Anybody still use a short pistol grip rod?

[Ballpark Frank]

A couple of weeks ago, I went fishing with my Granpaw for a few hours. Well here I am with all my long rods and tons of tackle, he brought one old pistol grip rod(with an antique Abu Record) and a tiny old tackle box. We both caught fish, but no more than the other. I asked him about the short rod. His words were "I've used this for 40 years or more and it has served me well, don't fix what ain't broke, son".  After we got back, I dug out my old Fenwick pistol grip with my first AG 5000 on it. Next time we go, I'm taking it!! Does anyone else here still use a short pistol grip rod?

[roadwarrior]

Nope.

I fish with two hands and the pistol grip is uncomfortable for me to use.

I like casting long rods.

And I don't like short sticks when fighting big fish either.

[.ghoti.]

I have one and wish I could find another one just like it. It's a Team Daiwa, George Cochran topwater/twitchin' model, 6' medium power, with a soft tip. It's the perfect rod for small topwaters and original Rapala's. I throw small cranks and jerkbaits on it too. I've had it since the mid-nineties and a lot of the finish has come off. The blank looks really splotchy. The EVA grip is still in good shape, the reel seat still holds the reel securely and the guides are all good, it just looks ugly. Got an old Team Daiwa TD2HI reel on it that I bought at the same time; around 1995. Top shelf gear, at the time.

A pistol grip rod is the bomb for topwaters and jerkbaits. No long handle to get in the way.

Cheers,

GK

[cart7t]

yep

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I got 15 of um and love um 90% of my fishing is with them .....

[Raul]

I still have pistol grips and it 's true, they do have some advantages but not everything is milk and cookies with them.

[MALTESE FALCON]

I have one and I'm not a big fan of it.

Falcon

[dodgeguy]

i have 1 that's a 5-6 medium action and i am going to get another.for accuracy they can't be beat.

[jb_adams]

I used to use pistol grips.  When I was a kid, that's all I wanted.  Now, they are uncomfortable to me because everything is strictly in your hand and you can't use your arm or wrist to help support the rod when needed.  I've got an Ugly Stik rod that sits in the corner of my garage.  It will most likely stay there.  I don't care if I even used it for catching catfish.....I am now converted to the longer shaft handle.

[Raul]

I used to use pistol grips. When I was a kid, that's all I wanted. Now, they are uncomfortable to me because everything is strictly in your hand and you can't use your arm or wrist to help support the rod when needed. I've got an Ugly Stik rod that sits in the corner of my garage. It will most likely stay there. I don't care if I even used it for catching catfish.....I am now converted to the longer shaft handle.

That 's exactly the weak spot of the pistol grip, you have no support for the rod, all the forces that come into play when hooking or fishting a fish fall on the worst link posible: a hinge, your wrist is the hinge.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

 I tried it, but having broken both my thumbs and having problems related to diabetes I could not hold

the rod sucessfully. Like RW i cast two handed when baitcasting. So  I wan't able to use em.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I tried it, but having broken both my thumbs and having problems related to diabetes I could not hold

the rod sucessfully. Like RW i cast two handed when baitcasting. So I wan't able to use em.

Muddy i have to ask how do u break both thumbs ,one would be a learning experiance for me  ;D

[Guest the_muddy_man]

 Actually it is not funny. 13 years ago I got hit by a van and I put my hands out and rolled over the hood. Broke both thumbs, my shoulder and left leg had a harline  fracture, and i can't ake pain meds so it was Torodol and Motrin;; THATS PRETTY HYSTERICAL, huh :-/

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Actually it is not funny. 13 years ago I got hit by a van and I put my hands out and rolled over the hood. Broke both thumbs, my shoulder and left leg had a harline fracture, and i can't ake pain meds so it was Torodol and Motrin;; THATS PRETTY HYSTERICAL, huh :-/

Your alive so we can laugh and u bring a lot of laughs to the forums keep up the good work 8-) down where im at we do that stuff also but we say wat-chiss

[Raul]

The AllMighty decided that we needed persons like Muddy to make us look at life from the bright side.  

