Abstract: Disclosed is a fishing rod holder including a spring-loaded fishing rod mount that is pivotally attached to the top of a release mechanism housing, and a ground stake that extends downwardly from the housing. The release mechanism includes a trip rod that is slidably mounted in the housing and that is urged by spring force to move longitudinally from a cocked position in which a tip of the trip rod projects through an opening in the front wall of the housing, to a retraced position in which the trip rod tip is retracted within the opening. A lever arm extends laterally from the trip rod through a slot in a side wall of the housing and can be engaged in a vertical part of the slot to hold the trip rod in its cocked position. A flexible latch member extends from the rod mount and has a slip ring on its lower end for engaging the extended tip of the trip rod to retain the fishing rod mount, against spring force, in a generally horizontal position.