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The right fishing rod holder depends on how you fish, the equipment you use, and how much control you need over your rod's position.

For anglers who troll regularly, a rod holder needs to do more than keep a rod in place. It should provide secure support under load, allow practical positioning, and make it easy to retrieve the rod when a fish strikes.

What to look for in a boat rod holder:

• Construction: Consider the materials and how the holder is built, particularly if you regularly fish in saltwater.
• Rod positioning: Adjustable angles can help accommodate different trolling setups and fishing conditions.
• Rod access: A secure holder is important, but so is being able to remove your rod quickly when needed.
• Mount compatibility: Check whether the holder fits your boat's existing mounting system or requires an adapter.
• Maintenance: Look for equipment that can be inspected, cleaned and maintained without unnecessary complications.

Njord Gear designs and machines fishing equipment in Nanaimo, British Columbia, with an emphasis on practical features developed for real use on the water.

When you are trolling, a rod holder needs to keep your equipment secure while still letting you react quickly when a fish strikes. A quick-release mechanism makes rod retrieval easier, particularly when the rod is under load.

The Njord RH3 Ragnarok uses a dedicated quick-release lever alongside a separate easy-pull angle-adjustment lever. This allows anglers to adjust the rod's position without using the same mechanism that releases it from the holder.

For anglers targeting larger fish or fishing in demanding conditions, having separate controls for positioning and rod retrieval can make a practical difference.

Yes. Quick-release functionality can be especially useful for trolling, where the rod may be under tension when a fish strikes. The specific benefit depends on the holder's design, the fishing setup and the forces involved.

A fixed-position rod holder supports a fishing rod at a predetermined angle. An adjustable rod holder lets you change that angle to suit your fishing technique, equipment and boat layout.

For trolling, adjustability can help with rod placement and line management, especially when multiple rods are in use.

An adjustable holder lets you reposition your rods without changing the mounting location. This can be useful when adapting to different trolling arrangements or working around other equipment on the boat.

The RH3 Ragnarok has an easy-pull lever for changing the rod angle and a separate quick-release lever for retrieving the rod.

Its CNC-machined billet aluminum construction is designed for demanding marine use, and the product has been tested under heavy loads and corrosive conditions.

The biggest differences are how each rod holder mounts to your boat, how you position the rod, and how you retrieve it.

• RH1: Mounts directly to the boom of a Scotty High Performance Downrigger. All-aluminum construction, with a pivot that brings the rod closer to the boat for easier retrieval.
• RH2: Uses an aluminum post that fits a Scotty 241 mounting block. It has adjustable height, comes in port and starboard versions, and has the same pivot as the RH1.
• RH3 Ragnarok: CNC-machined from solid billet aluminum, with an easy-pull lever for rod angle and a separate quick-release lever for retrieving the rod.

See the comparison table below, with links to each product page.

The RH1 is designed to mount directly to the boom of a Scotty High Performance Downrigger. The RH2 uses a post designed for the Scotty 241 mounting block. The RH3 Ragnarok fits Scotty 241 and Burnewiin mounting blocks, with a Scotty adaptor or a Burnewiin adaptor.

Always verify the mounting requirements for your setup before ordering.

The RH2 offers a different mounting configuration, adjustable post height and port or starboard versions. Both the RH1 and RH2 have a pivot that brings the rod closer to the boat for retrieval.

The best choice depends mainly on where and how you want to mount your rod holder.

The RH3 combines billet aluminum construction with two dedicated levers. One controls the rod angle and the other provides quick release, which gives anglers separate controls for positioning the rod and retrieving it.

It is designed for demanding fishing conditions and has been tested under extreme loads and environments.

All three can be considered for trolling, but the right choice depends on your mounting arrangement and the type of rod handling you prefer.

The RH1 is intended for compatible downrigger-boom installations. The RH2 is a post-mounted alternative with adjustable height. The RH3 adds independent angle adjustment and quick release, which may be useful when trolling or fishing for multiple species.

