me they were done boiling, wow! Thanks honey. I wonder if you could heat shrink the crimps so they don't make so much noise on the hull of the kayak? I mainly bass fish. I think I'll try it if I have heat shrink large enough.

[@edgit69]

Awesome job

[@OzoneSnowboarding]

This is awesome! Keep up the great vids and I cant wait to try this out.

[@wgmadden1]

You guys keep the questions coming, and when they warrant video responses I will try and put them out.

[@doby97]

Thanks for sharing, hope to make me some soon.

[@NickWeissMusic]

What a great resource, I fish from a SUP board and lost a rod today, luckily just a $60 setup, but hey, I'd be pretty steamed if I crumpled up $60 cash and threw it in the ocean. That sucked. I tried a paracord leash before but it would get in the way when casting so I stopped using it... You know, because I was so careful I never dropped the rod anyway. Ugh, never again, so lucky it wasn't one of my USA made falcon rods. There are leashes available out there but all the good ones are at least $20 each, and I doubt they are as light and easily retractable as this, the Hobie ones look to be elastic based, simply can't be as compact. As a modification, You can also buy bracelet type clips on amazon/eBay/craft store to make it removable that way... But then you have to make sure you re-clip it, right? I'll never forget to, right? :) great video and thanks again!

[@wgmadden1]

The best thing about this leash is that a hook can't get caught in it. Paracord and most others can get a hook impaled in them, and it really makes a mess that usually requires pushing the hook through and cutting it or destroying the leash. Coil leashes aren't affected by hooks. Whatever clip you use, make sure it's strong. I had a shark yank the rod from my hands once, and I was able to pull the rod back aboard and land the fish because the attachments on the leash were strong. Good luck!

[@TheChrisimons]

+Glenn Madden (Prof. Salt) any videos of your shark fishing adventures?

[@TheChrisimons]

+Glenn Madden (Prof. Salt) any videos of your shark fishing adventures?

[@wgmadden1]

+Chris Simons kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6uWdGSgg5eLrLs here's one that was a good workout. There are several if you look though my list of videos. Sharks are never my target species, but they seem to find me pretty often anyway.

[@bobbarker2515]

Awesome. To get a long one just use a cake pan in the oven!

[@shaymurrihy5020]

Mate u have saved me liads of cash cheers

[@wgmadden1]

Glad it helped! I made a new and improved video that explains how to tighten up those coils so they spring out of the way when not being used.

[@dphams1]

Good job Glen :) peeps need to see this one more gain manG!

[@wgmadden1]

Glad you like 'em!

[@Broxty]

Thanks man!

[@gregorymccardle4004]

Awesome!!

[@chickencoopsessions9671]

yea this is good stuff

[@stringsbytoby]

awesome

[@THEFALCON58]

I use a cordless drill on slow speed very slow

[@andreweddy86]

Awesome video. How long of trimmer line would make a good paddle leash before the curling process?

[@wgmadden1]

About the same as the rod leashes. A dowel or rod cut to fit within a good sized sauce pan will give you a leash long enough to work with a rod or paddle. The ones in the video will stretch over six feet.

[@bluesteelworx]

I am wondering about the paddle with the ruler marked on it

[@bassiclogic]

What size Carabiners are those and where did you purchase them ?

[@jimspencer5746]

Glenn.. so do you keep this clipped to your rod and anchor trolley all the time? IE when you are casting/fishing? or do you only keep it clipped to the trolley when u are moving? It seems like it would get in the way while fishing?

[@wgmadden1]

Clip them to the left side of the reel base, and they will stay out of the way while you fish. Kayaking offshore is a dicey place to dangle expensive gear off the side of the kayak. I have had fish pull the rod/reel right out of my control and into the water a few times. There are guys who only leash the rods while moving through the surf zone (probably the most dangerous time for gear) but I run them clipped in all the time. Leashes save my gear!

[@Labyrnthdom]

Hey I was looking and if you reverse the coial after it cools. Your leash will be tighter coil and not so flimsy

[@wgmadden1]

I figured that out, and did them that way on my second leash video. Good observation and it works really well.

[@wgmadden1]

+Neil Watterson I explain it and demonstrate starting at 3:33 in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6iqcp55adSSrrs

[@OsodeJefe]

What is the max load before failure? Also genius.

[@wgmadden1]

Using 30lb braid I had a rod jerked from my kayak last summer. I was able to use the leash to get my rod back, then landed the 100lb shark who tried to steal the gear. I was only running 7 or 8 lbs of drag, but the leash held tight. Break strength should be much higher than that.

