I have a Tiger Eye 7 foot, medium-heavy action. I was wondering if I could make it with a split grip. It will be used mainly for walleye and pike, some bass. This will be my first split grip and I'm not sure if the blank is tough enough. If the blank isn't strong enough, please give me some ideas on a blank that is.

The grip doesn't add any strength to the blank really, so you should be fine.

...........

Some types of rod holders and styles of fishing don't suite split grip rods to well
so you might take that into concideration. The open area can be subject to abuse
and although damage to the blank is generally not a factor this may be hard on the
finish.

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

I think the only place a split grip will not fare well is if the rod is going to be placed in a rodholder, such as a Scotty or other similar type rodholder. Then, the exposed portion of the blank will be subject to rubbing, wear etc. For example, building a split grip walleye planer board rod would not be a very good idea. Otherwise, the split grips look cool, garner alot of attention, and save weight. I'd say that unless the rod will be doing serious rodholder duty, why do anything but a split grip?

yep! I love'em

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

With bass fisherman using a two handed cast what specs might anyone recommend
on a split grip that would feel more comfortable or give best all around performance?
I am looking for a starting point for how far apart to have the two pieces.Not from top to bottom as much as the distance between the two grips.{7" grip 3"s between 7" grip 4"s between and so on}
How are you shaping the butt end?
All the split grips I have picked up feel small and short.Is this just a change I need to get more adapted to?
I am aware That I can make it any way I want only why are all the marketed split grips wimpy feeling in the butt?
I have an average size hand so that's not the problem.

It's all personal preference! You can make a split grip any size/diameter that you want (they don't have to be equal. Have the user hold the rod like they are casting and go from there. If by "marketed rods" you mean production rods, you have to consider the fact that they are "one size fits all" They have no idea of the size, casting style, etc of the user. One reason why I never build a rod on "speculation" about who is going to use it.

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!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/13/2006 10:36AM by Mike Barkley.

Mike,
Why would it be that every one I have picked up feels like I have ahold of a golf ball.I have a medium to small hand for a guy?
one size fits all should be average/medium
Is this maybe to get more advantage out of a split grip by having as short of a butt end grip as you can tolerate?
I did mean production. I find ahold my not be a word according to ISPELL. LOL
Thanks

My personal favorite spit grip starting from reel seat back is 2-5/8 then 4-7/8 gap then 1-7/8
I used graphite tubing for the handles. Those dimensions worked out that way because I had two scrap pieces of tubing and at the cost did not want to throw them away. But have turned out to be the best split grip I’ve built. It is on a medium 7’ casting rod

Greg,

That blank is fine for split grips. I have built many of them on the same blank with no problems. It will make a good walleye, pike, bass rod.

Joe

Joe Douglas

Steve G,
Your saying that you built the grip on a graphite tube then mounted the tube on the blank
instead of directly on the blank.
Right?

I just got done building 2 bass casting rods for a friend - using split grips, the "rear grip" length - which includes the butt cork, split portion, and rear grip off the reel seat, is 10", on a 6' long rod. He likes a 6' rod, and wanted a longer rear grip for comfort. He also requested a "power hump" style rear portion of the grip. His reasoning is that after 8 hours of casting, cramps can be a real problem, the larger grip should help alleviate that. I have some large diameter cork rings (1 3/8"), so I was able to turn a 3 inch long rear grip with a nice hump to it. The butt grip is 2.5" long, just a nice even taper from 1 1/4" down to about 7/8". Doesn't leave a ton of split area (4.5") , but looks good and was a perfect place to put one of the rod decals (I don't do fancy crosswraps). The resulting grips are VERY comfortable, even for a guy with small/average hands like myself. These were the first rods I've built for anyone but myself, and he was thrilled - which made me one happy guy!

Mike;
I'm not sure what your question is asking, could you rephrase it?

Steve,
It was sounding to me like you my have built the grip on a
Graphite tube then mounted it on the blank like you maybe would a
reel seat.Were you extending the blank?
How did you use the graphite tubing?
Thanks, still gathering ideas.
ME Tanner

Mike ;
I took a real seat and reamed it to the diameter of the bank were I wanted it mounted. Glued it in place the built a transition arbor of two different diameters. One half of which fit into the backend of the reel seat. The other half to match the inside diameter of the graphite tubing. At the other end of the tubing I built an arbor the out side of which again matched the inside of the graphite tubing. The inside of the arbor I reamed to match the out side of the rod blank at the point were the back end of tubing is located. From there I left a space in the blank. Then mounted another arbor piece of graphite tubing then an end cap. creating the split grip.

Steve,
OK, Now I got it.
My bet is that turned out pretty nice.
Any pics?

Mike,
This is what you are looking for! [www.rodbuilding.org]

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!!

Mike I do not own a digital camera so cannot post pic's. But if you ckick on the one abouve it's pretty close except mine is green tubing with black handle. Blue balnk with blue and green thread work.

This is a nice look.Thanks for the link Mike B.
Steve,Those cameras are getting cheap.remember a 3.0 or less is all you need for internet posting.If the work your turning out Has ideas
like this, borrow one.
Later