St. Croix Handles

[SP]

Wondering what folks think about the longer fatter handles on st.croix musky rods. I got two new ones last spring and cut them both down by about three inches. They are probably better for leverage, but they get in my way too much.

[jlong]

Longer the handle better in my book. A fatter grip is nice too... saves on the "locked knuckles" at the end of a long day.

jlong

[John Skarie]

I cut off all my muskie rod handles last year, about 3-4 inches.

I will never go back to longer handles, it is so much easier to figure eight, and just more comfortable after you get used to the different feel.

JS

[nxtwrldrcd]

What do you guys use to cut your handles off? A hacksaw? I want to get a 7’2 bucktail rod, but need to chop off 2 inches to get it to fit into my rod locker. I’m thinking of getting rod balancer to cap off the end. What do you guys use to cap it? Thanks

[DanKlis]

I started cutting off my handles about 10 years back after I began fishing w/ Jack Burns. Just cut them off with a hacksaw and then add either a balancer or the rubber feett used for kitchen tables to protect vinyl floors. The "rubber feet" can be purchased, four or five to a package, at Home Depot or Menards for about $2.

As far as having more leverage? It depends your defination. I can take the butt of my rod and place it against my belly while fighting a fish, that is the most leverage a person can apply. Consequently, I have never had to run around the boat to fight a big fish since. I can also steer baits through the weeds having the butt placed against my belly. This doesn't happen with longer handles. For me the business end of a rod begin at the reel seat or foregrip, that is where the (IMHO) length of the comes into play. I cast from both hands and shoulders depending on which direction I am fishing a spot.

Handle length is just like anything in fishing: It is all personal preference. Dick Pearson, Doug Johnson, Pete Maina and many more, fish with long handles and these anglers have caught many more big fish than me. I can't argue with their success...

I suggest taking a rod and trying it. If you don't like it, the rod can be lengthed by a custom rod builder by inserting another blank inside and doing a cork overlay. Which by the way I have done to a couple rods because I cut them to short.

Good Luck

Dan

[SP]

I tried to make them look un-modified. First I cut off about three inches with a hacksaw. then I sliced off one more segment of cork to expose about one half inch of the blank. next cut off about 3/4 inch of the butt section so that I could replace cork cap that st. croix uses. the hard part is getting the small piece of blank out of the cap without destroying it. I used a dremel tool. The caps were then epoxyed back on. looks better if you sand the cork and dry fit before gluing. Or you could just glue on a plastic replacement.

[jlong]

Dan, thanks for explaining why you prefer the shorter handle. RK will say the same thing. I definitely would want to watch you two use your "custom" shortened rod handles before I "customize" any of mine (ha ha). I have a hard enough time successfully tinkering with lures.... I'm not sure I'm ready to take on a pricey rod... just yet.

When I refered to leverage... I was refering to the casting motion (like when pitching BIG 10" Jakes). BUT, I like the longer rod handle as well to lock up against my forearm for leverage when twitching, hooksetting, and playing a fish.

You are right, its all personal preference and style. BUT, if bigger rod handles mean bigger fish (I reference your comment about Pearson, Maina, etc.) then I'll stick with the long handles (ha ha).

I wish I had the time to jump in your boat on LOTW for a lesson on short handle mechanics...... but until then I'll be too scared to change.

jlong

[DanKlis]

Jason,

I fish many people that use short handles and have put numbers of big ones in the boat as those fellas , and alot of guys who quietly go about their business. Like I said it is all personal preference. RK started cutting his handles after fishing with me, and now he is a fan. Hard to say if the LOTW thing would ever work out. (haha)

Dan

[RK]

Hiya,
Dan's right. Totally personal preference. I'd cut a little off a couple that were just WAY too long, and I tried some mushroom butts after seeing them on Dave Maas' Thorne Bros customs, but never took more than maybe 3" off. After fishing with one of Dan's rods for a little a couple years ago, I was digging in the garage for the hacksaw when I got home. Love the short handles now - will never go back.

RK

[Mother]

SP

I really like the long handles - I have my std. musky poles
handles lengthened .Helps balance without adding weights.
As far as cork diameter goes , I prefer
the std. diameter.I will 'crook' the handle with my finger tips.
or wrap my whole hand around it , all depends on baits and fatigue.
I cannot see any possible gain by shortening a musky pole handle.
The length gives you 'free' leverage for CASTING not ,hook sets
or fighting.When hook-setting , think where your hands are - one
is palming/holding the reel the other is on the reel crank/handle.
Now do the same for fighting - hand locations are almost ,if not
the same with the exception of moving the hand palming/holding
the reel , to the 'front handle' ahead of the reel.During the fight
the handle will be levered under the forearm , tucked between your
arm and side , belly ! or hip/groin.
While casting , having your hands further apart allow greater
loading of the rod and less physical motion and exertion to
deliver a cast- let the $200.00 himodulusglxgrafitekevlarradialwrap
pole do the work ! During the retrieve the handle is providing
balance,the rod is floating when the reel is being 'palmed',not being
anchored or pressed/wedged against any body part. This works very
well when using jerks/glides and twitch baits . Or you can anchor
the pole into the belly or wedge it against your forearm , giving
you another option - these and other naunces allow for less
casting and retrieving work/fatigue.
I don't know how you could cast a 8" Reef Hog or a big crank bait
with a handle less than 11-12" long for all day . Not to mention to
try to deliver casts into a heavy wind with power .

