Tips on Rigging: Rocket Launchers and Anchor Trolley

[Peter Poletti]

By adding rocket launchers one can double or triple the capacity of a regular flush mount rod holder. I used 1 1/4-inch PVC pipe.

In regards to the anchor trolley, I run 2 separate lines to prevent the rope from running over the cockpit and it also slides easier.

[Salt Fly Girl]

Wow - Thanks for posting these pictures ! Home Depot here I come !

[Christopher Anderson]

Sweet set up! i have a Tarpon 160 i'll have to try this with. Thanks!

[Erick Bell]

Peter, nice job. Another trick when using the anchor trolley is to use bungy rather than rope at the pad eye giving a little give. I also use it to connect to my harken blocks rather than the clip. Have you found any advantage to using rope and clips, rather than bungy....or is that just the way you did it?

[Peter Poletti]

no particular advantage Erick.....just a small modification from the original design that I learned from Dave Loger. The nylon rope does give a little when wet though.

[Todd Llewellyn]

I have had the rocket launcher set up for years. Works great.

Be careful putting them on your casting side as you tend to forget they are back there and it can be a real mess when you hook rods on your backcast. Of course that only happens when the fish are in perfect casting range.

[John A. Mortensen]

Like everything EXCEPT the CCA sticker, not a big fan of theirs.. JAM

[Jeff Madre]

Yep, it's different being on Hatteras where the recreational and commercial fishermen have to stick together, isn't it?

[ron romeis]

do you guys ever have a problem getting hooks snagged in all that rope... I can snag a hook on a smooth deck it seems... can't imagine what it would be like with all the rope along the sides of the boat....

[Peter Poletti]

not really much of a problem, you just have to be careful. I've had treble hooks from a topwater lure snagged a couple of times while bringing the fish close to the kayak. If you flatten the barbs, the problem's solved. Also on the backcast like Todd mentioned above it's possible to snag a rod but this can be solved by lowering the angles of the rocket launchers to have the rods sticking out parallel to the kayak, and using an overhead cast. However, not a good thing when you're trying to skip a DOA shrimp under mangroves.

[JC Cormier]

That looks like a neat anchor trolley set-up. Have you ever used drag-chain anchors? I'm looking for a set-up for this as where I fish for sea-trout and atlantic salmon the current is a little too swift for the kind of anchor you have (I have the same) as you don't want to stop in your tracks or you will swamp, but rather slow you down so you can flyfish more accurately.

[Peter Poletti]

This set up should work for any type of anchor you use. My only concern would be current strength. Too strong a current might pull the screws off; I can't see that happening in the type of conditions I fish though.
You may want to consider a different, stronger method for attaching the plastic eyes.
Let us know how it works.

[Juan Veruete]

interesting. I like the way you "split" the anchor trolley.