I have most of the prelimary stuff done (took a week off to work on boat). Question is with a 14" rear grip for retrieving with the rod "tucked" and pointed down is your normal grip in front of the reel? I usually build with no foregrip but after thinking about it maybe I need one for this? Do you agree? Even though I have yet to make a cast I am already planning my next rod with a "swimbait" blank, probably a BB or at least one for some heavier baits! Now let me see where was that $200 bait I was looking at! Never fished with a bait that cost more than the rod and reel!

If you are using a non-levelwind reel you will NEED a foregrip. If using a levelwind and going for big fish in which you'll be grabbing the blank when you fight the fish, you'd be crazy to not include a foregrip. Mine rane fom 6-9" depending on what the rod is used for, and quite a bit longer for Offshore. Make sure the grip is long enough that your hand fits comfortably and has some space to move around to readjust. Just grab a grip and measure about 1/2" behind the bottom of your hand to about 1" in front of your thumb...that shoudl eb the minimum length, imo.

i second what billy said

The 3 swimbait rods that I have already built have 4" foregrips on the blank, It makes for comfort when putting the leverage on a big fish or bass, When I hooked up with a 10 pounder just recently it was nice to have that foregrip on the rod. Steve