Fishing Rod Holders and Storage Racks for Home

One of the funny things about fishing rods is they tend to multiply. For most anglers, you start with a rod or two, and then suddenly, you’ve got two dozen of the things in every corner of your house. 

Unless you live alone, it’s only a matter of time before your spouse, roommates, or whoever else starts to grow tired of your growing fishing rod collection. So, what’s an angler to do? 

Fishing rod holders and storage racks, of course! Today, there’s no shortage of racks and rod holders available. Whether you’re storing a handful of rods, or dozens of them, there’s a rack or rod holder to fit your needs. 

There are plenty of excellent options on the market, but you can also build a suitable storage rack yourself. 

Read on as we cover everything you need to know about fishing rod holders and storage racks. We’ll cover the different kinds of fishing rod holders for home, show you some of the best options available, and share some do-it-yourself fishing rod holder woodworking plans if you prefer to craft your own rack.

Rod Holder Configurations 

Fishing rod holders come in various shapes, sizes, and materials. But, before we consider any of those characteristics, you’ll want to consider whether the rod holder has a vertical or horizontal configuration. Depending on the area you’re trying to store the rods, you’re likely to find that one configuration is a better fit for you than the other. 

Vertical rod holders are usually slotted at the bottom to accommodate the butt of the rod, and the top piece of the holder supports the top half of the rod. Since gravity keeps the rod safely in place, vertical holders don’t usually have any mechanism to lock the rod into the holder. 

Horizontal rod holders utilize a similar design, but since gravity is working against the rod holder instead of with it, there’s usually a clasp or some other simple locking mechanism to keep your rods from falling out of the rack. 

Many anglers choose to mount their rod holders on the ceiling of their garage, basement, or workshop. If you’re mounting from the ceiling, you’ll want to use a horizontal rod holder because they’ll keep your rods securely hanging from the ceiling. 

Many anglers would prefer not to mount their rod holder to a wall or ceiling. If that sounds like you, a floor unit is the best option for you. Floor rod holders have a bit more design appeal than wall or ceiling-mounted holders, and they’re typically finished in a beautiful wood grain that adds to the decor of the room. 

Floor units store your rods a few inches off the floor, and they often have additional areas for tackle and accessory storage. Floor units tend to be the most attractive way to store your rods, but they come with a few caveats. 

The biggest issue is those floor units take up more space while other rod holders mount to the walls or ceiling, keeping your rods safely out of the way and maximizing your usable space. The height of your ceiling may also come into play with a floor holder. 

If you’re a surf caster, you’d need to store your rods in a room with incredibly high ceilings. Most standard rooms can only accommodate rods up to 8-9’. 

Choosing the Right Rack for You

You’ll need to ask yourself a few questions before you decide on the ideal rod rack for your home. 

The first question to ponder is whether you’ll buy a rack or build one yourself. There are plenty of affordable options available, especially when it comes to wall or ceiling racks. You can also build one inexpensively with a few tools and a couple of hours. 

Next, you’ll need to decide whether you want to mount your rack on the wall or ceiling or have a freestanding floor unit. You’ll also need to plan how many rods you’ll be storing. It’s always a good idea to account for extra space or two if your rod collection grows.

From there, you need to choose the type of material the rack is made from. If you’re storing rods on a boat or anywhere, they’ll be subject to the elements; plastic is typically the best material for a rod rack because it won’t swell or warp like wood will. If you’re installing the rod indoors, wood provides a nicer appearance. 

Ready-To-Go Racks You Can Buy in Stores

Anybody can build their own rod rack with some inexpensive material and a few hours in the workshop. But, not every angler has hours to dedicate to making their own rack. If you’re strapped for time, there are many excellent options you can purchase. 

Most ceiling or wall racks cost about the same as what you’d spend to build one, and they only take a few minutes to install. 

PLUSINNO Vertical Fishing Rod Holder

If you’re looking for a simple rack you can hang on your wall that can accommodate many rods, this rod rack from Plusinno could be perfect for you. This rack replaces the two-piece configuration most common with a one-piece unit that uses spring tension to hold the rods in place against the non-marring silicone paddles. The Plusinno rack stores up to nine rods.

Rush Creek Creations 12 Fishing Rod Tackle Cart 

If you’re looking for a standing rack for all your gear, this tackle cart from Rush Creek Creations might be perfect. This heavy-duty rack holds up to 12 rods and reels, and there’s plenty of additional space for storing your tackle box and accessories. The practical design looks nice enough to keep anywhere in your home, and assembly only takes about five minutes.

Butizone Fishing Rod Rack

If you’re looking for a classic design that’s served anglers well for decades, this ceiling or wall rack from Butizone could be ideal for you. This rack allows you to store your rods horizontally from any wall or ceiling, and it’s made from powder-coated steel, so it can stand up to decades of abuse without faltering. 

Two things of note with this model, it’s made from metal, so it’s not a good choice if you’re installing it on a boat or somewhere outdoors. Since it’s made from steel, you may want to consider adding some foam tape to each rod opening to protect the finish of your rods from damage. 

CENSI Fishing Pole Rod Rack Holder

If you’re looking for a classic design reminiscent of a hunting lodge, this circular rod caddy from CENSI is one to take a closer look at. The rack is made from wood and metal, and it features a rotating bottom so you can spin it in either direction to get to the rod you need more easily. If you’re keeping your rods in a room with a high ceiling, this is one of the most attractive options.

