I know I have seen it somewhere, but now that I need it, I can't find it. What is the rule of thumb for figuring out grip length? I am building spinning rods on a Batson 7'6" 3 weight fly rod blank.

Mike Bradfrod
R.M.B. Fishing Rods
Nampa, Idaho

What best fits the hand!! Generally a grip of 6-7 inches for most people, and maybe 7 1/2" for those of us with large hands. Whatever casts and feels good.

Any ware from 6 to 7 1/2 inches Your hand will decide

Shape of it -- is another story You will have to play and see what you like ???

Try casting sever rods with different handle shapes

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/11/2014 07:14PM by bill boettcher.

I am doing a split grip, and using the Fuji VSS16 reel seat. I was talking total length from butt to fore grip. Just looking for a ball park figure so I can start adjusting from there.

Mike Bradfrod
R.M.B. Fishing Rods
Nampa, Idaho

With a 7'6" rod length, I would tend to have a little longer rear grip, about 8" or so, 4 1/2" for the reel seat, and a small fore grip, about 2" at most, so roughly 14-15 " total from butt to the end of the fore grip. You should probably check the balance point with the reel taped on the rod which would also tell you the best spot for the reel seat from a balance perspective.

Terry

7 inches for 6 foot
8 inches for 6 1/2 foot
9 inches for 7 foot
10 inches for 8 foot.

With butt lengths of this size, the rod tends to have better balance.

This is much the same formula that has been used by production rod makers for years.

These lengths are for the rear butt grip.
If you are talking about a split grip, this would be the length behind the reel seat.

Any fore grip would be in addition to the afore listed lengths.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/11/2014 09:40PM by roger wilson.

If you are going to use a formula the manufacturers use you might as well just buy a production rod. Custom is way more than just the colors. On reason I started building was I did not like the handle geometry on production rods.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

Fred,
I understand your thoughts.
However, in past years, I made a few longer rods with shorter handles and after some use, ripped them apart and put the longer handles back on the rods for better balance.

I think it makes a lot more sense to put a longer handle on a longer rod, rather than adding a bunch of weight in the butt of a rod to balance a long rod with a short handle.

Be safe

Hello Mike.

I measure from my elbow sitting on a table to my wrist (for me 10-1/2") and that is the measurement I use to the bottom of the reel seat, for the fore grip I measure the hand(on the table, thumb up) where the knuckles are and add 1", for me that is 4".

Hope that helped!

Good Day.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

Build a temporary shim out of tape for the reel seat. Put the split grip handles on, again with tape to hold them temporarily if necessary. Tape the guides on and move things around until you fiind what you like. You will learn more doing this than you will just trusting the judgement of others.

Doing what Victor suggests will also let you figure out how long the butt handle should be Make sure if fishing with the rod in-front of you it does not rub your clothes Be a shame to have to cut some off after all that work

Bill - willierods.com

You could go to the hardware store and buy one of them hot water foam insulator tubes which are cheap and cut them down to different sizes an see what feels right to you.

The KISS method
Tape a seat on or just Gabe the blank
Go outside a ( PLAY ) as you are fishing
From the bottom of your hand to the end of the blank Is how long you butt grip is

Why make it so Complicated

Bill - willierods.com

Thanks for all of your answers. I don't build spinning rods this long, so it is a new area for me. I was just looking for a starting point. I don't know if I was trying to make this more difficult that it should be, or just forgot it over the years. Thanks for reminding me Bill.

Mike Bradfrod
R.M.B. Fishing Rods
Nampa, Idaho