PVC Sabiki Rod - No More Tangles!

The biggest problem with catching your own bait is usually the sabiki. If left on, the tiny, heat-seeking hooks will home in on your hand, your jacket sleeve, your hat, other rods, a trolling line and anything else it can sink itself into. My frustration hit the limit on the day I reached back for a rod, hooked my sleeve and somehow managed to slip another hook under my wedding ring at the same time. The weight was tied down so the mainline was taut, I could barely move that arm. Eventually I was able to reach back and cut the line and free myself but I was finished with sabikis at that point. The kayak isn't a sabiki friendly due to the small spaces, in fact, I would use this aboard a boat as well, just for the safety of it. The sabiki rod reduces the need to find ways to store sabiki rigs - just store them inside the tube. Since putting this together I've stopped losing or wasting sabikis and my bait-catching abilities are not affected. This thing just works great. I've used the same sabiki for up to a dozen trips. It casts surprisingly well and is reasonably sensitive.

I saw a sabiki rod for sale online for something like $80 and thought that even I, with my severely limited skills in the shop, could piece this together. here is the process I took:

3/4" schedule 10 PVC pipe, I started with 5'.

Bore a hole for an entry point and then heat it and mold the edges for a smooth transition. I used an Aim-'n-Flame and a Bic pen.

Same deal on the end - heat and mold, again the lighter with a screwdriver handle. I'm such a hack.

I used a Corsair 300A sitting in the spare pool and a pair of hose clamps to get it mounted.

I covered the clamps with electrical tape and was done. Mostly. I found some orange twine
and created a "custom wrap" handle. It was for fun when I did it but now I'm really glad I
have it as it stops the PVC from slipping around in my hands when there's mackerel slime aboard.

Look closely - you can see my 3-hook sabiki a dangling.

The sabiki wound in - I just leave the lead hanging over.

Voila! The finished product!