I heard trimming the RS and finishing with a winding check or hosel instead of a foregrip is the hot setup for bass rods. Is this for asthetics only? I'm thinking about trying it with a UL casting rod.

I don't know about casting rods, but I prefer no foregrip on spinning rods. It enable me to keep a thumb or finget on the blank. Personally, I think the foregrip on a rod (except for a heavy/trolling/surf rod where the rod is held by the foregrip with a hand while fighting a fish) is more a matter of tradition (that's the way it's always been done) and serves no real purpose. Just my opinion!



Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

When you shorten the reelseat to a length that just holds the reel on and no more, and you palm the reel the forefinger on the hand holding the reel/rod can be right on the blank is a very comfortable position giving you two contact points if you use a exposed blank reelseat. Some even make them more abbreviated with verry little cork in a split grip, just a bit of the trigger and upper reelseat than nothing but a few reelseat threads and the nut, now just about everyhing is exposed to your hand and it is reported to take more than a 1/4 oz off the rod weight. I don't think it's very comfortable and doesn't accomplish much unless you use one of the magnesium little japanese reels, Recoil or titanium guides, but they do it.

Looks great too! I'm working on a couple of casting rods now set up that way (split rear grip and no fore grip)

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

Raymond,
How about posting pix? Sounds sharp



Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Sure would like to see some pictures.

here's a site that gives you pictures and instructions that I found useful [ [www.georgescustomrods.com]] under the heading "construction".Grorge has some neat ideas .I have used several of his ideas and instructions that have turned out well for me
Ken Blevins

I agree with Kevin about George's site. Here's a link to some pics of the handles/seat assemblys:

[www.georgescustomrods.com]

Take a look at these:[www.rodbuilding.org]

Some really good ideas and pictures here! I recommend combining some of the ideas by using a very short, "button fore grip" out of wood as it makes a neat transition and provides good sensitivity as well.

Stan Grace
Helena, MT
"Our best is none too good"

I am an avid bass fisherman. Since I saw George's site about 6 months ago, I have changed ALL my rods, both casting and spinning to split rear grip and no foregrip. I love the look and the feel. I have also re-wrapped 6 of my baitcasting rods spiral....Love that too. I recently built myself a drop shot rod and didn't put a speck of cork on it. As soon as I figure out how to work my wife's digital camera and download pics, I will try to post a few pics.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/07/2005 12:18PM by Steve Buchanan.

Hey guys...thank you for the kind words. I'm glad that my site has been useful to other rod builders. It has been a fun project and I will be updating some of the pages, once I resolve the hosting issue. The "No-Foregrip" design I learned from Rich Forhan. It allows you to contact the blank to increase sensitivity. Another technique I've been using is the single cork ring on each end of the spinning reel seat...what I call a "Split Rear Grip - Extreme". I'll be posting pics in the near future. It eliminates most of the cork from the blank...reducing the overall weight.

Good fishing.......George

Mike, Leon, & All,
The rod is not completed yet but I posted a photo of the handle. It is a Rainshadow HS 1021 with a Batson exposed reel seat and EVA
split rear grips. Havn't decided how to embellish the area between the eva yet. I'm thinking "marbleing"? Had attempted a 4-leaf clover buttwrap but had to cut it off and havn't got back to it. There be SALMON here!!

Here is the photo
[www.rodbuilding.org]



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

Raymond, Very Nice! That's the way I like 'em. Naturally, I would prefer a subtle cloudlike marble!!!!!!