What is the difference between a IGFA rod for a recommended weight vs. a tuna rod rated for the same weight?

Jim,

Picture a 5'-6" tuna rod in your head. If you had a short rear grip, say 4" and then your reel seat, and then a really long fore grip, like 3 and a half feet, you would greatly increase the LEVERAGE of the fishing rod. The rear gimble is the fulcrum. The farther you move your hand position up the rod, the more power of leverage you gain. The IGFA knows this, in thier attempt to keep everyone on a equal playing field, they have a set of parameters reguarding grip lengths. On a rod of a certain length, only so much of a percent can be grip, and of that grip, only so much of a percent can be rear grip and so much of a percent can be fore grip. These rules keep you from building a tuna rod that looks like a fly rod with a three foot long fore grip, if you want to set a record for the books. I do not build alot of heavy saltwater rods. If you are interested a building a IGFA legal rod you can look up the percentages. I hope I explained that in a clear manner?

Bill Doherty

In most common useage, the term "IGFA rod" usually refers to the type of rods normally used in a fighting chair. The term "tuna" rod is more likely to be used to refer to the shorter "stand-up" rods which offer the fish less of a leverage advantage against the fisherman.

An upcoming article in RodMaker will have full details on these various type rods and what is and isn't allowed under IGFA rules. Also how to build the stand up type rods that will give you what you need for your particular type fishing.

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