Pistol Grip Rods - What's Your Opinion Of Them?

[Bluebasser86]

I have a decades old Lew's Speed Stick that I use for spinnerbaits and buzzbaits in my kayak. It's a little awkward at first but I adjust quickly. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I have a 6' with a short grip and modern seat. I use it for flukes and small shallow cranks. I prefer the design over the old style pistol grip due to the little bit of grip to brace against my wrist/ forearm. 

[Raul]

54 minutes ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

So what I am reading here repeated a couple of times is that some fishermen believe that they can cast more accurately with pistol grip rods than they can with rod-blank-through-the-handle rods.

If this is true, then what is it that makes the difference?

Is it because the pistol grip rods are shorter and are held in the hand more like a wand? Or, is it because in rod-blank-through-the-handle rods that maybe the extra rod blank that extends beyond the grip point is getting in the way some how?

I am curious what some of you think gives some of us the thought that we can cast more accurately with a pistol grip rod than the more modern type with rod-blank-through-the-handle?

I have only owned one non blank thru handle pistol grip a 5´6" MH Kunan, it had the typical Fuji handle where you seat your reel and tighten it via a screw, I sold it because it was a little bit heavy and the handle didn´t fit my hand well, it was a little bit too wide when compared to my LRs which have a flatter sides ( I also had a Silstar rod with the same characteristics in the handle ) these rods have blank thru handle design but that has, imo, nothing to do with the mechanics, it´s the length of the handle paired to the length of the rod that allows you to maneuver the rod like a wand. But not everything is cookies, you may have greater accuracy but the problem rises when you have to set the hook and fight the fish, in that department the pistol grip is light years behind the straight longer handle of trigger rods.

[Jake the Cake]

2 hours ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

So what I am reading here repeated a couple of times is that some fishermen believe that they can cast more accurately with pistol grip rods than they can with rod-blank-through-the-handle rods.

If this is true, then what is it that makes the difference?

Is it because the pistol grip rods are shorter and are held in the hand more like a wand? Or, is it because in rod-blank-through-the-handle rods that maybe the extra rod blank that extends beyond the grip point is getting in the way some how?

I am curious what some of you think gives some of us the thought that we can cast more accurately with a pistol grip rod than the more modern type with rod-blank-through-the-handle?

For me, I think it's because that was the one and only rod I used for the first 15+ years of my fishing life so I'm comfortable with it.  Didn't discover spinning rods and reels until I was in my 20's.  Lol looking back on it, the only reason I had that pistol grip is probably because my dad gave me a reel that didn't suit his needs anymore.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Never heard of the word low standards on a fishing rod ,i have lightning rods.and falcons that are.pistol grips,same guides,graphite,threading on the longer ones only diff is a pistol grip, !!

[buzzed bait]

On 12/28/2015 at 0:38 PM, offsidewing said:

My father has used these exclusively for 40 years.  He prefers the pistol grips with the handles bent downwards behind the reel seat.  When he uses crankbaits he has success as typically these are MM rods.  He can't catch a cold with them when using plastics.  Because of the success with crankbaits, he refuses to switch to spinning gear for plastics.  He's as stubborn as he is educated.  He watched me pull out 8-10 trophy fish this season all on spinning gear while he couldn't make a hook set.  I just got him 68MXF Avid X for Christmas with a Plueger President reel.  His question when he saw the gift "How much do you think it would cost to put one of those pistol grips on this?"  I almost snapped the rod over my knee.

your dad and my dad are twins it sounds like!

he hand picked through every single rod Cabela's offered until he found just the right pistol grip rod....  which happened to be some cheapo combo.  he tore the reel off, and put his trusty daiwa gold spincast on there and he was a happy camper.  that old schooler still catches them though.....

[Senko lover]

I was gifted an old 5'6 custom made rod, (I think that qualifies as a pistol grip lol) and have been using it a lot. Took me a while to get used to it, but I like it a lot now. I like throwing spinnerbaits on it.

[FloridaFishinFool]

3 hours ago, Maxximus Redneckus said:

Never heard of the word low standards on a fishing rod ,i have lightning rods.and falcons that are.pistol grips,same guides,graphite,threading on the longer ones only diff is a pistol grip, !!

If I said lower standard let me clarify that I meant that what I see today on Bass Pro Shops website for example is that all of the pistol grip rods cost $10.99 to $19.99 and are made in China type of thing. It is not like Bass Pro is selling any high end $200 plus dollar pistol grip rods. Huge difference in between.

Like you, I have an old pistol grip 6' MH fast action Berkley Bionix graphite rod. It is light and sensitive and strong and now 25 years old and still like new. But I am not sure about those new BPS $10.99 pistol grippers is anywhere close to the quality level we are use to today. I'd call that a lower standard.

Hey I know a lower standard! I see it in Walmart all the time. My two young sons are always grabbing for them too, the spider man blue plastic kid rod and reels... My 2 year old keeps yelling "mine" every time we pass by them as he is reaching for it...

 

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Ok i know what you.mean now not the actual pistol grip handle but the build quaility of said cheap rods.id still one day like to get my HAND on a JDM pistol grip rod though.

[offsidewing]

10 hours ago, buzzed bait said:

your dad and my dad are twins it sounds like!

he hand picked through every single rod Cabela's offered until he found just the right pistol grip rod....  which happened to be some cheapo combo.  he tore the reel off, and put his trusty daiwa gold spincast on there and he was a happy camper.  that old schooler still catches them though.....

My father kills 'em with his spincast/bent pistol grip rods when it's time for crankbaits.  Daiwa Gold spincast rod for him too!  It kills me everytime we go smallmouth fishing in deep water and he can't set a hook if he cast into the middle of a thicket.  He thinks its him and not the gear.

