I am building three split grip casting rods seven ft long. I was wondering what the measurement is from the butt end of the blank to the bottom of the lower grip below the real seat. These are the first casting rods I am attempting to build any and all suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Brent Keever

Brent, you're wide open to lots of things there and it really mainly depends a lot on what type of casting you're going to do. Two handed for Muskie baits might be quite a bit longer distance than my walleye jigging rods that I build. It's also a bit open to that ol' "custom" part, too!!

Putter
Williston, ND

Putter is right Brent, the choice should be left up to the presentation, and the angler. My Musky rods run about 13"-15" and my bass rods run in the 7-14" range....again it's all about what your trying to do with that rod and what the person wants.

DR

Ok I understand that guys thanks. I built one today and used ten inches. These rods or for specs and reds so I kinda just used what I do for the spinning set ups that I do it just looked like alot of the blank showing but I am sure it will be fine this rod is a christmas gift so I am dealing with the wife. I know what he fishes he will be pleased no matter what because the blank is two tone purple and gold he is a big LSU fan. Which I am a UL Ragin Cajun fan. He has been after me for a few months to build him an LSU rod now just to keep it a secret until Christmas thank god he works in Las Vegas right now. So that shouldnt be hard his wife saw the blank tonight and loved it.

Brent,
I don't know how Bill feels about an "Ragin Cajun" fan. LOL! However, If your
building a rod for an LSU fan get in touch with Bill Stevens! Also, see his
gallery in the photo section here.



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

Just use whatever you would use on a regular rod (total length) and leave out whatever you don't need or want in the middle. It's the overall length of the grip that counts, The rod won't know that something's missing in the middle.

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!!

Hey Raymond I know Bill and Lance I may be spending time with both of them this Friday not sure yet. I have been to Bills shop and I have seen his stuff on the photo board. He knows I am Ragin Cajun fan I am not anti LSU. Bill and Lance are both good people. Thanks Raymond But hey if they are willing to pay for it I can build it lol.

AH! Your in good hands then!

I know what ya mean, I'm a SF 49's fan but often asked if I can do an Oakland Raider's
themed rod! Not exactly happy with the prospect but if they got the green I got the gold
& black!

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

Mike's advice is spot on. Figure a normal grip length, then cut out the middle. Make sure you have enough of a grip behind the seat for the size of the hand. Not many things are more uncomfortable than a grip that is a half inch too short. I have small hands so my first grip may be an inch or more shorter than somebody else's.

I agree with mike and mick - the space between (where the blank show through) can be whatever length you want it to be.

if i was building myself a rod for specs and reds, I think Id want the butt to hit just shy of my elbow when fishing.

Brent, just sent you an email. I just got in a while ago. I normally go 10 inches from the beginning of the grip to the end of the butt cap on a 7' rod. Sometimes I'll go 8 inches because some people just like a shorter grip especially if they're a little large in the midsection. A shorter handle makes it a little easier to cast especially when wade fishing. On a 6 1/2' rod I'll make it about 7 inches.

I actually calculate the reel seat position based on balance. I attach the reel to the seat and temporarily tape it onto the blank adjusting until I find the "sweet spot". At which point, I build it. I have found that the cork seems to even out the guides, thread and epoxy - so the initial "seat only" calculations worked each time.

I'm building a split grip rod for topwater bass fishing right now. I actually shortened the handle because I get tired of smacking the rod butt into my sid when walking topwater luers. I got real creative with the foregrip and turned a big groove in it to act almost like a second trigger. The butt section is only about 2" long and the grip behind the reel seat is 3". I'll post some pics once I have some thread on it. Brent, if you want to see a pic, I can email you one before I finish it.

Hey Raymond... thought Raiders were Silver/Grey and Black?

Look Out Raymond...Here come those silver and black Raider fans !!!!!

Tight Lines
Tight Wraps
Fishin'Stix by Fred

Quickly Rainman, edit your post!!! They're gonna eat ya alive!

Putter
Williston, ND

Good luck on using this rod.

With only a 3 inch butt section, you are going to have a very very very tip heavy rod. I suspect that you will also find the rod ackward to use with the very short handle and no leverage behind the reel.

I am simply stating this, because I made the mistake of making a nice 7 foot casting rod with only a 6 inch back grip. I thought that lenght would be sufficient, and I back weighted the rod, so thought that I had taken care of the tip weight problem.
Wrong on both accounts.
After using the rod a short time, it simply hung on the wall, because it wasn't comfortable to use.

Last month, I cut the butt cap off the rod and extended the rod, so that I had 9 inches behind the reel. That is the length that I have standardized on for virtually all of my casting rods. I find that the 9 inch length, still allows me to make two handed casts if necessary, gives plenty of leverage, gives decent balance - if not, is easy to balance with back weight - and is not so long that it digs into my stomach when not wanted. It is also the right lenght for use in a rod holder.

I hope that your short back grip rod works out for you - but try to give it an honest test, and be willing to change it if you find that it is simply not tolerable to use. It is relatively painless to extend the butt of the rod if needed, so if you find that the rod is not working for you, cut off the butt cap, extend the rod, and butt cork and butt cap , back weight as needed, and enjoy.

Take care
Roger