Okay, so, picture this: I’m a big fishing guy, love hitting the road in my SUV, rods packed, ready for the next big catch. But, man, transporting those fishing poles? Always a pain, right? They’re either sliding around in the back, getting tangled, or, worst-case scenario, snapping in half. Not cool.

I tried everything. I’ve used bungee cords, tying them down every which way. I even tried stuffing them in those fabric tube holders, but they still moved around too much, especially when I hit a bump. It was frustrating, to say the least. I just wanted something that would hold my fishing poles securely, without taking up a ton of space.
So, I started looking around, asking my fishing buddies, reading online forums, the whole nine yards. And then, I stumbled upon this idea, DIY fishing pole holder for my SUV. The whole idea is using the existing hanger hooks in my SUV. I thought, “Why not?”
Here’s what I did: I grabbed some sturdy bungee cords, the kind that wouldn’t stretch out or snap easily. Then, I took the reels off my rods – that’s key to making them fit better. I hooked one end of the bungee cord to the hanger hook on one side of my SUV’s roof and stretched it across to the hook on the other side. I did this a couple of times, making a sort of cradle for the rods.
Next, I carefully laid my rods along the length of the SUV, resting them on the bungee cords. It was a bit like making a makeshift hammock for them, but inside the car. I made sure the rods were snug and wouldn’t slide around, and adjusted the tension on the bungee cords until it felt just right.
The Result
- No more sliding: The rods stayed put, even on bumpy roads.
- Easy access: When I got to my fishing spot, I just unhooked the bungees, and my rods were ready to go.
- Space saver: It didn’t take up any extra room in my SUV.
Honestly, it was a game-changer. It’s not some fancy, store-bought solution, but it works like a charm. Now, I can focus on the fishing, not worrying about my gear getting messed up. If you’re an SUV-driving angler like me, give this a shot. It’s simple, cheap, and it really does the trick. Happy fishing, folks!