I do not know about you but I have found Line Keepers to be a very handy item to have on a T-rod for changing fishing locations, whether the rod is taken down or not, but not for long term line storage as the line gets kinky if it is left on the keepers for too long.
Early on I bought some of the commercial line keepers available from a couple of different makers, but I like the low profile and better security that the Button Keepers provide over what the commercial ones offer.
On the Buttons and Rubber Band Keepers: This was not my idea at all. I saw it on a YouTube Video put up by a T-angler in the UK. I have tried to find it again to put up here with no success. The only thing I have contributed to this was using a length level FC line to loop through the rubber band to pull it through the button holes half-way on each side of the button.
To mount the Keeper on the rod, you position the button on top of the rod blank where you want it to go and hold it there with your thumb, while stretching out the first loop and wrapping it around the rod blank 1 and1/2 times or more depending on your rod blank diameter, then loop the rubber band over the button to secure it in place. Then you do the same thing all over again with the second rubber band loop, but going in the opposite direction. By pulling the button up off of the rod blank surface a bit, you can push and prod the rubber band wraps under the button and make them more even.
The rod blank is bigger in diameter at the grip end than at the the rod plug end, so I like using a larger diameter button in front of the rod grip than below the rod plug, and a wider button diameter than the rod blank is wide is also most helpful.
If a Universal Rod Cap is used on your rod, you will have to mount the top button keeper low enough on the blank so the cap can be secured. In putting your line on the keepers, it is a safer practice for Rod Tip Safety and Security to take one complete wrap around the top Button with the line attachment loop to secure the Lilian and tip in the rod before winding the rest of your line on the button keepers.
On the grip keeper, I like to mount it high enough on the rod blank that there is enough room to place my index finger directly on top of the rod blank in front of the grip for more sensitive strike detection.
Doing these things will slightly reduce the length of line that can be figure-eight wrapped between the two buttons to eliminate line twist, but that is compensated for by simply making more line wraps. An adjustable Fly Keeper can be made out of a separate rubber band, with an Overhand Loop tied in one end of the rubber band then wrapping the rubber band around the rod blank and then Half-Hitching it in place to secure it, or you can simply wrap the line around which ever button the fly is closest to a couple of times to secure the tippet near the fly.
On Button Choices and Types: Buttons can be bought in all kinds of colors, sizes and shapes. You can match your rod color if you so desire but a contrasting color is helpful in the shade and In low light conditions. Buttons mostly come in Two and Four Hole configurations. For the 4-holders, you want to pull the rubber band through the holes diagonally. The 2-hole models often have a trench the sewing thread runs through for abrasion protection, which is the style I like the best. A slight concave side ways profile is also helpful for easier line winding.
Rubber Band Sources and durability issues: In this day and age, probably not many of you subscribe to a News Paper, so you may not have a steady supply of rubber bands coming to your home on a daily basis. The people who deliver the papers have to buy the rubber bands they use, so there are still rubber bands out there to be bought - try the Dollar Stores, or if you want fancy colors, Stationary and Office Supply Shops. With time and sun exposure, rubber bands will loose some of their elasticity, become weak and eventually break, usually about two to three years down the road. And if they break, you will probably loose a button. While This is not the end of the world in the total scheme of things, it never hurts to check their condition as you do your normal rod upkeep and cleaning. So give the Button Keepers a try and see if you do not like them better than what you can buy, and your imagination is the only limit on the customization you can build into doing your own Button Rubber Band Keepers…Karl.
Tippet Fly Pouch Front View
Tippet Fly Pouch side view
