Self-gripping, self-balancing fishing rod holder

An adjustable, self-balancing fishing rod holder comprising:

• a mounting block adapted to be secured to a supporting rail, said block comprising:
• a forward end, a rear end, and a longitudinal axis extending generally through said ends;
• a center;
• and,
• a bore perpendicular to said longitudinal axis for receiving said rail, said bore offset from said center a first distance toward said forward end;
• first and second fasteners extending though said block perpendicular to said longitudinal axis for securing said block to said gunwale rail;
• a wire receiver for holding the fishing rod, said receiver comprising:
• an upwardly angled cradle extending toward said forward end adapted to support a portion of said rod;
• an integral, upwardly angled spaced-apart notch extending generally away from said rear end adapted to frictionally, wedgably receive the rod butt;
• and,
• a central portion interconnecting said cradle and said notch;
• a bracket penetrated by said second fastener for clamping said receiver to said block;
• and,
• wherein said second fastener is offset from said center towards said rear end more than said bore is offset from said center towards said front end.

An adjustable self-balancing fishing rod holder comprising:

• a two piece mounting block adapted to be connected to a gunwale rail of a fishing boat, said block comprising a center, a longitudinal axis and a bore perpendicular to said axis, offset from said center toward a front of said holder, for receiving the gunwale rail;
• first and second fasteners extending though said block perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis for securing said block to said gunwale rail;
• a wire receiver for holding the fishing rod, said receiver comprising:
• a central base portion adapted to be secured to said block;
• a forward cradle adapted to receive a portion of said rod, said cradle angled upwardly from the receiver base;
• an integral notch adapted to frictionally, wedgably receive a butt of said fishing rod, said notch angled upwardly from the receiving base;
• and,
• wherein said central base portion interconnects said cradle and said notch;
• and,
• a bracket secured by at least one of said fasteners for clamping said receiver to said block, said second fastener penetrating said bracket, offset from said center toward a rear of said holder.