Has anyone tried the Am. Tackle Matrix rod handle? Looks cool and am thinking of putting it on a St. Croix travel spin rod blank (green in color).
How is the grip-a-bility (sp?:) ) on this handle when wet.
Is is noticably heavier than cork
Does the finish hold up well to salt water
Does it transfer vibration well (bite dectection)? At least better than cork?
I assume you can shim it with foam brick arbors?

Thanks,
Buzz Butters

I did read the July 26th 2005 about this grip by the way.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Geez Billy, that about covers it.
Thanks

Buzz

I have looked at and held the handles, and have about 5 ft of the tubing. I bought the tubing for Tenn. handles, but is larger diameter then what I normally use, and am not comfortable with that. As far as bite detection I have 3 rods with graphite Tenn. handles that i've been using for years. the last I built being a drop shot rod. and with out a doubt is the most sensative rod I have . The blank on it was a cheap blank. So I know the feel comes from the handle I even took this rod to Dion Hibdon to look at, and his responce was " I can feel every thing". As far as grip. I have been using this style for at least 15 years, and that has nerver been a problem. I have fished many days in the rain and would consider the grip to be as good or better then cork. I don't know how it will hold up in salt water, but the finish is the same type of finish that you find on blanks, so should hold up just as well. The only thing I don't like about the bait casting handle is the triger it'self. It's more of a round style then the narower wide type. For me it's iritating. Feels like I have something stuck between my fingers instead of an extension of the handle.

Thanks Steve,
I appreciate your input.
Buzz

They're very light, appear to snug up quite well on the reel foot and look great. As far as how "slippery" they are when wet, well, slipperly is as much a matter of shape as surface. Anybody that can handle a TN handle made with a graphite tube won't have any problem with these, and with casting seats, you do have that trigger. Frankly, I don't find them much if any more slippery than other straight taper grips of cork or firm EVA.

...............

Hi Buzz,

A wet handle is not problem. Just try wetting it and pulling it out of someone's hand. I believe you will find it lighter than cork or equivalent. The finish is epoxy just like on a blank so there is no problem with saltwater. It is a hollow ridged graphite tube so it will transfer vibrations better than any cork or EVA handle both of which dampen vibrations.

I hope that helps.

Warmest Regards,

American Tackle Company, Inc.
Joe Meehan
President
+1-508-432-7735
Fax: +1-508-432-6377
email: joe@americantackle.us
Web site: [americantackle.us]

When mounting it on the arbors, leave space between them. It creates a sound chamber that really amplifies the bites. For the Tenn handles I have made, which were like 12" long or so, I used 3 arbors, 1 on each end and 1 in the middle.

I've made a 6"6" with a fast matrix rod and a matrix handle and love it - its my favorite and best looking rod . It doesnt slip and sensitvity is awesome, however I fish mostly for freshwater bass and more with the hand on the reel and foregrip (I love the samller matrix foregrip) than on the handle, until I'm reeling it in.

I do not have the Vetre Matrix handle, but I do have a rod with regular carbon fiber tubing for the grips. I personally find it very uncomfortable since it is so hard, and will be covering the piece behind the reel seat where my hand goes with cork. I cut 15" off the butt of my rod, extended 18" with a piece of 15mm tubing, ECSM over that, adn 2 larger pieces of Woven tubing as a split grip. Grip was extended with 5" of overlap on teh end of teh blank, with graphite arbors, and this really kept the weight of the rod down to a bare minimum. The claims of super sensitivity - I cannot tell why the rod is more sensitive, but it certainly is. I did use a lighter blank with TI guides vs my other rods which have Alconites on them & cork handles, and all weigh 2 1/2 ounces more. Whatever the case, the rod is super sensitive, actually too sensitive as I had to really adjust when I swing on a fish. But I love the rod & the grips, and wouldn't hesitate to use them again

Steve,
Interested in selling the 5 ft piece you are not happy with?

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

Raymond
sent you personal email about 5' piece

Got it Steve,
Get my reply?

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

You inquired about weight. I did too a while back. Assuming you're talking about the Vertex handle.

From memory, I think the whole assembly (not including the bushing) ran something like 2.6 ounces or so. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but that's the stat I got from the sellers.

I'm not sure what traditional cork with seat weigh. I was looking for Tennessee Cork which is only about .8 ounces so the Vertex handle is about 3 times as much as the pure cork tennessee.

Again, someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Mo

Mo - Based on some measurements I've taken, I would guess that 2.6oz for teh total handle assembly is about right. Most Fuji reel seats weigh around the 1oz mark, and a 20" piece of tubing weighs about the same. 2.6 sounds right.

Unfortunately, I do not have teh weight of cork, becasue it is hard to get an accurate weight because each grip I have is a different size & different OD & ID.

Hi Mo,

Did that Tennessee handle assembly include a reel seat?

Joe

There is no reel seat with a Tennessee handle