[@EstiloeFestas]

I am Brazilian and I saw his video , I wonder what the name of this product line that uses yellow

[@wgmadden1]

+Regina DOS ANJOS Any weed trimmer line will work. I bought this one from Home Depot, and I believe they sell it on their online site.

[@getnalinewet5199]

great idea...do you have any idea the weight they'll hold if a big fish hits? just had my 1st experience losing a pole salt fishing...smh... more pissed off because I don't know what took it LOL no bites, just up and over the rail ot went and watching it swim through the water...smh

[@wgmadden1]

I was fighting a six foot shark and needed to put the rod down and pull in another line, so I wedged it under one leg. The shark changed direction and made a fast run, and the rod shot out into the water, but I was able to pull it back in by the leash. If you put them together correctly they hold more weight than you will need. It's not a bad idea to load test them near the crimps to be sure those are strong. The crimps are the weakest link and will be where it fails if it ever does. As long as you don't compress the crimp to the point that it cuts into the trimmer line, the leashes should be able to lift more than your reel can.

[@getnalinewet5199]

Glenn Madden ive made a few since watching your vid and thanks...i had them all wraped and crimped and tested with a 50lb dumbbell bouncing it pretty rough because if it's going to fail I'd rather fail in my garage than on the water and it held up perfectly, thank you

[@andreweddy86]

What size of trimmer line do you use? I tried .90/.95 and it didnt budge. I then tried .80 and not much better. I wrapped it extremely tight. I used pvc pipe to wrap it. Could it be a difference in using wood that expands in water compared to pvc?

[@wgmadden1]

I'm not sure what's going on with your results, Eddy. I don't wrap under extreme pressure, just get the line to coil nice and clean on the rod, then boil for ten minutes/keep in ice water or freezer for ten minutes. If you shorten the time, the line will not take a set.

[@TR-ry1xv]

Th PVC is most likely the issue, It is probably have the same reaction to the heat as the line. Use a bolt(do not touch with hands) or wooden spoon

[@wgmadden1]

theoretically it shouldn't make a difference, just be sure to boil it for 10 then put in freezing water for 10 before trying to uncoil the line. It has to remain coiled through the process or it won't work. Try with a wooden dowell if you are still having trouble.

[@crazyturtle360]

Nice video, better then using rope.

[@michaelwilson1419]

Does the diameter of the dowel make a big difference?

[@wgmadden1]

+michael wilson Diameter of the dowel will determine the diameter of the coiled leash, although the leash will have larger coils than your dowel. Dowels of 1/4 to 3/8 inch tend to produce coils about the same size as commercial coiled leashes.

[@tdadarwala]

where did you get the ruler on your paddle?

[@wgmadden1]

The paddle, a Canon Wave, has the ruler built into the finish. It's convenient, but not long enough for many offshore fish. I ended up building a folding 50" bump board for the large fish.

[@MilSimFotog]

can I just microwave it?

[@get2steve]

The only problem I have with this idea is if the trimmer line is UV resistant. The sun may weaken this trimmer line over time and may fail.

[@wgmadden1]

If you store the leashes, or your kayak for that matter outside in the sun, they will eventually weaken. I store them inside, and after two or three years they may start looking a little chalky so I make new ones. Store bought leashes will wear out too, and it doesn't bother me to make new ones every few years.

[@get2steve]

Glenn Madden Thanks, Glenn! Great video, great idea!

[@dsoutdoors7195]

Could you use wood dowels?

[@wgmadden1]

+Diesel Absolutely, but wood may not last as long as fiberglass or other materials if you plan to make a large number of leashes. For making a dozen or so, a wood dowel would work fine.

[@dsoutdoors7195]

+Glenn Madden (Prof. Salt) ok thank you!

[@dalenehokanson5700]

What size paracord? 4mm?

[@wgmadden1]

I'm using grass trimmer line for the leashes, and any size will work but most folks prefer the .80 or .95 line. I have seen where some folks are taking paracord and threading the trimmer line leash onto paracord for a softer leash, but I don't quite get the appeal of doing that.

[@Manuel_Z_Kayaks]

CHECK THIS OUT.... No coils tangling into my lines and other stuff. I went to the DOLLAR TREE and bought a dog leash! Actually, I bought 5 to leash my rods, grippers, pliers...etc. Oh yeah and they matched my KAYAK! PROBLEM SOLVED!

[@noahturner1508]

Can you use stainless steel as a rod

[@wgmadden1]

+Trigger Pen I would think so. I used what was handy in the garage, but SS should work fine.

[@easterstedman236]

You can make it yourself, just loook and learn from woodprix.

[@the_forgotten_angler]

I'D RATHER JUST PAY THE 6 BUCKS.

[@wgmadden1]

Nothing wrong with that, but I choose to help others who want to make their own.