If cork is obsolete, then so am I. I just love cork handles on light spinning and fly rods.

Cork is a very unique material that has not, and probably will never be matched in some areas. Few naturally occuring materials are as well suited for rod handles as cork is. But there are still things it cannot do. I've always felt that EVA and Hypalon were poor substitutes in many areas compared to cork.

............

I agree with Bill; I think the title of this post is tongue in cheek OR just for one person's style of building. Cork can't be beat for cold weather, especially.

There is the possibility of putting those little hand warmer/heat packs inside the fiber handles (leaving the butt cap so it can be removed). Other than those, cork is the go-to material as far as a sensible material for the rods that I build here in the frozen tundra.

Putter
Williston, ND

Putter that is an excellent Idea!
I fished a tournament the last weekend in which it was below freezing and I wrapped one around the lower part of my bait caster reel seat, and just held it their while I fished.

I am a power hand caster so I did not have to worry about if falling off when changing hands to cast
.
But I really like your idea. I will have to figure out a way to remove the butt cap and still provide the structural integrity need it for hook sets and fighting fish. While allowing the space to slide the warmer up inside the rod handle.

Wish it were my own idea; gotta tip the hat to Bruce Vetre on that one. He told me of his use of that idea.

Putter
Williston, ND

A flocked grip will beat cork in the "comfort in the cold" every time. And now you have something better than cork to flock over - something that weighs 40% to 50% less, will outlast cork by many decades if not centuries and cost only pennies.


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If I remember right Bruce uses one of his grips(different in some ways from the AmTack grip, for one it's lighter), doesn't build it as a blank thru so the rear grip is hollow, than put his heat pack in the rear grip tube. Haven't tried it yet, but this looks like a quick and easy way to extend a rod blank also.

Mike Barkley, Chase Foster, Bob Lee (and I think Billy V) and I discussed this sitting in the bar Sunday night last year in High Point using one of the American tackle handles (hollow). All had to do with salmon fishing & cold water/air conditions. I admit I never thought about flocking the grip as well. That I think is a fantastic idea - double duty non-slip and an extra bit of insulation. Done carefully I think taking the toes out of a pair of battery operated hunting socks would also work - not sure about the diameter of the tubing vs width of a 9-volt battery though - might need a bit of 'tinkering' to make it fit.

APOLOGY TO IAN MILLER.
I have to apologise to all on this thread for making a negative comment, re obtaining rodmaker here in Aus.

Thanks to another member I was given Ian's email address and he responded very quickly to my enquiry.

The fault would appear to be mine in my poor use of this computer, which I have very little skill with.

Thank you Ian.

I fish therefore I am.
www.hookeduprods.com

AN APOLOGY TO IAN MILLER.

My earlier post in this thread sounds very negative of Ian, which was not my intention.

Thanks to another member of this forum I have today had communication with Ian.

The fault would be mine, due to lack of skill with a computer, or as Ian suggests having the wrong email address.

All sorted now and soon to be subscribing to rodmaker.

I hope this clears up any miunderstanding.

Paul

I fish therefore I am.
www.hookeduprods.com

Daiwa (steez rods) and Kistler must a told em what they are using.