Quote:
Originally Posted by gone fishin
I have a theory on locking rod racks.
There isn't a rack on the market that cannot be beat. You spend a lot of dough on the rack, but the attachment system to the auto is the weak link. If the rack is not permanantly attached to the vehicle it is succepable to theft. And when I say the rack, I am talking about the portion that holds the rods. I have seen a rack that was locked with 4 expensive setups taken right off the vehicle. That guy lost not only his gear, but the rack also. Most racks either clamp on the auto or vehicle or use a knob system with a key. That knob can be twisted off with a pair of good waterpump pliers when locked and the thief will have all the gear in one shot.
Locking racks are for the honest people, not the thieves. Just my opinion.  |
The idea is definitely to stop the grab and run, which is the most common form of fishing rod theft. The goal of locking rod racks, imo, is to enable you to walk into a gas station or out of the line of sight of your vehicle for moment and not be in constant fear.
Unless hacksaws or heavy bolt cutters are standard issue in your vehicle it's nearly impossible for an opportunistic thief to grab a rod and reel. Even with those items the theft will at least be conspicuous if not time consuming.
If you're foolish enough to leave rods and reels in locking rod racks where a thief has enough time and opportunity to do his thing, you were asking for it...