Patent ID: 8276310

Claim:
A fishing rod holder assembly for supporting a fishing rod in a horizontal orientation comprising: a linear central shaft member having first and second ends; first and second adjustable, nonlinear, support leg members secured in mutual opposition adjacent the first end of the central shaft member, the support leg members maintaining the central shaft member in a non-vertical orientation; a third support leg member pivotally attached at about a midpoint of the central shaft member and extendable to contact a support surface between the first and second support leg members; a rod support arm member pivotally secured at a first end thereof within a vertical slot in the second end of the central shaft member, a second end of the rod support arm member including a forked end with finger sections in a plane essentially perpendicular to the vertical slot of the central shaft member; and a T-shaped hanger member supported by the forked end of the support arm member with a central leg section extending vertically there below, the central leg section of the hanger member pivotally secured to a strap member adapted for engaging a handle of a fishing pole; whereby a fishing pole is pivotally secured by the strap member to the central leg section of the T-shaped hanger member supported by the forked end of the support arm member, the fishing pole held in a horizontal orientation is free to pivot up and down relative to the T-shaped hanger member, and whereby a fisherman, grasping the fishing pole in response to a fish biting the bait, raises the fishing pole, thereby disengaging the T-shaped hanger member from the forked end of the support arm member and pivoting the rod support arm member to a vertical orientation.