Spinning Rod Handle Design Opinions

[adamgross7875]

If there is another thread on this i apologize.. and am open to being pointed toward another thread if one already exists i am new. I joined mainly to get the opinions of experienced guys who use spinning rods... I am kind of dumfounded that so many cheap rods (i e. Shakespeare, Zebco, and the like) seem to have very comfortable molded grips that i like. I dont know how yall hold a spinning rod but..i hold spinning rods by wrapping my (right) hand around the handle with the stem of the reel in between my third and fourth finger or between my pointer and middle finger. my thumb is on top of the rod in front of the reel stem. On the forward stroke i put pressure on my thumb to  cast. pretty sure this is how everyone does it..SO....why in all heck are so many reel handles "screw DOWN"..where there is a collar and threads under your thumb? there is cork ahead of the threads but your thumb doesnt reach there. Cork above a screw down seat never gets a thumbprint. and its uncomfortable to always be grabbing nothing but plastic. I have been bugged about this for many years. The G Loomis GL3 for example, as well as the St Croix Avid...an many of the lightest UL models have a nice handle design. But try to step up to an IMX and they have a screw down handle on every dang model so for 300 bucks and an awesome blank but you have to push your thumb against plastic again all day..(!?)   I have a Shakespeare graphite rod from walmart for kids to use for bluegills that was 15 bucks. It has a formed ergonomic handle that screws down with no gaps and is comfortable. 200-400 dollar rods don't. Am i holding a spinning rod the wrong way all these years? is a comfortable handle like that just for "Noobs?" what is up with this? and can anyone recommend a quality rod with some thought to a fisherman's  comfort... Thanks and sorry for the rant.

 

dont get me started on right hand retrieve reels another head scratcher for another thread.

 

 

 

[Darren.]

First, welcome, Adam.

 

I hear what you're saying. Some are definitely comfortable compared to others.

 

My Shimano Compre rods are some of the most comfortable rods I own. Love the cork, the diameter of the handle, and the notched out spot for my index finger. I suppose it is a "to each his/her own" type of thing. Perhaps it is something gotten used to.

[0119]

To me none of the bigger money spinning rods are comfortable, just fashionable.  Bare blanks the size of a thin twig with bulbous gobs of plastic or bare plastic thread.  Just stupid.

[Blues19]

I have wrapped all of my rod handles in a tennis racket overgrip. It has made them all more comfortable and helps my grip. I have a Daiwa S spinning rod that has a plastic screw down and it was really uncomfortable rod until I wrapped it. now there is a bit of a gap where it screws down, but the over grip has cut down on it. I can throw that thing all day now.

[The Rooster]

I've been griping about spinning rod grips for a few years now. I grip mine on the foregrip. I place my little finger behind the reel stem just for the cast and immediately move it in front after the cast most times. So I either have three or four fingers on the foregrip at all times. I won't buy a spinning rod without one. I also don't want threads behind the foregrip either, so I either have to get an up locking reel seat on the rod, or a down locking seat where the foregrip twists down with the hoods to lock the reel on.

Check out the new Cabela's Fish Eagle 50. The reel seat there is a down locking style like I described, no threads show at all. If you want a little better rod, the Cabela's XML has the same design. But these rods are no where near the price of the Loomis rods you mentioned so I don't know if you'll be satisfied with them.

[iabass8]

I hold my spinning rod on the foregrip above the reels stem with one finger on the blank. The legend xtreme i use has the best grip for my personal use. Ive held the new 2013 at an expo and even without a foregrip it didnt bother me. The nrx/new glx still use a very comfortable foregrip of cork as well. Theres a few reasons companies dont utilize them. Cost/asthetics/the whole weight savings fad to make an inexpensive lightweight rod. I do agree though that rods built w/o a foregrip with an abundence of reel seat threads exposed are extremely uncomfortable.

