Hello, I am thinking about building myself a Switch Rod. Is there anyone out there besides Batson that is offering preformed cork grips for these rods. I'm not trying to knock Batson, just don't like the looks of the ones they have available. I've researched a bunch of place's and nobody seems to offer much. Thanks for the help.

Cabela's sells some.

I have often thought about using a Tennesee handle for the long foregrip on this kind of a rod.

You can shorten up a spey grip to your needs. Angler's Workshop has them and I'm sure others. Pac Bay I think makes a grip that will work.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/2009 03:52PM by Spencer Phipps.

Keep in mind the picture on our site is not the actual grip it is a Solid Works Cad picture. Here is a link to the real grip on the photo page.

click here [www.rodbuilding.org]

Karry Batson
Batson Enterprises Inc.
Ph: (877) 875-2381
Fax: (360) 683-3579
karry@batsonenterprises.com
www.batsonenterprises.com

Hey Bill,

If you have an idea what you want, let me know and I'll turn a sample for you. I have a switch blank also I need to build so I could probably set up and turn a few of these for both of us.

Send me an email if you are interested.

Terry

I just turned one down myself....tipped in buffalo horn and Amboya burl seat with a solid buffalo horn fighting butt.......turned out sweet..............or atleast I like it ................can post a pic later tonight if you are interested in seeing the the handle to give you an idea of what I did.......

Mine is similiar to the Batson handle, which feels good in the hand and High Point I had the oppertunity to cast these rods. The rod is nice to cast and their stock factory handles are well designed and making a similiar design is wise (IMHO)................but some variations can be made.......

I just put a little bling on it, shortened it by 3/4 of an inch, changed the size a fraction, shortened the fighting butt, changed the handle to a full wells type of grip, not really, but kinda, made the top section a bit smaller with more taper......

I can't wait to fish it in the Sierras in the first month of May, Rod will also be on display at the West Coast Rod Show on May 2nd and if you are in the area, you or anyone can stop by and we can discuss these rods and some handle designs.....also Batson will be at the show and that is a nice both to visit............Gonna make a great tube rod as well..........balances nicely.............

Terry

Terry, my idea for the cork was on the plain side compared to the Batson grip. I don't like the looks of the burl rings used and the high point in the front grip section. I was thinking of a grip similar to the full wells (but longer) design with one very light shade of burl in the second to last ring from each end of the front grip section and sorta the same thing for the rear section with a slight increase in diameter for the fighting butt. I guess it would something I would need to plot out on graph paper. Also, what reel seat hardware did you use to match up with the amboyna insert? I have some really nice KOA that I was thinking of using for the insert. I guess I should just break down and get a lathe. By the way, I'm way over in the other end of the US, in NY's Adirondack Mtns, so it may be on the tough side to make it to the West Coast Rod Show. Thanks, Bill

The reel seat on my switch rod is a Bellinger uplocking seat with Amboyna burl. I left the butt cap off and placed the fighting butt on the end and shaped that to match the contour of the seat. I put matching rings on the front and rear of the handle to pull in the reel seat. KOA is nice wood and can go with vararity of different woods and has nice grain so you can control the flow of materials on a handle.

Good luck with your handle, me personally, I love the switch rod......I taped guides on it and casted it once the handle was complete and it is sweet...........Nice tube rod.

BTW, what the heck, catch a plane to the west coat and enjoy the show..........

Terry