It doesn’t take many ice fishing seasons to accumulate a pile of gear that fills your sled. But don’t rush out and buy a bigger one just yet. Instead, try maximizing your ice fishing sled’s useable space with clever accessories like an ice rod holder. Plus, keeping your ice rods organized and safe from damage is a major bonus for any ice angler.
However, we have discovered that rod holders designed for mounting to an ice fishing sled are virtually non-existent. But we still did the research and found the few ice rod holder options out there. There are some you can buy and plenty you can DIY. So stick around to find out what it takes to modify your ice fishing sled for this upcoming season.
Ice fishing sled rod holders worth buying
Do a quick google search for ice fishing sled rod holders and you won’t see much. For such a useful addition on a sled, that is surprising. However, there are a few worth considering.
Eagle Claw Jet Sled Ice Rod Holder
The first is the Eagle Claw jet sled rod mount. It is specifically designed to work on any sled with a wide, flat brim on the top. You can either use it with a T-track if you have one mounted on your sled, which allows you to position it anywhere along the length of the track. Or you can fasten it directly to the sled brim.
This is a really good option that comes with everything you need to make it work. It also has plenty of vertical adjustability to keep your rods from dragging through the slush and snow.
There are a couple draw backs though. First, it’s kind of clunky and it’s a pain to install securely. Second, it only comes with two rod holders. I know two rods should be plenty for any angler on the ice but lets face it, for many of us, two is the minimum and collecting ice fishing rods for every type of fish and style of jigging is a bit of a sickness we gladly treat with more rods.
With that said, if you choose this rod holder, you’ll probably end up buying 2 sets so you can transport an assortment of rods onto the lake. Especially, if you live in a region that allows multiple lines at one time. But now you’re spending over $35 plus shipping, to get the rod storage you need. However, it is still a great option if you like the features Eagle Claw offers.
Wall Style Rod Holder
The next rod holder we’ve seen many ice anglers use is a standard wall mount rod holder like this one.
You can find it on Amazon for $20-$25. These are durable rod holders that can be adapted for use on a sled quite easily. Plus, it has the added benefit of holding 3 different rods so now you don’t need to decide which one gets carelessly tossed into the sled.
Here’s what we don’t like about this rod holder though. It’s huge. Putting it on your sled as-is isn’t very practical. Mounting it on the outside of your sled will leave it dragging on the ice and putting it on the inside takes up too much sled space.
If you have a Smitty sled that elevates your sled off the ice on skis, then it’s not such an issue. However, without a Smitty sled setup you’ll need to modify the rod holder before you mount it.
You can easily do that by cutting it in half with a hacksaw. It still holds small ice rods securely and it doesn’t drag through the snow. But it does look a little sloppy if your cuts aren’t perfect. On top of that, you’ll also want to cut the mounting bolts so they don’t stick out into your sled.
At the end of the day, it’s a workable solution for transporting ice rods on a sled. However, it’s far from the best option.
The New Fishing Duo Ice Rod Holder
After all our searching for ice sled rod holders, the previous two were all we could find worth trying. But we really didn’t want to settle for those two choices and we don’t think you should either.
So, that’s why we’ve spent the last 4 months creating our own rod holder specifically designed for ice fishing sleds. And now you can get your very own too!
It combines the best features of the first two holders while avoiding most of the drawbacks. We put a lot of effort into creating a rod holder that is based on real world ice fishing experience.
Our FishingDuo ice rod holder is compact, durable, won’t drag on the ice, fast and easy to install and fits most sleds. Plus, it looks good too!
We offset the reel seat notches so 3 rods fit in a compact space without snagging on each other. On top of that, we include an outdoor-proof rubber strap for securing your rods in place so you don’t loose them, especially when pulling behind a snow mobile.
We made sure this rod holder works for every ice angler. And if you think it’s worth trying, you can check them out at fishingduostore.com. We are a husband and wife team 3D printing every one of these rod holders right from our home in the USA.
So, if you want to support a local small business, this is the rod holder for you. Oh and we should mention, it’s equally affordable and we also provide free shipping within the United States. Check it out! We’d love to hear what you think!
DIY Ice Rod Holders
Those are the best rod holders you can buy but what about DIY options?
Well, if you have seen my previous Smitty sled articles and videos with my custom-made rod holder, then you know what’s possible with a little effort and creativity. A lot of you really liked that one so be sure to check out the video on our Youtube channel.
That DIY rod holder is made from PVC pipes and aluminum flat bar. Altogether, it costs about $20 to make and it’s a very sturdy and compact design. The major draw back is the time and tools needed to make it. I spent almost 2 hours building this and you’ll need a vise, propane torch and power tools to get the job done.
That’s another reason we created a rod holder you can buy. The cost is about the same and you’ll spend more time fishing instead of working in the cold garage.
If you are handy with some basic woodworking tools then you could also make a DIY rod holder super easy with leftover wood scraps. I made this one in less than an hour. It won’t be as weather proof and it doesn’t have all the features you may need but it’s certainly better than tossing your rods hap hazardously into your sled or in a bucket.
You will definitely love having an ice sled rod holder
There you have it. Five ice fishing sled rod holders to choose from. I hope that simplified your search and inspires you to improve your ice fishing setup with the simple addition of a rod holder. And again, please consider checking out our FishingDuo Ice Rod Holder. We are confident you’ll be happy with it on your sled!
As always, your support means a lot. Our fellow anglers are what makes this worth while. Also, be sure to explore more of FishingDuo.com for ice fishing tutorials and other content. Good luck this season and we’ll see you on the ice!
