You're right JONGLEUR. Trees in the Australian outback often die from emotional scarring.....no bark missing, nothing...three months later, tree dead.
We use tree protectors, no damage.
The definitive expert on reels on
deck is probably Skip Novak as mentioned earlier.
Study this man and learn heaps about tethering to rocks in Patagonia which seems a pretty wild place.
Skip uses wire around the rocks.
Take the time to read (and video) Pelagic/Skip Novak and all will be revealed.