[*Hootie]

I notice a lot of guys referring to their fishing rods as poles. When I was a kid, I hitchhiked to the lake with some fishing line in my pocket, along with some hooks and sinkers. I would then cut myself a pole. I just can't bring myself to call my $400.00+ GLX's poles. I know, this has nothing to do with the topic...lol.

Hootie

[Maxximus Redneckus]

A fishing pole to me is a limb or peice of bamboo with no reel or guides.

[*Hootie]

3 minutes ago, Maxximus Redneckus said:

A fishing pole to me is a limb or peice of bamboo with no reel or guides.

Exactly! 

Hootie

[Raul]

2 hours ago, *Hootie said:

I notice a lot of guys referring to their fishing rods as poles. When I was a kid, I hitchhiked to the lake with some fishing line in my pocket, along with some hooks and sinkers. I would then cut myself a pole. I just can't bring myself to call my $400.00+ GLX's poles. I know, this has nothing to do with the topic...lol.

Hootie

POLE:

 

[*Hootie]

5 minutes ago, Raul said:

POLE:

 

Perfect!

Hootie

[Bladesmith,]

Several people on this thread have referred to pistol grip rods as being lower quality rods. I beg to differ with that opinion. I have a Browning graphite 5 1/2 ft. rod that I use occasionally for lighter weight grubs and jigs that is just as sensitive as my newer rods. I also have a Browning Boron rod  that is an excellent jig rod. I mostly use modern rods with the newer style grips but the older ones still work well for me.

[FloridaFishinFool]

6 hours ago, Bladesmith, said:

Several people on this thread have referred to pistol grip rods as being lower quality rods. I beg to differ with that opinion.

Not all of them, just that if you look at Bass Pro Shops available pistol grip rods made today, all of them are priced under $20. So I think the point was that today's newer pistol grip rods are being built to a lower standard.

Like you, I have older pistol grip rods that are of a much higher quality like my old Shimano graphite rod from the mid 1980's. It is a very nice quality graphite rod with stainless steel almost chrome handle.  They are not making them like this any more. Here is an example of the higher quality shimano rod of the past:

Tournament bass professionals were using these back in mid 80's. It was good stuff back then. Still is today, but this is not what you will find at Bass Pro today, not even close!

[James Pondscum]

  Still have some pistol grip rods. Shakespeare USA graphite rods a president rod and a cabelas fisheagle . All through the handle graphite.  I also have a sears rebranded ugly stick called a tuffstick with a lifetime warranty? And an old Shimano .

[Maxximus Redneckus]

3 hours ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

Not all of them, just that if you look at Bass Pro Shops available pistol grip rods made today, all of them are priced under $20. So I think the point was that today's newer pistol grip rods are being built to a lower standard.

Like you, I have older pistol grip rods that are of a much higher quality like my old Shimano graphite rod from the mid 1980's. It is a very nice quality graphite rod with stainless steel almost chrome handle.  They are not making them like this any more. Here is an example of the higher quality shimano rod of the past:

Tournament bass professionals were using these back in mid 80's. It was good stuff back then. Still is today, but this is not what you will find at Bass Pro today, not even close!

Id love to find some of these.you are correct though back then they put more quality in all the pistol grips .thats what they used most i think every decade length moved 6 inchs once you hit 6'6" its more about distance then they added long handles so you could push the bottom and your wrist became the fulcrum instead of your power.

[Jrob78]

22 minutes ago, Maxximus Redneckus said:

Id love to find some of these.you are correct though back then they put more quality in all the pistol grips .thats what they used most i think every decade length moved 6 inchs once you hit 6'6" its more about distance then they added long handles so you could push the bottom and your wrist became the fulcrum instead of your power.

I agree.  When the trend became longer rods, the pistol grip was dead in the water.  You needed a longer handle and a different grip point to add some balance to the rod.  Rod companies stopped making high quality pistol gripped rods when people stopped buying them in favor of a longer, straight gripped rod.  That's why most pistol grip rods made today are low quality, the people who buy them aren't going to spend $60-$100 for a rod and reel.

[tomustang]

I have a problem dropping things, I cast with both hands so no single gripped trigger handles

[TxHawgs]

Speaking of higher grade pistol grip rods I have my first one my grandmother bought for me in the 80's it's a beautiful custom 5'6" graphite rod with a fugi removable grip and top of the line components. And also have the shimano bantam 251SG mag plus still in the box. That reels was 75 bucks back then. Also have the last pistol grip rod I bought in like 92, gloomis 5'6" IM6 with cork handle and it's like brand new. Would post pics but it's a pita. I read that shimano is coming out with a bantam reel this yr?

[Bankbeater]

I have two of them, and I like them.  They are easier to hold on to and more comfortable when casting a crankbait.

[FloridaFishinFool]

One of the issues I have had with pistol grip rods over the years is the reel seat. I prefer the type that has a nut that threads down the handle going around the rod shaft like this one:

The type of pistol grip reel seat I have had problems with is the type with a screw going up through the bottom of the pistol grip that pulls down a piece onto the reel foot. I had some of these that simply would not tighten down all the way and the reel was loose and rocked around in the reel seat. Anyone else have this problem?

Here is an example of the type of pistol grip presently for sale on ebay I would not buy nor use:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Vintage-Casting-Rod-Handles-w-pistol-grip-USA-NICE-Reduced-/281899056002?&_trksid=p2056016.m2518.l4276

I also don't like the cheap plastic construction for pistol grips. I know they are heavier, but after some bad experiences breaking a pistol grip with a big bass on the line I now prefer all metal pistol grips to plastic.

 

[J Francho]

Tendinitis dictates two handed casting, so as much as liked them, they're too uncomfortable these days.