Pistol Grip Baitcast Rods

[das028]

Anybody still use these? I have a short medium heavy ugly stic that I'm thinking about throwing a reel on for pitching jigs from tight cover from the shore. Can't remember the exact length but its under 6 ft. I'm thinking its 5'6". It's very stout and would be good for this application

[dodgeguy]

I love them.i shortened the handle on one of my 6-6 rods so it's like a pistol grip and it is great for roll casting and working jerkbaits and top waters.

[das028]

They would be great for working jerk baits. I didn't even think about that

[Fishes in trees]

There is a reason that the pistol grip rods fell out of favor, for the most part.  For me, I just called them "wrist killers"  I guess that there is a time & place for pistol grips rods, but for me it isn't very often.

[loudcherokee]

There is a reason that the pistol grip rods fell out of favor, for the most part. For me, I just called them "wrist killers" I guess that there is a time & place for pistol grips rods, but for me it isn't very often.

Agreed. I switched from a pistol grip lightning rod to a split grip. The pistol grip left me sore and feeling wore out at the end of the day.

LC

[bigbill]

I just removed two one piece pistol grip rods from my setups. These are new older med no name rods that my local mom / pop bait shop had on clearance. I'm using the longer handles now with the gap. I never did care for the shorter pistol grip.

[tholmes]

I still have a couple that I use in situations that call for short, accurate casts or when I'm fishing in tight quarters with lots of brush or tree limbs around. The shorter rods are much easier to handle.

 

Tom

[das028]

I still have a couple that I use in situations that call for short, accurate casts or when I'm fishing in tight quarters with lots of brush or tree limbs around. The shorter rods are much easier to handle.

 

Tom

This is exactly what I was thinking of using it for, tho dodge guy did provide a good point. Seem they would be great for working jerk baits as well

[Raul]

I still own a couple of 5´6" , still fish with them, when I need to make a dead accurate cast it´s when they shine.

[Catt]

I still have 2 but they don't see water very often!

My problem with them was I didn't feel I ever had a good grip on em...its like they could slip out of your hand to easy.

[John G]

I have 2 80's era Fenwick Eagle Graphites and a Berkley Lightning Rod that I bought in the early 90's and a 2piece Ugly Stik. I like the Lightning Rod the best.

[das028]

I still have 2 but they don't see water very often!

My problem with them was I didn't feel I ever had a good grip on em...its like they could slip out of your hand to easy.

grab 10lb kettle bells palm them in your hand up side down for 30 sec sets, and your grip strength will improve. It one of my exercises i use to increase grip strenght for jiu-jitsu...haha. I could dee how you could get that feeling with one of these type of rods, but when you think about it, if a fish is strong enough to do that with the short pistol grip rod, it could also do it with my normal longer rods

[das028]

I have 2 80's era Fenwick Eagle Graphites and a Berkley Lightning Rod that I bought in the early 90's and a 2piece Ugly Stik. I like the Lightning Rod the best.

I have a fenwick too, but it doesnt have the backbone the ugly stic has. This ugly stic is really surprisingly stout rod. My Fenwick is old as dirt too

[Maxximus Redneckus]

If u use a.spook you ain't getting full action from it unless you use a PG...IMHO and 30 yrs experience

[John G]

I have a fenwick too, but it doesnt have the backbone the ugly stic has. This ugly stic is really surprisingly stout rod. My Fenwick is old as dirt too

My Ugly Stick is a medium power. It's rated up to 12# line and it has some flex to it. One of the Fenwicks is a 6 Power and the other one is a 5 Power. They were nice rods back in the day. I got both of them on ebay as an adult.

 

I got my first real nice combo when I was 12......IIRC. We had just moved to a new house that sat on 5 acres and there was a nice creek in the back. My dad took me uptown to get a new rod n reel and I picked out a Shimano Bantam Mag Plus 250SG and  a pistol grip 5' 6" Fenwick Eagle Graphite. As a little kid, I never did learn how to effectively cast that reel on a consistent basis but I had fun. That was a very nice rig back then.

[0119]

I use 5'6" pistol grips 90% of the time and they have heavy brass framed Ambassadeurs on them.  Never noticed them to be a wrist killer, and I by no means have strong arms.

[Dave P]

As has been stated, when you are cruising a bank and pitching to specific targets and getting under trees, IMO there's nothing better. I use mine mostly for small spinnerbaits.

[.RM.]

If u use a.spook you ain't getting full action from it unless you use a PG...IMHO and 30 yrs experience

X2... Not only spooks but chugbugs, zulu's, popr's, just about every surface jerk bait made...

[dodgeguy]

X2... Not only spooks but chugbugs, zulu's, popr's, just about every surface jerk bait made...

totally agree

[einscodek]

Pretty tough to have a "balanced" pistol grip rod..

[John G]

Pretty tough to have a "balanced" pistol grip rod..

I have never really understood the whole balanced rod thing. I buy a rod that I like and I buy a reel that I like and I go with that. Never really noticed any part of my rigs being out of balance either.

I dug out one of my Fenwick Eagle Graphites yesterday, the medium one, and I put my Curado 50E on it. It looks sharp. The green and gold wraps on the Fenwick match up perfectly with the Curado.

I tossed around a Squarebill and I believe that I have found my new Squarebill rod. LOL