OK, I know there's no absolute number but generally, with a cork tennessee handle, how many lbs test is where you guys draw the line? So far, I've only used these handles for UL and L rods.

Can you do a tennesee on cork for 20 lbs braided? 30 lbs? etc.

Thanks,
Mo

Mo,

I'd think that properly installed 'tennessee' handle would be as strong, if not stronger, than a handle made with a reel seat in it and would work for ANY weight rod/line. The cork would shape to the reel foot, giving more support than a 'hard' reel seat, and thus would spread any torque over a larger area.

Provided, of course, that the method of securing the reel was solid and strong.

If you put the reel on with a couple of hose clamps, you could certainly use it on 120# test. If you used cheap vinyl electricians tape, then 30 might be your upper limit.

Good Luck!

Buddy

Mo
If you build them like I do. I see no reason why you could not use 60 to 100 lb test. I have not so far But have used 20-50 with no porblems, or even any thing that would caused me to be concerned

Mo

I have a number of Smallmouth customers that regularly order Tennessee handles.



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Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

Mo,
While living in Florida I had a 5 1/2 ft Lamiglas IM700 8 to 17 lb tennessee cork grip rod that I had installed a 1/2 oz jig and large SW reel and used to throw back into following fish or a fish that gave a refusal on the first rod. Never had a problem with the grip bringing in some pretty large Dorados, etc. The reel was held on with electrical tape.

My question would be what the limit is if using a graphite or texilium handle? Remember that doesn't have the thickness of a cork handle. The way I was taught to build them is hollow with just the shim arbors in a couple of one inch spots to center the stick. What do you guys think is the class line there?

I've used graphite grips on everything inclding heavy salmon rods and a few 9 ft Rogue saltwater blanks similar in power to a heavy backbouncer blank with no issues so far. Some have had Texillium finish/foil/color problems, I've only used it on one ML freshwater rod and so far no problems.

what do you mean by finishg foil problems spence? I have had about 20 6 ft pieces of teliulium in my shop for a year and a halp and never used them. I was gonna though sooner or later.

Some people here have posted pics of texillium that has peeled back. Grant Darby had some peel off just from applying/removing tape.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/27/2007 01:09PM by Spencer Phipps.

I have been using a cork TN handle for several years with 30 pound braid for C rigging and have zero issues. Two pieces of strapping tape covered with black tape. Almost all my spinning rods (all but a couple I purchased) have been TN grip going back into the 80's and never had a problem with any of them.

Mo,,, guess it depends upon the attachment method you use. The old slip rings were pretty poor. Folks seem to use a lot of tape, but I'm not sure how durable that is a combination of temp extremes, adhesive aging, repeated wetting/drying, loss of elasticity in the attachment/grip, and so forth. I think it will be very envoronmentally and component specific as to what you can get away with.

Once you get up into 50lb gear tho, you will see most knowledgable fisherman beginning to use reel clamps. So even if you've a 100% surefire foot mount method, you begin pushing the limits of reliability for the reel foot itself.

I cannot imagine that the handle itself would ever be the weak link in the chain here. Unless you decided to use the TN on an offshore trolling and frankly, that would defy any reasonable common sense use.

The attachment of the reel could be problematic on heavy duty applications, but even then I doubt what you're talking about is going to stress the limits of a good tape job, rings, or Steve's Vibronix wrapped foot.

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