Super User the reel ess Posted January 15, 2016 Super User Posted January 15, 2016 How about those spinning rods with the "Tennessee handle" I think they were called? Weren't you supposed to tape your reel on? I think they were technique specific. 1 Quote
Super User *Hootie Posted January 15, 2016 Super User Posted January 15, 2016 4 minutes ago, the reel ess said: How about those spinning rods with the "Tennessee handle" I think they were called? Weren't you supposed to tape your reel on? I think they were technique specific. Yes, I have one. It's a BPS Billy Westmoreland worm rod. I'll take a photo later and post it. Taped on reel and all. Hootie 1 Quote
Super User *Hootie Posted January 15, 2016 Super User Posted January 15, 2016 Here ya go. The rod is all of 5 ft. long. Hootie 1 Quote
smallie.mike Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 Uhhh there's nothing gimmicky about a Tennessee handle on a spinning rod. 3 Quote
EvanT123 Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 22 minutes ago, smallie.mike said: Uhhh there's nothing gimmicky about a Tennessee handle on a spinning rod. Ditto, only the most comfortable spinning reel seat out there, in my opinion. 2 Quote
MFBAB Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 ha ha, I knew the TN handle would have some supporters I never tried it, but it's pretty popular with the Slider fishers in Middle and East TN for sure!! Quote
Super User the reel ess Posted January 15, 2016 Super User Posted January 15, 2016 35 minutes ago, smallie.mike said: Uhhh there's nothing gimmicky about a Tennessee handle on a spinning rod. Do you still use one? I was too young (broke) when they came out to have technique specific rods. I had one MH 5'6" and one M 5'6" BC combos to cover all my fishing. And we don't hve super clear water here so we usually just overpowered our bass back then. Quote
smallie.mike Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 1 minute ago, the reel ess said: Do you still use one? Yes absolutely! Most of my spinning rods have Tennessee handles. You'd be surprised how many people use Tennessee handles. Nothing gimmicky about them at all. 1 Quote
smallie.mike Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 8 minutes ago, EvanT123 said: 8 minutes ago, EvanT123 said: Nice! What kind of tape do you use? Sweet reel too. Those certates are awesome Quote
EvanT123 Posted January 16, 2016 Posted January 16, 2016 11 minutes ago, smallie.mike said: I think it's called "Tommy tape" it's a self adhering silicone tape used in plumbing. It works really well for me. I have rods where I have used it all season without having to re-tape. The only reason I take the reels off is to clean the cork now and then. 1 Quote
Super User Scott F Posted January 16, 2016 Super User Posted January 16, 2016 20 hours ago, Josh Smith said: .......I remember back before I got out of fishing for a while, it seemed every new spinning reel to come out had a danged trigger on it! I tried one and couldn't like it. What about you? Josh ALL my spinning reels used to have triggers on them. I liked that when you backed up the handle, the bail stopped in the correct position to make the next cast. I miss that on the new reels, but instant anti-reverse is good too. Back then I used Quantums and Shimanos. Never had a failure with the trigger 1 hour ago, the reel ess said: How about those spinning rods with the "Tennessee handle" I think they were called? Weren't you supposed to tape your reel on? I think they were technique specific. If you are picky about balancing your spinning outfit, the Tennessee handle lets you put the reel anywhere you like. The other gimmick that did not work was G finish lures. 1 Quote
Super User the reel ess Posted January 16, 2016 Super User Posted January 16, 2016 OK guys, I get it. TN handle is not a gimmick 3 Quote
smallie.mike Posted January 16, 2016 Posted January 16, 2016 23 minutes ago, EvanT123 said: I think it's called "Tommy tape" it's a self adhering silicone tape used in plumbing. It works really well for me. I have rods where I have used it all season without having to re-tape. The only reason I take the reels off is to clean the cork now and then. I use the same thing. Sometimes I'll go over that with regular 33+ electrical tape. 1 Quote
Super User *Hootie Posted January 16, 2016 Super User Posted January 16, 2016 7 hours ago, EvanT123 said: I think it's called "Tommy tape" it's a self adhering silicone tape used in plumbing. It works really well for me. I have rods where I have used it all season without having to re-tape. The only reason I take the reels off is to clean the cork now and then. I used plain old black electrical tape. I call it "Hootie" tape. Hootie 2 Quote
Super User F14A-B Posted January 16, 2016 Super User Posted January 16, 2016 Carrot Stix original.. company marketing claimed it was made with real carrot fibers.. Ridiculous.. Bugs bunny liked the story.. Quote
Super User Raul Posted January 16, 2016 Super User Posted January 16, 2016 Gimmick is something that is hyped to perform and doesn't, just because you don't like it doesn't mean it's gimmick, Ten. handles and spinning reels with triggers are not gimmick. 3 Quote
tander Posted January 16, 2016 Posted January 16, 2016 I have had both the spinning reels with the trigger and the Tenn. handles. I still have 2 rods with the Tenn handle, a Lew's and a Skyline. There use to be a casting rod that came out, the guides started on the top and wrapped around to the bottom, never had one of those. The most gimmick I have seen is a wood handle for a casting rod. This guy came to the biggest sporting goods in town advertising a wood handle. This was when pistol grip was the norm. He would cut off your pistol grip and install his wooden grip on your rod. Claims you can feel better with the wood grip. He destroyed many a good rod that day !!! Yes, I got one. Quote
jbw252 Posted January 16, 2016 Posted January 16, 2016 14 hours ago, the reel ess said: OK guys, I get it. TN handle is not a gimmick Charlie Brewer Sr. and Jr. forgive you. Tennessee handle rods are still sold on their Slider site. Quote
James Pondscum Posted January 16, 2016 Posted January 16, 2016 Shimano fighting drag? A lever on casting and spinning reels to increase or decrease drag when landing a fish. Circa. Late 80,s to early 90,s? Quote
Super User Raul Posted January 16, 2016 Super User Posted January 16, 2016 39 minutes ago, nickles said: Shimano fighting drag? A lever on casting and spinning reels to increase or decrease drag when landing a fish. Circa. Late 80,s to early 90,s? Not a gimmick either or not a gimmick to my eyes, I have a couple of Sedonas with Fighting Drag and it actually works but not for "landing" a fish, actually it´s for fighting the fish. It comes specially handy when you are fishing with light line ( 6 lbs ), no need trying to adjust the drag, just move the lever and the drag immediately is reduced to the half of what you set, returns to or adds. 1 Quote
Josh Smith Posted January 16, 2016 Author Posted January 16, 2016 Dang, some folks are getting offended. Maybe I should have not used the word "gimmick" but rather "things that didn't last"? The fightin' drag looks like a gimmick to me. I have no trouble spinning a drag knob while fighting a fish. I never heard of that TN handle. It looks like the simplest solution to a real problem, though not one I've encountered. The TWS makes sense, sorta, but there are just too many moving parts to make me happy. "What was the helicopter lure of fishing reels" may have been the best way to phrase it. I seem to recall Boron fishing rods. Sensitive but broke easily, right? They were phasing out in favor of graphite, I think, by the time my memories of gear beyond my Zebco 33 started. Regards, Josh 1 Quote
Super User Raul Posted January 16, 2016 Super User Posted January 16, 2016 Boron was another alternative and well, at it´s beginnings graphite was also quite brittle, boron wasn´t able to catch up in the end with graphite since graphite composites evolved and got a lot better and cheaper. 1 Quote
Josh Smith Posted January 16, 2016 Author Posted January 16, 2016 Thanks Raul. Reckon you have 10 or 15 years on me. I'm 38 and some of this stuff I remember quite dimly. Josh Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.