mornin i'm looking for handle type & length info for a 5'6" med. lt spinning rod. any recommendations please

thanks much s. flynn

10 to 12 inch Tennessee type handle. You wont be sorry.

Terry Kirk Wrote:
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> 10 to 12 inch Tennessee type handle. You wont be
> sorry.


That is always a safe bet on a spinning rod as you can adjust the reel position a bit if you want or need to.

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

I'm pretty much just a bass fisherman. While I personally wouldn't choose a Tennessee handle simply because I prefer to have the reel attached in a more conventional manner, as Tom pointed out, the Tennessee handle allows adjusting the reel's position. If you don't like it in one place, just move it.

With that said, if you're going to go with a conventional reel seat, I personally wouldn't go with a rear grip shorter than about 7". (reel stem to the end of the butt) Last year I modified a spinning rod I built by cutting the rear grip down to 5". I took a 6'6" rod and made it 6' long. I did it specifically to make it easier to skip baits under docks, and low hanging trees. And for making the actual presentation, it worked great, but it really suffered for fighting fish. The handle just wasn't long enough to allow any of it to nestle against my forearm.

Having the ability to nestle the grip against your forearm makes it a lot easier if you were fighting a fish much bigger than say ..... 2 lbs.

Actually, right now I am waiting on the components to extend the butt back to being closer to its original length. It will have an 8" rear grip instead of the 10" rear grip it had before.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/01/2020 12:29PM by David Baylor.

With 5’6” blank you really don’t need a long handle. A rear grip of 4” to 7” will work. Mount the reel seat down locking and use a hidden thread hood like a Fuji KDPS or KSSKS hood with a cork, Eva, or carbon fiber hood sleeve. A down locking reel seat effectively gives you an extra couple of inches of rod length in front of the reel spool, which in my opinion is a plus.
Norm

I've been a fan of the old Lew's reverse taper grips for a long time, combine it with a Fuji NPS style 18 mm reel seat, like Tom Kirkman showed us, mounted threads up and you have an extremely comfortable grip. Your email is hidden, or I could show you a picture of what I mean.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/01/2020 01:50PM by Spencer Phipps.

use the PHOTOS section on this web site so we can all see it PLEASE

William Sidney
AK

Spencer I'd like to have that photo if you'd be so kind as to send it .

Bill,
The photos are already on the picture site, like my earlier post said, they are Tom K.'s pics. The two tapers coming together and the reverse taper on the rear grip locks my hand in place, my hand has to expand in size to move back on the grip. The 16 mm version of this style grip is not near as comfortable as the 18, or 20 mm reel seat, even with my short fingered hands.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/01/2020 08:51PM by Spencer Phipps.

5 foot rod, 5 inch rear grip.
6 foot rod , 7 inch rear grip
7 foot rod, 9 inch rear grip
8 foot rod, 10 inch rear grip.

I have used these lengths over the years and the clients are pleased with these dimensions.

Sean
I have built about 45 spinning rods, all in 6' to 7' lengths. I have used 6 1/2 - 7 - 7 1/2" rear grips in most all cases, depending upon the reel seat type and the uplocking / downlocking orientation. I mainly sit in my boat to fish and find rear grips longer 7 1/2" in length tend catch on shirts and jackets while fishing.
Rog

Sean,
Due to Terry’s and Tom’s reply, I too would suggest you at least consider a Tennessee handle. Please see my comments under Wes Woods post, ”Reel Seat – threads front or back”, two posts above this.

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Thanks Spencer.