I'm just wondering if anyone has any problems using wood instead of cork? Does it feel comfortable enough to fish? I'm thinking it would. One thing that I wonder about is when fighting a fish, sometimes the butt flexes a little at the cork area. What would happen when this is wood? I have flame maple, birdseye maple, black walnut, cedar, or birch for wood.

I haven't heard of any problems! Builders have been using wood grips for many years and they are becoming even more popular. I find them very comfortable and contrary to many people's opinion, they are not "slippery when wet". If you do a search here for wood grips and select ALL DATES, you will get a lot of help. Also, look on the photo page under HANDLES, GRIPS and you will find 81 pages of pics of seats-many of them wood.

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!!

Ditto what Mike said.

I will add that some hardwoods can be quite heavy compaired to
cork. However, some simple design and installation techniques
can be used to minimize the added weight.

Wood makes great grip material!!

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

Wood grips are pretty subjective. Some like, some don't. IMO, cork is It! Ralph

If at first you don't succeed, go fishing, then try, try again.

I have seen wood grips break a very light blank right at the cusp of the blank / wood junction. This should put up a red flag of caution to perhaps stick to heavier blanks when using wood for handles... that said - I know plenty of folks that build using exclusively wood handles too - but I would guess that one would be better to stick with spinjig or other faster actioned, stronger backboned blanks. Chuck Ungs

Sounds like I just have to try it and see if wood grips are good for me. I'll post some pics when done.