"Fishing Butlers"
Mar. 17, 2008
I’m sure glad I found those Fishing Butlers.
Now before you think untangling all those backlashes have finally shattered Old Stan’s mental capacity---guess again! See I’m not talking about some dude who helps me get in and out of the boat, hands me my life jacket or makes sure my reels are oiled. The Fishing 
Butlers I am talking about do indeed make life easier for an angler. That’s especially true if you’re one of the many who are forever transporting your rods one place or another.
Fishing Butlers are simply nifty little stretchy foam-filled shock cord loops with a locking device that you can fit around rods of multiple sections. They can also be used to securely hold several rigged rods together.
For more than a half century now I’ve been running around a sizeable chunk of the world demonstrating casting at outdoor shows or related events. I’ve used a variety of methods to secure the rods I take with me.
I always carry at least six rods for casting demonstration purposes. A major headache has been keeping each of the multiple sectioned rods separate, and then finally securing all six into a snug bundle that slides easily into my rod case.
All of the rods I use in my casting exhibitions have two to four sections. That way I’m able to get them in a short case that’s easy to carry. Prior to 9/11 I was able to take this short case on airplanes as a carry-on item. That’s gone by the boards since the terrorism threat surfaced, but the short case is still much easier to handle.
I’ve used everything from rubber bands to pipe cleaners and rod straps. All worked to a degree but it has been time consuming to get my many rod parts properly separated and secured before they go back into my carrying case.
I’ve run into similar situations countless times when I’ve had a half dozen rods rigged and ready for a fishing trip. Once I had them all set to go, I had to find some way of getting them secured so they didn’t both take up too much space and risk damage during the trip. These new Fishing Butlers have solved multiple problems for me.
So how do you use Fishing Butlers? It’s not complicated. Note the illustrations that accompany this article. The Fishing Butler is simply an easily stretched nylon cord loop that’s filled with high density foam. That foam filling allows you to cinch the loop down tightly around your rods without risk of damage to the rod finish.
All you need do is slip the loop over the top of your rods or rod parts and snug it down with the locking device. Now take a second Fishing Butler and secure the other end of your rods or rod sections and you’re in business.
Fishing Butlers were invented by a Canadian couple. Like you and me, Carrie and Dave Broadbent enjoy fishing, and like the rest of us, they got tired of having rods, reels and lines getting tangled all the time. Unlike like most of us, they decided to do something about it.
“We came up with the idea,” says Carrie, “after years of getting our rods tangled up with each other and our kids. We thought there had to be a better way to stop this tangled insanity than using rubber bands that always break or rot.” The Broadbents brought their Fishing Butler to market three years ago. It is now being sold throughout the United States and Canada. Distribution is still limited but is growing daily.
None of the items I’ve used in the past even come close to matching the effective security provided by the Fishing Butlers. I finally stumbled onto them at the ICAST show in Las Vegas last summer.
“We’ve yet to receive a complaint though we’ve already sold thousands of them,” Carrie says. “Some stores that carry the product average selling from 100 to 200 of our Fishing Butler packages each month. Some have exceeded that number.”
Fishing Butlers come packaged in pairs. You need two, of course, to secure both top and bottom of your multiple section rods. The same applies if you’re transporting several rigged rods.
Once you’ve snugged down on your Fishing Butler to secure your rods you’ll find it leaves a loop on the other side of the locking device. If you choose, and some anglers do, you can use that second loop to hang your rod up in a garage or work room. Because you have loops at both ends of your rods you can hang them either vertically or horizontally.
Fishing Butlers are color coded so you can use one color for spinning rods and another for casting rods. You’re not restricted, of course, from using them to secure things besides fishing rods. Many are using them to hold everything from golf clubs to canoe paddles.
If you wait until you’re in the boat to set up your rods, don’t sweat it if one of your Fishing Butlers falls overboard. They are also designed to float.
While an increasing number of stores are handling this new item, don’t be surprised if your favorite tackle shop doesn’t yet have them. It’s likely just a matter of time before they will be available locally. They can also be ordered directly from the company. The toll-free number to do so is 866-239-2228.
The Fishing Butlers are manufactured by R Ideas, 2161 Concession 12 Walpole RR 4 Hagersville, Ontario, Canada NOA 1H0.
You can find additional details on this nifty new problem solving device on the Internet at www.fishingbutler.com.