Grips you like and don’t like..

jasmillo said:
I am surprised at the number of folks that have a preference. I am middle aged, normalish sized hands (see below) and no current medical issues like arthritis and truly have no preference.

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I feel like this thread is going to start me down path of noticing and hating 2/3rds of the grips on my current rods.

I will say that all of you right hand casters/right hand reelers are super weird though :).
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I’ve wondered about that right/right thing also. I came to the conclusion they only own left handed rods.

Then again, what’s normal about this fishing with a fork thing? 😉
That’s problematic in and of itself!
 
Mossback said:
Well at least you don't like graphite grips either...
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:LOL: I have 2 rods that have graphite grips on them that I had started to build myself (turns out, rod building isn't my jam). The one I actually use (NFC 8wt glass), now has a tennis wrap over that.
 
I hope so...
Graphite grips are the worst...

Soulless abominations
 
I thought graphite grips were cool for a hot second about 35 years ago when I put a Wiebe tube on a Clearwater blank. Fished it one season and stripped it, rebuilt it with proper cork.

As far as handle shapes, I like reverse half wells with a fine taper for light rods, and a full wells for 6wt and up. The ECHO "forward bias" full wells of the EPR is my favorite production grip.
 
skyriver said:
For 6wt and lower I prefer reverse half wells/western. Yes, they're the same. Some will say that a western is different because it might be thicker at the front than a reverse half wells, but they are effectively the same.

I like full wells for 7wt and bigger, but it seems many of the newer rods are making a very thin full wells. I have big hands so a thicker full wells is much better for me. It keeps the cramps and tendonitis at bay.

I really like the 7" grips I've ordered from Proof Fly Fishing.
My old IMX 5wt needed rebuilt since I broke the butt. Long story, but I had a spare butt section from G Loomis sending me a complete replacement blank when I had a gen 1 tip issue.
I used Proof's rubber cork faced reverse half wells 7" (inlet .790) along with the original reel seat and really like it. It's a bit thicker than the one I put on my original gen 1 (1987 or 88). I think it's nicer cork as well. Only $22, which seems pretty reasonable given the supposed cork shortage.
I think it looks nice, but more important than that, it feels nice.

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I also ordered the Proof rubber cork faced full wells 7" (inlet .850") to replace the crappy cork on my gen 1 Fenwick Aetos 8wt. I really like it. The Aetos has a very light swing weight so can get away with a small grip, but again, I have mitts so this has been a game changer. And it's really nice cork for the $22.

Here it is on the left, next to my other 8wt. The Fly Project's Project One. The grip on the Project One grip is a bit more slim, like most of the big-name rods these days. My 11wt Orvis Clearwater musky specific rod is even thinner. I don't quite get it, even knowing my bias of big hands. Is it so you can "feel" more?? Or is it so they buy cheaper cork? Or maybe there are just more fly fishers with small ass hands these days. 😁

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And the 11wt Sage RPLX that my buddy built for me also has a 7" fulls wells grip from Proof. No rubber facing on that one, but same thickness which is really nice for that friggin tuna stick.

Anyway, I have 3 of them and highly recommend. And I'm not going to carbon fiber no matter how many benefits it has. It's just wrong. 😁
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I agree...Proof is great to deal with.
 
Small grips can cause hand cramping, and the need to 'let go' and give the rod a break.

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Pic now supplied, as requested.
 
Grabbed this from the site here, is this a reverse half wells?

IMG_6912.jpeg
 
I built a 13wt from a Batson blank with EVA grip, I've never spent much time with is as it never got a chance the 1 trip I built it for, and being a 2 peice I won't fly with it b it again.
 
Paige said:
I built a 13wt from a Batson blank with EVA grip, I've never spent much time with is as it never got a chance the 1 trip I built it for, and being a 2 peice I won't fly with it b it again.
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I was really surprised at the length of carry-on rods when I flew Alaska Air four years ago on my way to Icy Bay Lodge. (Or was that five years go?) I suppose Alaska Air at that time of year pretty much sees everything with all of us "sporties" heading up there.
 
Can someone show a half wells and a reverse half wells? Please?
 
www.tallpinerodco.com

Types of Fly Rod Grips — Tall Pine Rod Co.

While not all inclusive, this list is intended to inform my customers the different styles of single-hand grips from which they can choose when building a rod. Feel free to use this guide as a template to determine which grip may be right for you and your new rod.
www.tallpinerodco.com www.tallpinerodco.com

they have a grip on things
 
Mossback said:
www.tallpinerodco.com

Types of Fly Rod Grips — Tall Pine Rod Co.

While not all inclusive, this list is intended to inform my customers the different styles of single-hand grips from which they can choose when building a rod. Feel free to use this guide as a template to determine which grip may be right for you and your new rod.
www.tallpinerodco.com www.tallpinerodco.com

they have a grip on things
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And I might need to get a grip myself because I still don’t know what a reverse half wells is, if it isn’t taking a half wells and reversing it so the fat end is toward the rod tip.
 
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