DIY Plans For A Fishing Rod Rack

There are plenty of options for anglers looking to purchase a rod storage solution. Rod racks and holders all have simple designs, so it’s also possible to build your own with a few hours of time and a little ingenuity. 

Read on as we look at a few different DIY plans for fishing rod holders.

DIY Fishing Rod Ceiling Hangers 

If you’re hoping for a ceiling rod rack that does the job, looks beautiful, and costs around $25 to make, this is the perfect project for you. Courtesy of the Salty Scales Youtube channel, the video below lays out everything you’ll need to know to build this simple and effective rod rack. 

Here’s what you’ll need:

• (1) 1x4x8’ piece of dimensional lumber
• Jigsaw
• Drill
• 2” hole saw bit
• Level or speed square
• Pencil
• Tape measure
• Palm sander, or at least some 100-grit and 220-grit sandpaper
• Wood screws

Fishing Rod Organizer for Garage

This one isn’t winning any beauty pageants, but it’s about as cheap to build and simple to design, and that counts for something. If you have $10 in your pocket and an hour of time, you can create a perfect floor rod organizer for your garage. 

Here’s what you’ll need: 

• (1) 2x4x8’ piece of dimensional lumber
• (1) 1.25”x10’ PVC pipe 
• (1) box 3” wood screws
• (1) chop saw, or a hand saw if you’re old school
• (1) screwgun
• (1) tape measure
• (1) carpenter pencil

The first thing you’ll need to do is decide how many rods you want your rack to store, so you can start laying out the holder. As a rule of thumb, you want to allow 3” between each holder, so there’s plenty of room to accommodate each rod and reel. You’ll also want to leave about 6” on either side to accommodate for the rod holder’s feet.

Let’s say you want to build a 6-rod holder. Multiply the number of rods by the 3” spacing you’re leaving between holders, which will tell you how far the holders will span across the base. In this case, that’s 18”. Add 6” on either side to account for the feet, and that number is the length you’ll need to cut your lumber down to. A 6-rod holder will require a 30” piece of lumber for the base. 

Next, cut your PVC tube into individual pieces to accommodate your rods. Make each tube 8-12” long, depending on the average length of your rods. The longer the rod, the taller each PVC tube should be. 

Using your tape measure and carpenter pencil, mark where you’ll install each pipe on the wood, starting from the center, and spacing each marking 3” apart. Then, align each piece of PVC pipe with the edge of the wood, and shoot two screws through the pipe and into the wood to secure it. Repeat the process for each additional rod holder.

Finally, make feet for the rod holder out of your remaining lumber. Cut two pieces about 6” wide, and screw them to the wood base to secure them. Now you’re ready to add your rods and enjoy your new rod holder. 

Wall-Mounted Rod Holder 

This elegant yet straightforward rod holder is the perfect way to mount your rods inside the home without hearing from your significant other about how you’re turning the house into a tackle shop. There isn’t much material required, you can stain the wood whatever color you like, and your rods are sure to look beautiful hanging from this stately rod rack, which you can hang from the wall or ceiling.

Here’s what you’ll need: 

• (1) 1x4x8’ piece of dimensional lumber
• Drill/driver
• Chop saw
• Jigsaw or coping saw
• ⅜” drill bit
• 2” hole saw
• 1 ½” hole saw
• Speed square
• Tape measure
• Pencil
• 4” wood screws

You can build this rack to accommodate as few or as many rods as possible. You can also vary the spacing between each rod as necessary. There’s 6” of space between each rod in the video below, but you can space the rods more closely together, especially if you aren’t hanging them with reels attached. 

Mark hangs his rack from the ceiling, but you could just as easily mount it on the wall by hanging the side with the smaller holes so that the rod cut-outs point upward. 

Tips for Properly Storing Your Rods 

Regardless of how and where you store your fishing rods when you aren’t using them, there are some tips you’ll want to follow to ensure your rods are ready to go for your next fishing trip. By adopting good storage practices, you’ll ensure that your fishing equipment is working in top shape for many years to come. 

• Keep your poles out of direct sunlight when storing them. UV light can degrade the epoxy finish and graphite or fiberglass of the rod. When mapping out where to mount your rod holder, keep it away from windows that receive direct sunlight. 
• Remove any lures, hooks, or other terminal tackle from your rod before storing it. All that stuff creates unnecessary snags and tangles when trying to remove a rod from the holder. 
• Make sure there’s no tension on the rod when you put it away for storage. If you’re using a hook keeper or looping the line around the reel handle, ensure the tension is loose enough where the rod tip points straight up. If there’s a bend in the rod, pull some line out to eliminate the tension.
• Before putting your rods in the rack, thoroughly wash them down with fresh water and give them a day to dry before storing them. Washing your rods is especially important for saltwater anglers as salt is corrosive and will damage fishing rods over time. 
• When storing your rods away for more than a few days, always loosen the drag. Loosening the drag prevents drag lock, which impacts how well your drag performs when you need it. Drag washers can also expand if temperatures increase, so relaxing your drag helps prevent them from warping due to excess pressure. 

Frequently Asked Questions

When learning more about their fishing rod rack options, most anglers have a few other questions that need to be answered. We’ve rounded up the most common questions about fishing rod holders and storage racks to make it easier to get all your research done.

Happy Fishing & Tight Lines