I am new to this site, but have built a dozen or so rods. However I have never added a fore grip to any of them. Now building a 12wt and wonder if there are any issues I should be aware of in adding a fore grip. Added question: Can a fore grip be added to any blank?

Phishin Phool

Not sure what you mean! Are you talking about fly rods?? When I think of a fore grip, I think of the short grip usually fitted against the front of the reel seat on a spinning or casting rod. Not sure what a fore grip on a fly rod is

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!!

Yes, talking about fly rods. I have fished a number of heavy fly rods in Belize and Costa Rica (10-14wts) that have the added fore grip. It was mounted on the blank slightly above the normal grip. I have always avoided putting my hand on the blank above the regular grip when fighting big fish, but the fore grip in the above instances worked and help in fighting. I'm not sure if these blanks were built especially for the addition of fore grips or whether they can be added to most heavy blanks.

Interesting! Makes sense. I'm sure that you will get some answers/opinions here.

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!!

I've seen photos of what looks like a 4 - 4 1/2in. fore grip shaped like a cigar grip in that position on a heavy fly rod. Maybe this is what you want? Ralph

I bet you can put them on any rod.

Let's fish,
Chris

Fly rod I mean.

Let's fish,
Chris

Most people who big game fish with fly rods prefer a fighting grip or fore grip mounted ahead of the casting grip. The fighting grip on most factory rods are too small in diameter to be of any use. The grip needs to be at least 1 inch in diameter to keep your hand from cramping up during an extended fight. The grip material can be whatever you like, either cork or Hypalon. I make my fighting grip 7 1/2 inches long and place it about 18 inches from the butt end of the reel seat to the mid point of the grip. Where you place the grip is determined on the persons height and the length of their arms.

I appreciate all the responses and am assuming from them that the blank construction is not the determining factor as to whether or not you can add a fore grip. If anyone reading this knows otherwise, I'd like their response.

Hi Phil,

A six-inch piece of EVA with appropriate I.D. and O.D. with a 1/8" slot cut down one side makes a great removeable fighting foregrip for flyrods. I've had one for years. Not sure where I got it, maybe Cabela's, and I don't know if they're still sold, but it would be easy to make your own.

Bill

Did an encapsulated fighting grip on a 12wt several years back that was wood grained background with a jumping Tarpon on it, talk about eye catching!!!! Jesse

Blue Water Fly Rod Project 16/18 wt one piece 8' 4" CTS Fly Blank. Can you add a foregrip - yes. Can you add a butt extension - yes. Can you add an extended foregrip with a larger diameter and length - yes. Can you use a typical two handed type fly rod - yes. Are there measurements of distances involved - yes. All of these things are added to fly rods by rodbuilders to aid taking large blue water fish. Can you submit your catch to the IGFA for a world's record - yes. Can the IGFA deny your catch because IGFA interpretation of the existing rules will not allow what you had done to build the rod of your choice - yes.

I have filed a request to have all of the items listed above quantified by the IGFA so that we can warrant that the fly rods will not give the angler and unfair advantage or be somehow considered as non conventional by IGFA Standards. Go to his site and click on fishing and Rules and take a look at the existing rules. It is surprising to me that this has not been dealt with before considering the large number of two handed rods now in use.

[www.igfa.org]

For Fly rods both sets of Rules apply one for Rods in General and the other specific to Fly Rods.

Rules section accessed in PDF Format by clicking on Fishing (top menu bar) then Rules.

The IGFA Board will review the above list from one of their staff members on January 17, 2007. I have been promised a response to my questions by January 30, 2007. I will report the results or ask the IGFA to make a direct contribution to this Board so there will be no question concerning validity.





Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/2007 01:40PM by Bill Stevens.

GEE, thanks Bill, I hadn't even considered the IGFA ramifications! I was thinking only about whether the addition of a fore grip to a rod would someway compromize it's strength.

Phil Erickson - please go to the My Control Center feature of this board and reenter and confirm you email address in order to display your email address to board members. Thanks.