Gripping a Spinning Rod Redux

[QED]

Watched an episode of Bill Dance Outdoors and he stressed the importance of feathering the line with one's forefinger on spinning gear.  He holds the rod with just his pinky behind the reel stem, but he uses larger reels than I do.  I use small form-factor reels (500/1000) so using his hold would put my forefinger too far forward.  I use 2+2 fingers around the stem as a consequence.  So rod grip vis-a-vis the reel stem is perhaps a function of reel size and not a universal thing.

[MN Fisher]

Even with my 1000 size reels - I hold it like Bill does...pinky behind the stem, rest in front. When I had the President-20 (500 size), I still did it that way. Even way back with the Pflueger 640 - about a 750 size - I did it.

 

To each their own I guess.

[QED]

27 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Even with my 1000 size reels - I hold it like Bill does...pinky behind the stem, rest in front. When I had the President-20 (500 size), I still did it that way. Even way back with the Pflueger 640 - about a 750 size - I did it.

 

To each their own I guess.

Not being argumentative but when I use Bill Dance's hold on my rigs, dropping the index finger straight down is way ahead of the reel spool lip.  Of course, one can bend one's finger back to reach it, but that seems unnatural.  What you do seems to work for you, so keep on keeping on.  Whether bikes or fishing gear, I'm big on ergonomics and Bill Dance's hold doesn't work for me at all.

[T-Billy]

I hold it pinky behind the stem R hand, and feather the line, open/close the bail with my L hand. Been doing this way since I was a kid. 

[jimmyjoe]

1 hour ago, T-Billy said:

I hold it pinky behind the stem R hand

 

   I can't do that  ......... literally. My fingers are way too far forward. And that's not on small reels, that's on any reel.  ? ?               jj

[Oklahoma Mike]

I hold mine with pinky only behind the seat. Always have, and I can only assume I started doing that because it positions my index finger in the best place for grabbing the line during a cast. 
 

i don’t fish any reels as small as the one in your pic, but looking at the size of that reel I tend to think I might naturally adjust my grip to align my index finger in the same way, so I think you are probably right in your assertion. 

[Bluebasser86]

I hold it with just my pinky behind the reel stem, even with my UL and 500/750 sized reels. Shouldn't need to have your finger on the line to feel the bite with an UL rod but I can lay it over my finger if I needed to. 

[Hammer 4]

Always held mine with the stem between my ring finger and middle finger, reels were always 2500's..Pointer finger is always in contact with the line.

[OldManLure]

I have the same model/size reel on 3 different brand rods.  I hold two of them with 2 fingers forward of reel stem, and one of them with 3 fingers forward.  It has nothing to do with the position of my index finger in relation to reel spool; the difference in 1 finger’s position has zero affect on my ability to pinch the line for casting. For me the position of fingers has everything to do with how the rod handle with reel feels in my hand, and the effect it has on my wrist when casting.  The rod that I hold with only 2 fingers forward has a little more weight in the butt of the handle.  By moving my hand/wrist 1 finger back, the rod and reel feels more balanced.  It is all about comfort.

[garroyo130]

On 11/2/2021 at 4:48 PM, QED said:

Watched an episode of Bill Dance Outdoors and he stressed the importance of feathering the line with one's forefinger on spinning gear. 

 

... sounds like you agree with Bill? 

[J Francho]

Three up, one down.  I feather the line with my LEFT hand, not my right index finger.  My hand is already there to flip the bail back anyway.

[ironbjorn]

13 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Three up, one down.  I feather the line with my LEFT hand, not my right index finger.  My hand is already there to flip the bail back anyway.

4 up 0 down, and exactly this.

[Chris Catignani]

8 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Three up, one down.  I feather the line with my LEFT hand, not my right index finger.  My hand is already there to flip the bail back anyway.

Two up, two down. I have never seen or heard of someone use the opposite hand to feather...but I'm sure it works.

I remember buying my fist bait casting reel and thought well...I reel with my left hand...and bought left handed baitcasters. Also as for flipping the bail...I see alot of people doing this...and I'm sure this works too. But for me, I make a cast...feather the line (if I need to) and a lot of time I've engaged the reel and take up the slack line as the lure hits the water. This was primarily a habit developed wading...those river smallie are at times moving to get under something coming in the air. I also used Zebco ABU Cardinal 3 which had two bail spring...and you could not pull the bail back..it wasnt an option.

[fishballer06]

I split mine 2/2, or sometimes I'll go 4/0 depending how I feel. I have large hands, so the smaller reels with the shorter stems off the foot can sometimes cause my knuckles to get busted up by the rotor if I'm not careful. I usually don't go smaller than a 2000 size reel. 

[J Francho]

37 minutes ago, Chris Catignani said:

Two up, two down. I have never seen or heard of someone use the opposite hand to feather...but I'm sure it works.

It's in the first few seconds of this video.

 

[OldManLure]

2 hours ago, J Francho said:

Three up, one down.  I feather the line with my LEFT hand, not my right index finger.  My hand is already there to flip the bail back anyway.

Is there another way?

[mrpao]

I do 2/2 and use my left hand to feather the line and close the bail.

I use reel 500 size on up to saltwater size reels.

I also dont own rods that have more cork in front of the reel, than behind it - such as tatula spinning rods.

[QED]

3 hours ago, garroyo130 said:

... sounds like you agree with Bill? 

About the usefulness of feathering the line with one's forefinger during a cast?  Absolutely.

[papajoe222]

I'm not attempting to hijack the thread, just wondering. When feathering the line (I've never attempted this), do you feather at the edge of the spool, or let the line slap your finger just in front of it?

[MN Fisher]

Just now, papajoe222 said:

I'm not attempting to hijack the thread, just wondering. Whey feathering the line (I've never attempted this), do you feather at the edge of the spool, or let the line slap your finger just in front of it?

I feather at the rim of the spool...tried in front and I seem to have more control the other way.

[QED]

2 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I feather at the rim of the spool...tried in front and I seem to have more control the other way.

I'm in this camp too.

[Bankc]

I feather the line with my opposite hand.  It's going to flip the bail anyway, so it's no extra work.  I grab the rod wherever it's best balanced.  On some, that's 3-1.  On others, it's 2-2.  Whatever gives me better control and less effort.

[A-Jay]

I split the difference. 

Two fingers in front of the reel stem  & two in back.

Never really thought about it, just always did it that way.

From today . . . .

A-Jay

[WRB]

However it feels in balance to me. I touch the spool lip to control casting distance when needed. I also feel the line when drop shot or slip shot during moving the bait with the rod to help detect strikes.

Tom

[J Francho]

Man, I wish I was good enough to just touch the lip with my finger. I'm a little envious of people that have developed that skill.