Mother

[Frank Walsh]

Obviously a personal preference. I just spent $40 to have a 6'-9" Premier handle made identical to the 7'-6" (or 8')Premier.

I want all of my rods to feel identical when I pick them up, and I love the longer, fatter handle. Makes casting and figure eighting a breeze.

[SP]

Frank- With that in mind, Premier rods used to have twelve inch handles that I had gotten used to. Only last year did they start putting 15 inch handles on alot of models. I cut my new ones down to about 12 inches. Just like they used to be. I tried the longer handles for a few trips but they felt cumbersome and harder to manipulate when transfering from cast to retrieve.

Mother- The only gain I can see is they do not bump into my chest as much which makes casting and retrieving smoother. I wanted my two new rods to feel like my old 7'2 and 7'. By the way, I also cut about four inches off the tip of the new 8' rod and like the action much better. Now it is 7'5"

[DanKlis]

I have little wrists and have found (once again "my" preference) that by having varying diameter (and also different sized reels (7000s, 6500s, Black Maxs, Morrums)) cork it easier on the body. This different diameter changes my grip throughout a day and I don't get that sore. It is similar to writing with a pen all day. If you change the position of the pen the hand will not get sore.

I also have a bad left shoulder (dislocated three times) and the shorter handle reduces wear and tear on it. This is because I don't use my arm for leverage, I use the center of my body. Which distributes the torque throughout my body and not up my arm and into my shoulder. I really have not noticed a difference in casting big baits with the shorted handles.

By the way Jason - In your first response to this thread you did not mention leverage, the author (SP) did in his/her original post. (?????)

Dan

[jlong]

Hey Dan, you are correct. I did not mention leverage. Ooops.

I'm getting nervous about this upcoming season. My "twitchin'" elbow has been sore for an unkown reason. Hope it ain't "tennis elbow" soon to be known as "twitchin' elbow" by most musky anglers. I may be forced into a Dan Klis style sooner than I had hoped (ha ha).

Thank God for Ibuprofen.......

jlong

[Steve @ G & S Guide Service]

Personally, I like longer handles and fatter grips. That's one of the reasons that I started building rods for my own use, I couldn't find factory built rods that performed like I wanted them to.

I've found that the larger diameter grips are easier on my (and clients) hands, creating less fatigue and cramping. With a larger diameter grip, your hand doesn't have to close as tightly, stressing the muscles less, making a long day of casting easier.

As far as the longer rear handle, I like to position the rod butt between my ribs and forearm. I can stand more erect, easing back strain from bending over. Many of my clients start out fishing with the butt section firmly planted in the middle of their belly, bent over working the lure. I show them the stance that I use and they've found that it's easier to work the lure and get a good hookset.

The length of the rod butt, when I build a rod for someone is always different. I like to have them hold a rod like they're accustomed to and then measure the length from the reel seat to just inside the point of their elbow. I've found over the years that this is a good length of butt section.

The longer the butt section (within reason of course) also means that the rod is easier casting. With your hands further apart, you can apply more leverage to the cast, making the rod do the work, not your upper body. That's one of the reasons that I've gone to a "split grip" design butt section as well. With the blank exposed just below where your hand holds the rod/reel, it "feels funny" to grab the blank and your hand automatically goes down to the bottom of the grip (where the cork is), spreading your hands apart to get that leverage advantage.

But, it's all a matter of personal preference. That's one of the advantages to a custom rod, you can ask for (and get) exactly what feels good to YOU.

But that's just my take on things.

Steve @ G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods. http://www.herefishyfishy.com

[John Skarie]

I would disagree with the notion that longer handles make the rod easier to cast. With a shorter handle you can center the rod in your body and use your left and right arm and shoulders equally.

I found casting 10" Jakes less tiring after cutting my handle down on my 8" All Star.

I certainly wouldn't assume you won't like the shorter handle until you've tried it.

JS

[kmon]

I'm with the long handled group. I too position the rod butt between my ribs and forearm. I find I get better leverage and using my ribs as a fulcrum really lets me rip the jake without beating myself up too much. Well, except for the bruised ribs. Mmm. Now I'm hungry.

[nxtwrldrcd]

SP, Thanks for the saving the cap tip.

[dm8129]

I have a friend that I go to Canada with and he always cuts his handles down. He seems to like it that way, I on the other hand prefer to stay with the handle the way it is. I am a big guy and feel very comfortable that way but the old addage applies here, "If it feels good do it."