I'm building catfish rods to be used in Monster rod holders to fish for Blue Catfish. I''ll be building on Rodgeeks 802 and 803 X-Comps. At the pressure points of the rod holders the blank OD's will be between .600 and .650". The Revo Toro Beast reels I use are usually drag set between 15 and 20 lbs. I've allways built on Seeker blanks, (which are very nice} that have a much larger butt OD, so I reinforced the pressure points with rubberized cork. I'd like to get away from the rubberized product and go with all natural cork or all burl cork. I plan on turning the cork in the middle of the grip down to 1.200 OD. Will the cork be strong enough to handle the hard takedowns of big Blues and not deform or be damaged. If any of you have experience with similar setups I would appreciate any input. Thanks in advance.

That really depends on the amount of contact area between the rod holder and cork. If the holder is such that you have contact with the cork over a wide area, it'll most likely be okay. If there is only a single point of contact, and a narrow one at that, then maybe not.

There are ways around this, of course, such as putting a harder composite type cork at the point where contact is made with the rod holder.

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

Don,
If you are going to be using the rods in a rod holder, forget the natural cork and go with either EVA, Hapalon, or all rubberized cork. On a rod like this, weight is not a big deal. So, just go with the tougher materials.

The contact points are narrow , only contacts one ring in two places ,the first ring behind the handle and another approximately 6" down the handle. I've put rubberized cork in those positions with the large butt Seeker blanks, but on the builds with the smaller diameter Rodgeeks X-Comp blanks I would like to only use natural cork or burl cork which I think would result in a cleaner nicer looking build with the Alps aluminum trigger reel seats I willl be using. I just dont want to have to rebuild later, Appreciate the input.

Don,
Form should always follow function! I agree with Tom and Roger although I personally do not care for EVA-type grips. If you are @#$%&-bent on the look of natural cork (me too), consider clear heat shrink tubing at the pressure-points from the rod holder on the grip. I have employed such on the very end of cork grips to avoid damage to the butt of the cork when set down with the rod vertical. What do you think?

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

I have heat shrink, but Im not too fond of it. I'll probably go with natural cork or burl matched with a 2 1/2 ' rubberized cork insert in the center of grip ( works with rod in either 33 or 45 degree position)and 1" right behind handle. This is what I've done many times and it works great, I just would like to get away from the rubberized product. I have several different colors but I'm having trouble finding a combination I like with a cobalt blue reel seat. I'll figure something out. Thanks again

Don,
As you well know, when a rod is put into a rod holder and out of a rod holder, the entire grip tends to get abraded from the in and out of the rod holder.

Your choice on the use of grip material.

Take care

A graphite tube rear grip will cure the problem and come out of any rod holder slick as can be, just about the standard for boat rods fishing salmon, or steelhead anymore. Clean up a bunch easier than cork, bait goo, fish scales, etc. comes right off and looks new longer.

Here is what Spencer is talking about.
[www.mudhole.com]
Plenty strong and very light.
Norm

The graphite tubing is definitely an option, I like the look of some type of cork normally, but even if I used a 2 1/2 inch section in the middle of tne grip where it contacts the Monster rod holder and did the rest in some type of cork it might be worth a look. The tubing highlighted with blue should be a good match with the cobalt blue Alps aluminum reel seat. Thanks again to all

Why not incorporate a decorative ring at the pressure points. I would think a thin piece of walnut or aluminium strategically placed on the handle would be attractive and functionl!

I agree, I've been looking at wood.

Put in a two inch long piece of maple or walnut. A nice hardwood like that would not crush and would not get maraked from a rod holder.