Split Grip

[HugoBox]

I know there's a rod and reel forum but I wanted some opinions here first. My fater-in-law has most of the gear for making rods and I thought of trying to make one before the season. Not so much concerned with being too fancy, just in learning a new hobby. I've noticed that some of the new model musky rods have split grips. Has anyone use any of those yet? If so do you have opinions? I'm still not sure if I'll go that route though, I may just save the time and buy one.

[cjac]

I have a split grip bass rod, it's cool looking and saves a little weight but beyond that it doesn't "help" me at all. The new St Croix Mojo bass rods are all split grips too.

Most my muskie rods are KT rods with the fat cork, I like having that next to my side. In the Fall with the coat on I'd almost be worried about the butt end catching the pocket edge?

I'd say try one first if you can.

[50inchpig]

IMO no reason for it, especially if you do use that fat cork.

You want that rod to float when you throw it in the lake in November.

If split grips helped the musky rod makers would have done it long ago, I think they are coming around now because the price of cork is up. It's all about how you market that stuff......

[Nick Kuhn]

Do the rods really float with those big reels if they go in? I was probably only 6 years old the last time I saw a rod go overboard (which was mine) and it wasn't a cork handle so it sank. Luckily we snagged it though.

[b1gf1sh1]

splits are made for finesse. your supposed to feel the fish better and easier with the exposed blank enhanceing the feel in your hand, and other reasons mentioned. i'm not real sure if finesse is needed in muskie fishing. i take that back... i'm sure finesse isn't needed in muskie fishing.

[Esox_Magnum]

All my rods float, after a buddy managed to toss his Thorne Bros rod in and it beat the bulldawg to the bottom I had to check mine. Only reason we could come up with why his sank was the Abu on it

[MUSKY18]

NAH......couldn't have been the Abu's cause my brother threw two of his rods into the lake about 15 casts apart. One was a Fenwick rod with an Abu and the other was a Gander rod with an Abu on it. Both of them floated, so I think we can rule the Abu's out of the equation. Of course, those were 6500's and not the 7000's. Them son-a-guns might drag your boat to the bottom in the right conditions!

[50inchpig]

The thick cork on the customs and homemades will do a pretty good job of floating a 7000 - every second counts.

[Rebel9921]

Vahn... yes... those thick corks really do help... Just ask Steve... I accidently threw my rod with a 7000ic3 on it in Mille Lacs when the reel backlashed... even with a Magnum Bulldawg on the other end, the rod still floated...

I just cannot see myself going without a rod that has FAT cork handles... it really helps whole lot with fatigue... I have a 9'0 MH that I used sparingly early in the season... til I got an idea which was wrap both foregrip and handle with electric tape til it was good and thick, then I applied Bass Pro Shop handle grip thingy... and it was perfect enough for me to use it as much as I used my KT Edges...

[HugoBox]

Thanks all - looking back it was a stupid question. I just remember seeing split grips on a musky rod online somewhere and was trying to figure out why.

I'm still thinking of taking a whack at building a rod but in the grand scheme of things I'd be better off to get a KT. I'm just trying to find ways to kill time in the winter.

[50inchpig]

KTs rods are awesome, I've got 2, but building your rod is probably easier than you think. Waiting for the glue to dry is the hardest part. You should give it a try!

[JRedig]

Rod building is pretty straight forward, kinda fun. I haven't tried a muskie rod yet, but i've got 5 or 6 fly rods that I put together.

I fished with a guy in KY last spring who used the split cork rods. He was an avid twitch bait fisherman and the way he fished with the butt of the rod up under his armpit, the split cork make that so much easier. I've tried mimicking his style without and it's very difficult.

[Mike Wallace]

HugoBox,

I made a couple muskie rods last year with split grips.

Do they help? No. Do they hurt? No.

I just made them for the fun of it, something a little different.

With the price of cork, you could save yourself a few bucks with a split grip, but from a performance standpoint, I haven't noticed any advantages or disadvantages.

[Tippman]

I have a split grip handle with 1.5 inch cork and like it. Like others have said it probably doesn't change much but the 6 inches of corklessness (made up word) in weight. It also looks pretty sharp as there's thread and feathers laminated into that center section for that added custom look.