A fishing rod holder has control plate attached to an elongated shaft with a longitudinal axis. One end of the shaft is configured to penetrate the ground or otherwise be secured to render the holder stationary and immoveable, even when a fish takes the bait. The control plate has a plurality of adjustment openings for receiving stop members. The fishing rod holder also has a tubular rod holder component which is pivotably attached to the control plate. The rod holder component can thus be positioned in a variety of angles in relation to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, by pivoting the rod holder component so that it contacts a stop member extending through one of the adjustment openings. When so positioned and a fish is hooked onto the line extending from the rod, the fish can be brought in without having to remove the fishing rod, which continues to be pivotably supported by the holder component. Upon release of tension on the line, the holder component automatically resets to its original position.
