How to hold your fly rod hands-free while changing flies

Every angler knows the moment: a fish is in the net, or a tippet needs re-tying, and there's nowhere to put the rod. You need both hands, and the river is moving. I can't tell you how many reels I've scratched up, rods I've dropped or fish I've lost control of because I just didn't know what to do with my rod. So I put together a little list for you to hopefully make your next fishing trip a little easier.

Here are the four common fixes, from free to purpose-built.

1. Tuck it under your arm

It's free and always available. The rod tip swings around, though, and the reel drifts toward the water. It works for a quick fly change, not for landing a fish.

2. Lean it on the bank or a rock

Fine on small streams, but you have to wade back to it. Rods get stepped on, knocked into the current or left behind. Not to mention you're scratching up your favorite reel.

3. Hold it in your teeth or between your knees

Common, uncomfortable and hard on cork grips and graphite.

4. Park it on your gear

A rod holder on your waders, vest or pack keeps the rod upright, out of the water and in reach. Belt clips and hook-and-loop straps work, but they take two hands to use. I wanted to come up with something that would ACTUALLY help me on the water and felt like it was meant to be there. 

So I designed the Cling Rod Rack.  A small mount stays on your rod; a base attaches to your waders, vest or pack. Bring the rod close and using high strength rare-earth magnets, it snaps into place. Then when you're done wrangling a fish, untangling a knot, or you're finished tying on your next fly, you can pull the rod off one-handed. We were honored that Flylords named it a 2025 Gear of the Year, and for $34.99 its yours.

Tips that work whichever method you use

• Reel in slack before you set the rod down so the line doesn't tangle around your legs.
• Keep the rod tip pointed downstream, away from overhanging branches.
• If you fish two rods, put a mount on each so you can swap a nymph rig for a streamer in seconds. Extra rod mounts come in a 3-pack.