We’re always looking for new products that will enhance our fishing experience, and sharing recommendations with our readers. An ad for an improved phone tether showed up in my Instagram feed recently. I’ve been using a waterproof pouch on a lanyard attached to my pfd (personal floatation device) when I kayak fish, and it’s kept my phone safe, but I often can’t unlock my phone through the pouch. Even if I can, I have a hard time texting through it. Since my Samsung Galaxy S8 Active is waterproof, I really didn’t need the pouch. I checked reviews of Rogue Fishing Company, and their products, and all looked very positive.
So I joined their email list to save 15% off my first order, and ordered their 3rd generation phone tether ($19.99) and their rod/paddle leash ($17.99). A few days later the products arrived. I was very impressed with the ergonomics and quality of the components.
The leash of the phone tether is a compact fabric covered coil, the loops that hold the 4 corners of the phone are a durable silicone, and the carabiner and metal ring are corrosion resistant. The position of the silicone loops are designed to not interfere with the phone’s camera, and should stretch to fit most phones. Here’s Rogue Fishing’s product description and video of the Protector 3.0.
Even though my phone is supposed to be waterproof, if water gets in the charging port, a warning is displayed so I taped over that port temporarily. I took the phone tether and rod leash out to the deep this week. I could text on-the-water fishing reports to my buddies and ugh, answer phone calls freely. I resisted the temptation to take photos on the water, and instead used the GoPro on my cap.
I had been using a hard plastic, coiled paddle leash for years. It does the job and is very strong, but is heavy and rattles around on the deck of the kayak when I paddle. Rogue Fishing’s rod/paddle leash is much more streamlined, lighter, quieter, and the clip that attaches to my kayak doesn’t rattle. Even the elastic loop that cinches to the paddle has less resistance when I rotate the paddle, so it’s less taxing to use. Here’s the product information and video for the Defender Rod and Paddle leash.
Both the tether and leash were big improvements on what I had been using. I’ll post an update in a few months of hard use.
Update 6/5/21: The Protector phone leash and Defender Rod and Paddle leash are in the Store now.
That phone tether looks awesome. I also used one of those waterproof bags but stopped because it was so hard to use the touch screen if your fingers were even slightly wet. I had to pull the phone out of the case to use it which defeated its purpose. The strap on those things were weak too. The Rogue strap looks solid. I keep my phone in a small pouch now and with my butter fingers, adding this tether would be a good idea.
Hi Thad, that was exactly my experience too. I was really paranoid to take my phone out of the tethered bag while kayak fishing with slimy, slippery fingers, and potentially drop the phone over the side if a swell rocked me.
Good to know that guys wading in the water could use the phone tether also. I’d think that even boaters would like the security of knowing their phone couldn’t fall overboard.
I’m gonna become a Rouge Fishing dealer and will be allowed to slightly discount the product for the Hawaii market.
thanks,
scott
Hmm that’s cool. I can see myself using that for something else not fishing related. Might have to see yours.
Awesome Lori, I’ll order a few more for non-fisher people, although you’re a fisha also!