[SirSnookalot]

My hand migrated in front of the reel many years ago without ever thinking about.  I find this to be most comfortable for me and I like my hand on the foregrip in " strike position", I feel I have more leverage.  The only negative is being a bit more difficult doing one handed casts than holding in the more traditional way.  I don't think any of my rods are uncomfortable to cast with, I don't consider buying rods without a nice foregrip, my preference.

[adamgross7875]

Great info, Guys...Darren, thanks for the welcome! i did notice the Compres with that finger groove- very cool.

 

And yes, of course it IS a personal preference..and it was interesting to hear about some of the other techniques for holding the rod out there...when i fly fish for smallmouth (i use an ultralight 3wt ) i DO put my forefinger on the blank ahead of the grip...just seems like i can "punch" streamers through the breeze better like that... so i can see that. In fact with both flyfishing and on my steelhead rod i hold onto the foregrip so...its up to each person how they do it.

 

I will agree w "0119" though..that the whole, no foregrip, no rear grip, no real seat... just a blank and hoods thing, is wack. i know you get used to it and its all about the weight fad... but... how light does a rod need to be? an ounce? a gram? maybe it could be a toothpick size and you could hold it in your teeth and wear the reel around your neck. For now though..you still have to hold it in your HAND and a human hand has a certain shape.... sure one could get USED to most anything ...i just wish there were more handle options on EACH rod out there. i think companies would be surprised at the response. Ive been wanting an IMX for years but just wont spend the money on a grip i dont like. if they offered a screw down locking seat theyd have had at least one more customer... not that it matters to them..im sure theyre doing just fine. most of the new Loomises have nice handles..the GL2 being one...maybe thats my huckleberry.

 

Anyways..thanks for the advice all

 

There are several brands with a decent foregrip if you look around...and if you dont get too hung up on "name" the outfitter brands..Cabela's xlt, BPS johnny morris, etc., seem like they have good bang for the buck. Other rods in the mid  price range that seemed to have a nice design for anyone else interested are: the Fenwick Elite Tech smallmouth, and the St Croix Eyecon look good.. also the Gander Mountain elite has a pretty cool skeletal-looking grip. i guess whatever feels ok and can help you reach the fish wherever they are and feel when they hit is what is important!!

 

Thanks again and tight lines

[iabass8]

For an inexpensive rod, the St. Croix Eyecon's grip is extremely comfortable.

[Triton Man]

I use spinning equipment 95% of the time and more and more the grip is becoming a main issue in my rod decisions.  I hold it between my pinkie and ring finger of my right hand since thats where grabbing the line with my pointer finger is most natural.  I dont shift my hand around after the cast because I like to always be ready to set the hook or make another cast.  I have a Loomis IMX because I found a good deal on it and ordered it online without ever handling one before.  I agree that the screw down is a terrible design on such a nice rod.  The threads are right on my pointer finger and thumb and like you said the cork fore grip is too far up to even touch so there is no need for it even to be there.  But then I have a veritas with the same screw down handle but they got rid of the cork foregrip wisely and added an uncomfortably large fastener to go with the exposed threads. 

 

I have a st. croix eyecon rod and the handle is comfortable.  I was very close to buying a fenwick elite tech smallmouth rod because that is also a very comfortable handle.  Another very comfortable design is the *** black *** spinning rod.  I handled my buddies new one and would even chose that over the fenwick but both are nice.  Also, when fishing in temps near freezing its nice if your fingers and palm are touching as little metal as possible like these designs try to incorporate.

[adamgross7875]

Just found this on a fly fishing site...remember when i said rods would get sp light you could wear the reel around your neck? wellll......http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/211442440/rexfly-casting-system-for-fly-fishing

[OkobojiEagle]

Adam... I share your frustration.  While I use both spinning reels that tighten "down" and reels that tighten "up" (from the back) I modify all of them so there is only enough reel seat in front of the reel stem to hold the spinning reel foot securely.  The fore grip and sometimes some of the seat threads are removed to allow my thumb and fore finger to hold the rod blank directly.  My preference, your mileage may vary.

 

oe