How Do You Grip Your Rod?

[gunsndrums1]

Kind of an odd question but for the guys out there that use a spinning setup a lot how do you grip your rod? I tend to have my ring and pinky below the post and my middle and index above, almost like a fist with the reel in between my fingers.

[A-Jay]

OK - so that whole thing was basically not applicable.

 

Sorry

 

A-Jay

[gulfcaptain]

Hold the reel between my pinky and ring finger.

 

 

A-Jay, spinning rod, not swimbait stick.

[A-Jay]

Hold the reel between my pinky and ring finger.

 

 

A-Jay, spinning rod, not swimbait stick.

 

Thanks I kind a blow that one . . .

 

A-Jay

[gulfcaptain]

Thanks I kind a blow that one . . .

 

A-Jay

But that is a nice swimbait set up.

[Kevin22]

Pinky below

[rippin-lips]

Raises hand... What is a spinning rod?

[SirSnookalot]

I started gripping a spinning set up in the traditional manner, have no idea when my hand moved up to the foregrip.  My pinky rests in front of the reel foot on the grip.  I personally feel I have better leverage for a hookset, better leverage when I have larger fish on the line (not unusual to grip up on the rod shaft), less wrist and forearm fatigue especially for 10 or 20 minute battles, and moving up reduces the tip heaviness to some degree.  Would never consider a rod with out a foregrip and never go back to a traditional gripping of a spinning outfit.

[WIGuide]

I hold mine with 2 fingers in front of the reel stem.

[Catch and Grease]

My whole hand in front of the reel or one pinky below the reel depending on how much room there is for the reasons SirSnookalot mentioned.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

All these variables along with the variations in reels is a perfect example of why there is no right or wrong "Balance" for a rod or length for a butt grip. My grip varies depending on the setup and what I'm dong with it. I would definitely use a foregrip in the case like Snook fishes but don't use them on light freshwater rods as a rule. I know the OP is about spinning rods, but another example of personal preferences, I almost never fully palm a casting reel which I think puts me in the minority there.

[Felix77]

Generally I have the stem between my pinky and ring finger.  I adjust tension based on what I am doing.

[hatrix]

I put my whole hand on front grip. I originally held it differently when I was younger and did a split grip type thing. my spinning rods need to have a front grip and it's hard anymore since fewer and fewer seem to have them.

[Poolshark]

Depends on the size and how balanced the setup is for me. I use penn ssv 4500 and 5500 in the salt with 71/2 ft rods....I'll grip the rod by the top handle above the reel. For bass, If I'm using a61/2 foot rod with smaller lighter 2500 sized reel...I'll grip the rod at the reel seat with the reel handle in between my middle and ring finger. So for me.... It varies based on the weight and balance of the setup.

[matuka]

For the finessy stuff, all four fingers above the reel with index finger extended on the blank. Why? Cuz Mr. Finesse, A Mart said so! Less fatigue he says. Just an aside, I noticed TO in the Classic dropshotting. Bail open, index finger on the spool edge and trapping the line. Interesting.

[RB 77]

Hold the reel between my pinky and ring finger.

 

 

A-Jay, spinning rod, not swimbait stick.

 

This, always.

[bassin is addicting]

I hold it as you do.. ring and pinky below post and middle and forefinger above..

btw...have you fished that President yet??

[5fishlimit]

On my dropshot rod my entire hand is forward of the reels post.  On my tube rod the reels post is usually between my middle and ring finger.

[jbw252]

I started gripping a spinning set up in the traditional manner, have no idea when my hand moved up to the foregrip.  My pinky rests in front of the reel foot on the grip.  I personally feel I have better leverage for a hookset, better leverage when I have larger fish on the line (not unusual to grip up on the rod shaft), less wrist and forearm fatigue especially for 10 or 20 minute battles, and moving up reduces the tip heaviness to some degree.  Would never consider a rod with out a foregrip and never go back to a traditional gripping of a spinning outfit.

Interesting... I usually hold it with the stem in the middle of my fingers.  I'll have to give this a try.

[bassin is addicting]

I started gripping a spinning set up in the traditional manner, have no idea when my hand moved up to the foregrip.  My pinky rests in front of the reel foot on the grip.  I personally feel I have better leverage for a hookset, better leverage when I have larger fish on the line (not unusual to grip up on the rod shaft), less wrist and forearm fatigue especially for 10 or 20 minute battles, and moving up reduces the tip heaviness to some degree.  Would never consider a rod with out a foregrip and never go back to a traditional gripping of a spinning outfit.

"10 to 20 minute battles"?? I assume you are not referring to bass "battles"...

[Hyrule Bass]

i hold it with the reel foot between my middle and ring fingers, so two fingers on each side of it. which is why i think split grip rods make no sense

[SirSnookalot]

"10 to 20 minute battles"?? I assume you are not referring to bass "battles"...

I hold the rod exactly the same way for bass and peacock fishing. 

[bassin is addicting]

I hold the rod exactly the same way for bass and peacock fishing.

may be... i was just referencing the "10-20 minute battles"..

[gunsndrums1]

I hold it as you do.. ring and pinky below post and middle and forefinger above..btw...have you fished that President yet??

yep I tired it at my go to spot but there is only about 15 ft of open water near the shore but I still tried..... The reel works great for pulling lures across ice lol

[Steveo-1969]

I started gripping a spinning set up in the traditional manner, have no idea when my hand moved up to the foregrip.  My pinky rests in front of the reel foot on the grip.  I personally feel I have better leverage for a hookset, better leverage when I have larger fish on the line (not unusual to grip up on the rod shaft), less wrist and forearm fatigue especially for 10 or 20 minute battles, and moving up reduces the tip heaviness to some degree.  Would never consider a rod with out a foregrip and never go back to a traditional gripping of a spinning outfit.

 

Ditto.  After I watched a video of Aaron Martens holding his spinning rod like this and explaining better leverage and less fatigue I practiced this until it became second nature.