The RH3 Ragnarok fits Burnewiin mounting blocks using the Burnewiin adaptor. It also fits Scotty 241 mounting blocks using the Scotty adaptor.

The RH1, RH2 and RH3 Ragnarok come in blue, black, clear and red. Check each product page for current availability.

Trolling is fishing with baits or lures pulled behind a moving boat. Anglers use it to cover water and present baits at a chosen depth. The rods are usually held in rod holders while the boat moves, so a holder needs to keep the rod secure and make it easy to grab when a fish strikes.

A downrigger is a winch mounted on a boat that lowers a weight on a cable to a chosen depth. The fishing line is attached to the cable with a release clip, so the bait or lure travels at that depth behind the weight. When a fish strikes, the line pulls out of the clip and the angler fights the fish on the rod.

On a downrigger setup the rod sits in a holder while the line is clipped to the cable, so the rod is under tension until a fish strikes. The holder has to keep the rod steady and let the angler pull it free quickly when the line releases. Some holders mount directly to the downrigger boom, and others mount on a separate post.

A strike or a snag can put a sudden load on the rod, and a holder that shifts or lets go can lose the rod overboard. A secure holder also keeps the rod at a steady angle so your line stays where you set it.

Security should not make the rod hard to remove, so look for a holder that holds firmly and still releases easily.

Many anglers troll with more than one rod, one on each side of the boat. It helps to space the rods so the lines do not cross, keep each rod within easy reach, and use holders that let you adjust the angle of each rod to match its line.

Local rules may limit how many rods you can use, so check the current regulations before you head out.

Aluminum is light and strong for its weight, and anodizing helps it resist corrosion. That makes it a common choice for marine fittings.

Aluminum can still corrode in saltwater, especially where it touches other metals, so finish and care still matter.

Anodizing is a process that thickens the natural oxide layer on aluminum. The result is a harder surface that resists wear and corrosion better than bare aluminum. It also lets the metal take colour, which is why anodized fishing gear comes in finishes such as blue, red and black.

CNC machining uses computer-controlled tools to cut a part from solid metal. Billet means the part is cut from a solid block of aluminum rather than cast in a mold.

Machined billet parts can be made to precise, repeatable shapes, which suits parts with moving levers and mounting points.

Rinse your gear with fresh water after each trip, let it dry, and check moving parts and fasteners for wear or looseness. Keeping salt from building up helps protect the finish and keeps levers working smoothly.

If a part is damaged or worn, replace it rather than relying on it under load.

Fishing rules in British Columbia depend on the area, the species and the time of year, and they change. Check the current official rules from Fisheries and Oceans Canada before you fish. This page does not list regulations.

Njord Gear is a Canadian fishing equipment company based in Nanaimo, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island. Njord designs and machines its equipment in Nanaimo.

Njord focuses on solving practical problems through equipment design rather than adding unnecessary complexity. The company develops fishing equipment with an emphasis on practical engineering, durable construction and features that address the demands of fishing on the Pacific coast.

Products such as the RH3 Ragnarok use CNC-machined aluminum construction and dedicated controls for rod positioning and quick release.

Njord designs and machines its equipment in Nanaimo, British Columbia. For the manufacturing origin of a particular component or accessory, check that product's specifications or contact Njord directly.

Njord gear is available on this website. Retailers that carry it are listed on the Where to Buy page.

Use the Contact page to reach Njord. You can ask about fitment, compatibility or which product suits your setup.

No. This Njord Gear is a fishing equipment business in Nanaimo, British Columbia. We design and machine aluminum downrigger and rod holder gear, and sell it at njordgear.com. We are not affiliated with any other company that uses a similar name.

No. This website is for Njord Gear fishing equipment, made in Nanaimo, BC. We don’t make or sell watches. For help with a watch, please contact the company that made it.