Bruised belly

[john]

Here's an oddball question. I came back from Belize this past weekend with the usual rod butt belly bruises. I know that's a good thing, but looking at Jay's La Paz video it's clear to me I need to come up with something to at least minimize these on that trip. Has anyone used something that works? I'm thinking about one of those wider wading belts, that are promoted for back fatigue, worn backward. Any ideas?

[Darian]

Hmmmm,.... Belly bruises.... :?: :?: Haven't had any of those from down there.... :| Maybe I've been it wrong.... :unibrow: :rolleyes:

Anyway, John, there's a relatively inexpensive belt that you can buy that has a padded front with a cup to insert the butt of the rod into. The buckle is a quick release type. They're designed for use with a boat rod. Forgot the name of it, tho. :confused:

Out here, every salt water shop carries, em. They're relative inexpensive and comfortable (altho, I always forget to wear mine until I've got something on that requires it). Sometimes the Panga Captains carry one for their passengers use. :cool:

Actually, the only time I've ever used one was on a Marlin about 5 years ago that took a bait (:eek:) while trolling with a boat rod back to the dock at the end of the day. I was sure glad I had it on the day. :wink:

[Tony Buzolich]

A couple of my guys last year brought them and were glad they did.

One problem with them was the size of one cup. The fighting butt on some of the larger rods (11w.-12w.+) are quite big and wouldn't fit into the cup of the belt. The other fellow's belt worked fine after he removed a gimbel pin.

Battle scars like those make great stories.

[mems]

Tell em its a hicky

[john]

Thanx and I appreciate that no one told to do my sit-ups and harden those abs.

[bubzilla]

Has anyone used something that works? I'm thinking about one of those wider wading belts, that are promoted for back fatigue, worn backward.

I got the idea for trying that from Trey Combs' book. It works perfectly. I have the older style Simms belt that was designed for back support. I take a fighting belt with a gimble too that I use for billfish, but the Simms belt is a much better way to go for all but my biggest rods that have gimbles, e.g., Sigler 14, Beulah 13/15. The biggest problem with the conventional tackle belts with rod holders--gimble or otherwise--is that they are designed for fighting fish with gear rods, i.e., rod butt low with the rod tip up and the angler pumping up and down to bring the fish in. If you do that with a fly rod, you'd better bring extra rods 'cause you're going to bust 'em from anlger error, i.e., high sticking. With the wading belt turned backwards, which lets you put the rod butt in the middle of your stomach rather than down quite a bit lower as with a conventional fighting belt, you can keep the rod tip down where it's supposed to be, i.e., pointed to the water and short stroked up no more than 90 degrees, and get the flex in the butt of the fly rod appropriately. Anyway, I still end up with some bruises if the fishing is good, but nothing like I would without the belt. When you're talking about being hooked to a billfish, particularly a marlin, with a rod that designed for it, the conventional belt with the gimble is very nice.