Shortening A Rod Handle

[dcorp]

I know a lot of people do this with how ridiculously long rod handles are now. My main question is: Is there a way to save the rod "butt" when shortening a split handle rod? How do you get it off without destroying it? I would like to use the original if possible.

[Marty]

I can't help with your questions, but I hate long-handled rods. It's the first thing I look for when buying a rod. I did shorten a rod handle that a manufacturer sent me as a replacement, but it wasn't a split handle.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

A couple of things to be careful of:

Warranty will likely be voided

Trimming off the butt will alter balance

The butt grip will need to be replaced. They are relatively inexpensive and available from any rod building supplier.

Wrap tape around the blank and use a sharp blade to avoid splitting or splintering the blank.

[dcorp]

A couple of things to be careful of:

Warranty will likely be voided

Trimming off the butt will alter balance

The butt grip will need to be replaced. They are relatively inexpensive and available from any rod building supplier.

Wrap tape around the blank and use a sharp blade to avoid splitting or splintering the blank.

Thank you for the tips. I called St. Croix and they said the warrenty will NOT be void wihich is cool. The other rod is an Abu Garcia Vendetta that I got for $50 bucks so I dont care too much about that one. I was hoping to save the original rod butt cap but it sounds like I need to buy new ones. Any recommendations on a good site to buy these from?

Thanks

Dan

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Mud Hole Tackle has good service and prices:

http://www.mudhole.com/

[John G]

I'll bet an arrow saw would be great for cutting a blank. Mine goes through carbon and aluminum arrow shafts with no problems.

[BigMoneyGrip]

You can use a dremel with the cut off wheel. Just use masking tape to wrap where you're cutting.

[dcorp]

It bothers me that manufactures make rod handles so long nowadays. I bought a skeet reese rod and the handle must have been a foot and a half..... I've taken rods to a guy who charges 15-20 bucks per rod but I figured i'd give it a shot myself. Thanks everyone for the tips, I'll let you know how it goes.

[SirSnookalot]

I may be one of the few that prefers a longer butt on my rods, I use a top lures quite often too.

[Marty]

I may be one of the few that prefers a longer butt on my rods, I use a top lures quite often too.

I doubt that you're one of a few, because there are so many long-handled rods out there that people must be buying them.

I bought a skeet reese rod and the handle must have been a foot and a half.....

I'd want to cut the handle, but the problem is that with, say, a 7' rod, the 1.5' handle just leaves 5.5' on the business end of the rod, certainly not what one probably wanted when he bought a 7' rod.

[SirSnookalot]

@ Marty, I said one of the few as I have noticed a number of people that seem to desire a shorter rear grip and it is true a top lure is easier to work. I like casting with a longer butt better, I've gotten so used to working a top lure with it that's it's second nature and I don't even think about it. Quite common for me to use a top water plug with 7'6 and 8' rods, everything thing is longer, that I don't recommend, takes a lot to get comfortable.

If I wanted a rod with a shorter butt, I'd buy one. If I want a 7' rod, that's the length I want, I don't want to make it shorter.

[K_Mac]

When I upgrade my wife's tackle I may be in the same spot. Most longer rods have a longer handle than she is comfortable with. She likes the longer distance from reel seat to tip though. Even if the net gain from 6'6" to 7+' is only an inch or two after cutting, that is enough to justify the modification in her opinion.

[deep]

If I wanted a rod with a shorter butt, I'd buy one. If I want a 7' rod, that's the length I want, I don't want to make it shorter.

I agree with you whole-heartedly.

OP, for me handles can never be too long. How do you like the sound of a 2' handle on an 8' rod? I have a 7' St Croix Triumph with a ridiculously short handle, for a change. Don't people cast with both hands any more?

The other thing that bothers me is the presence or absence of fore-grips for certain techniques.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Where the reel seat is mounted affects what I refer to as the effective length of the rod. Granted it's best to buy what you want in tyhe first place, but if you decide later on that a small adjustment is needed, trimming an inch or so off the butt won't hurt anything. If you want something that you just can't find off the rack you can always have it built.

[Marty]

Don't people cast with both hands any more?

Sure. I have no problem with two-handed casting with an 8" handle.

[barroncooper]

I'll bet an arrow saw would be great for cutting a blank. Mine goes through carbon and aluminum arrow shafts with no problems.

that's exactly what I used and it worked great. I shortened the handle on an old carrot stick that I use for throwing rogues. it was hard to snap the lure with that long handle. works perfectly now. i used the same rod butt. I was just extremely careful when digging the old carbon and glue out of it. it took a while. if i did it again I'd just order another rod butt from somewhere.