I have yet to build a rod from the bare blank up, so far I've just re wrapped some.
I'm wondering if there is a specific application for EVA grips as opposed to cork grips.
Are there any drawbacks to EVA instead of cork, and if so what are they?

Thanks,
Larry

What are you building? Fly Rod, Stand up Tuna - each has it's place.

I'm building 6' to 7' casting & spinning rods. Mainly for trout & redfish.

I would think either would work just fine. Cork's advantage is that it is hard, light & feels nice in your hand. EVA is more durable, a little heavier, and is a little "softer" - you can squeeze it.

As much as I like Cork, unless you're willing to spend the money on high quality rings (and a lot of money at that) - it ends up not looking very good right off the bat. Poor quality. EVA looks "factory" to a lot of people, but if you're into colors tehre are several available & if you delve a bit further into teis craft you can come up with some really unique designs.

Does EVA interfere with the feel of the bite? Is it easier to feel the fish with cork?

I build freshwater walleye rods. This type of fishing is all about sensitivity. I just can't sell rods with anything but cork to these customers; mostly tournament fishermen. Some try them on a trolling rod, but most want cork even on these.

Putter

Larry - I cannot answer since I don't fish where I need to feel the bite through the grip - I watch the tip, feel the line, or watch where the line enters the water. Or the rod straight gets ripped out of my hands on the bite, lol.

I would guess the harder the material, the more "sensitive - but there is no way to measure sensitivity so everyone has their own opinion. I have no opinion on this, sorry.

No problem, Billy. Now that I think about it, the trout usually thump pretty hard, and you don't really need to feel a redfish to know he's there.
I'll probably try some EVA grips just to see how I like them.

Thanks,
Larry

One more thing to consider is fighting fish. Eva and other "foam" grips tend to twist a small amount in the hand when fighting fish, thus causing you to grip the rod tighter. Might not be a consideration for some but if you are fighting hard pulling fish or fish that require a little longer to land this can cause considerable hand and forearm fatigue.

Their are pro's and con's to all of them but I tend to think that most of it is the "good rods have cork" mentality. Sort of like "good fly rods have snakes" Basically fisherman/womwn are traditionalists and don't like change. I don't have the answer to this question but if cork is so sensitive to vibration, why is cork the material most often used to "dampen" or reduce vibration from machinery/tools, etc. and reduce vibration, sound waves, etc? Just something to ponder!

I've never seen a spinning rod user have his hand even on the grip while fishing (hand is on the reel seat straddling the reel) so how much would the sensitivity of the grip mean??

Mike

Geoff Hanson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One more thing to consider is fighting fish. Eva
> and other "foam" grips tend to twist a small
> amount in the hand when fighting fish, thus
> causing you to grip the rod tighter. Might not be
> a consideration for some but if you are fighting
> hard pulling fish or fish that require a little
> longer to land this can cause considerable hand
> and forearm fatigue.


While I don't disagree with EVA giving a little when squeezing it fighting a fish - almost every single heavy duty rod is made with foam grips, and quite a few with Hypalon - which is even softer than EVA & "twice" as heavy. One reason is probabl the diameter of these blanks would have you reaming 90% of the cork ring out, or the fact they will get beat up, or that holding cork with slimy hands can equal a projectile, lol.

Seriously, you have to look at each rod differently, and figure outwhat is the best material available for you & use that.