[Taliesin]

That 's exactly the weak spot of the pistol grip, you have no support for the rod, all the forces that come into play when hooking or fishting a fish fall on the worst link posible: a hinge, your wrist is the hinge.

I guess I got used to using shorter handles while I was younger, and overcame that difficulty. I hold the rod with my left hand just forward of the reel. The butt of the rod is sitting in my gut. I don't rely on my wrist strength to play a fish, but on my bicep.

I still prefer a little extra handle length so that I can cast two-handed if I wish, and it gives more leverage for fish fighting.

With my really long catfish rods the butt ends up between my legs, and that can get uncomfortable when I get a big fish.

[jb_adams]

With my really long catfish rods the butt ends up between my legs, and that can get uncomfortable when I get a big fish.

Cough.....  Go easy on the big rods!

I used to hold the rod ahead of the reel to feel the line.  Sometimes I still do depending on which rod I have.  If I do that on the St Croix rods, I loose sensitivity.  I can feel more holding them at the grip with the St Croix.  I was told that you can get your fingers cut holding the line that way.

[BucketmouthAngler13]

I cast with bolth hands so I dislike pistol grips. My BC rod is split grip style and I absulutly love it.

[Jeff H]

I have one and never use it anymore.  If I could find one in 5'6" MH in a decent rod build it would have a permanent place in my boat.  I can cast super accurate with mine compared to my triggers.  I'm not sure if it's because of the shorter length or the handle but I love that thing for throwing at tight spots around docks, laydowns etc.  Anybody know who makes quality 5'6" MH version??

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I have one and never use it anymore. If I could find one in 5'6" MH in a decent rod build it would have a permanent place in my boat. I can cast super accurate with mine compared to my triggers. I'm not sure if it's because of the shorter length or the handle but I love that thing for throwing at tight spots around docks, laydowns etc. Anybody know who makes quality 5'6" MH version??

i have a falcon original in MH it dont have a exposed blank its a workhorse rod i like it but im looking for med action or even light action pistol grips now ..What is the 5-6 you have ???

[skillet]

Jeff H,

 Don't know how you feel about BPS's Bionic Blade (I like them for the price), if you catch them when they have a large selection (spring time) you ought to be able to get what you were asking about...

                                              As Ever,

                                               skillet

[jb_adams]

The Falcon original in a 5'-6" rod (if you can find one) is a great choice.  My buddy has a 6' original trigger rod and it's a great little rod.  Light, sensitive, great for accurate casting.

[Jeff H]

i have a falcon original in MH it dont have a exposed blank its a workhorse rod i like it but im looking for med action or even light action pistol grips now ..What is the 5-6 you have ???

It's a medium Berkley Lightning rod.  It's an original from the 1st year they came out.  1984 I think, 1st 100% graphite rod I ever had.  I really haven't used it in probably 15 yrs now at least for any serious fishing and I'm just keeping it as a conversation piece.  It's nothing anybody would really use anymore.

Skillet,  I'll keep the eyes peeled.  A Bionic Blade would be fine if it has some beef to it.  I just looked on the BPS site and they didn't list one in the bionic Blade but they had one in the Tourney Special.  Maybe I can get somebody to make me a custom?

[Ballpark Frank]

I took my little Fenwick out yesterday in the kayak and had one or the best days fishing that I've had in a long time. After I adjusted to the little rod, my casts were a lot more accurate than with a longer rod and a lot easier to deal with in the yak. Afterwards, I spoke to a local rod builder here, he is going to make me a 5'6" M pistol grip on a G. Loomis GLX blank. He said he rarely gets a request for such and the rod is quite difficult to build(which means $$$). But heck you only live once.

[Olebiker]

I recently quit using a 5'6" Shakespeare Liberty pistol grip rod that I have had for more than twenty years.  It was just too light to handle these Florida bass.  

I'm only about 5'8" and find that the handles on many new rods are too long for me to cast comfortably.