More and more my customers are telling me they want cork and only cork for their grips. EVA was all the rage over the years but am I wrong in seeing a trend back to mostly cork? Was wondering what your percentage of cork, vs, EVA, vs Carbon vs anything else for grips might be these days.

about 90% cork, 8% EVA and 2% carbon for me. Now Keith Corwin will tell you 90% carbon, Billy V. will say 90% EVA..... I think it all depends on what the builder is most comfortable with and "specializes" in.

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Super Tight Lines......Don

Mostly cork, and a whole lot of split TN grips with taped on reels. Bass and walleye clients. Only a handful of carbon fiber grips. No one wanted EVA.

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"Angling is extremely time consuming.
That's sort of the whole point." - Thomas McGuane

I only do fly rods, so no EVA, cork about 20%, exotic woods about 50%, the balance carbon fiber.

Must agree with Don. It depends what a builder specializes in. I build around 12 rods a year or so.

According to my records I've built:
61 wood, mostly eastern red cedar
6 poured and turned acrylic
4 flocked
4 EVA/cork composite
2 EVA
1 cork

Guess I know what I specialize in. :)

Thanks,
Chad Huderle

Huderle Custom Rods
Prior Lake, MN

I guess I'm old school, Hypalon for my trolling rods that sit fully loaded in rod holders all day, EVA is not durable enough. I do a variety of front grips though.

50% cork
20% Carbon skinned
20% hard plastic tuff butts
10% EVA or Hypalon

Cork is to fishing rods as leather is to cowboy boots.

Flex Coat Company
Professional Rod Building Supplies
www.flexcoat.com

Hey John.... what about alligator and snake skin boots?....LOL

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Super Tight Lines......Don

Over the years, I would say 90% cork. Some with EVA or Hypalon trim rings and a number with wood trim. Most of the EVA has been on hand held rods like steelhead or salmon mooching rods and a few spinning rods. To me, cork is the best material that you can use for most rod applications other that heavy offshore trolling rods. Cork has a feel to it that no other material comes close to.

This survey is based on conjecture...at best. It is a great conversation, but not much else.

Every builder and every application can be so different. So many specialize in a particular aspect of the industry that the numbers from each will usually be scewed in a particular direction.

Still...it's fun to know what others use most of.