Fishing rod holder

Claim 1

A fishing rod holder for supporting a fishing rod in a cantilevered position from the gunwale of a boat with a minimum amount of protrusions extending from the gunwale, comprising a mounting plate, means for connecting said mounting plate in a generally vertical position on the gunwale, a generally U-shaped bail having outwardly extending opposite ends pivotally mounted to said mounting plate along a horizontal axis, said bail being normally urged by gravity into a vertical non-use position flush with said mounting plate and being selectively movable in a vertical arc to a use position to overlie the handle end of a fishing rod, cradle means mounted generally perpendicular to said mounting plate in a substantially horizontal plane along the upper surface of the gunwale with the uppermost portions of said cradle extending upwardly from the upper surface of the gunwale a distance of generally one-half inch or less, said cradle means having a central generally U-shaped portion for receiving a portion adjacent said handle of said fishing rod in spaced relationship to said bail, whereby a fishing rod can be selectively supported by said bail and said cradle and said bail being movable by gravity to said non-use position when the rod is removed from engagement therewith.