Question About Today's Rods

Old guy, old school here. All of my rods are at least 12 years old, some a good bit older than that. I fish mostly spinning tackle and most of that ultra light. As I read these threads and look at pictures and of course look at catalogs I scratch my head about one aspect of newer rods. What is the reason for the exposed rod blank between the reel seat/handle and the butt of the rod. Why do most people seem to like it or prefer it? Why did a full length cork handle seem to go away?

Is it supposed to be a weight savings? Is it a cosmetic thing? If that's it then in my opinion it is ugh-lee. Does nobody ever grip that area for any reason? Do people just not like cork any more? Is it to fight climate change?:Rofl Is it a JDM thing? I don't think so.

Just a curiosity. Feel free to roast the olde pharte.

From what I’ve read it was a weight savings thing to begin with and I think folks thought it looked cool so it became popular.
Personally, I would like to see the full cork handles to make a comeback.
Ever try to put one of the new rods in a rod holder ? Doesn’t work that well .

Weight savings is what I have read as well. I am sure a lot of then are because it is the new in thing

It is for weight savings. One thing is true no matter the rod….the lighter it is the more sensitive it is. I have trout rods that have full cork handles and real wood seats. I don’t care about sensitivity with those rods as I am using them with hard lures. I do not want full cork on my bluegill and crappie rods. I want them as sensitive as possible. My lightest rod is 1.6 ounces. My stream trout rods are around 3 ounces or a little more….expensive rods but not worth a crap detecting a light bite using micro plastics. I’ll throw something else out to you…the heavier the reel you put on a rod it also takes away from the sensitivity. A rod is at its best when it is just the blank…the minute you start adding to the blank the less sensitive it becomes. Many rod builders have become very adapt at building rods with very minimal weight being added. They look to save a gram here and a gram there.

Regards


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Full cork cost more to make. Less cork less cost. Sell same price.

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Originally Posted by Centurion

Full cork cost more to make. Less cork less cost. Sell same price.

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Yeah, I was thinking the same. They increase their profit margin by cutting on the cost of the raw materials.


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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

It is for weight savings. One thing is true no matter the rod….the lighter it is the more sensitive it is. I have trout rods that have full cork handles and real wood seats. I don’t care about sensitivity with those rods as I am using them with hard lures. I do not want full cork on my bluegill and crappie rods. I want them as sensitive as possible. My lightest rod is 1.6 ounces. My stream trout rods are around 3 ounces or a little more….expensive rods but not worth a crap detecting a light bite using micro plastics. I’ll throw something else out to you…the heavier the reel you put on a rod it also takes away from the sensitivity. A rod is at its best when it is just the blank…the minute you start adding to the blank the less sensitive it becomes. Many rod builders have become very adapt at building rods with very minimal weight being added. They look to save a gram here and a gram there.

Regards


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No doubt all you say is true. But if you can truthfully feel the difference in sensitivity between a rod with full cork and an identical one with exposed blank then my hat is off to you. You have a much more delicate sense of touch than I ever had or ever will have. I've been fishing ultra light tackle all my life with jigs down to 1/64 Oz. and never had any problems feeling the bites. I know there is a lot of ultra light tackle these days, especially this JDM stuff, that takes ultra light to a new level. But I will stick to my full cork handles. They look better and feel better and still catch plenty of fish.

For those that are suggesting cost savings that may be true also but I see full cork handles listed in catalogs that are in the same price range as other similar rods.

I am very much inclined to side with the notion that it is the latest in thing.

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Originally Posted by UpstateSC_Bill

I am very much inclined to side with the notion that it is the latest in thing.

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I believe you get more feel through the grip than the handle .
I’ve read good cork is getting harder to get , but then I see $30 rods with better looking cork than $200 rods .
What’s up with that ?

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Originally Posted by UpstateSC_Bill

No doubt all you say is true. But if you can truthfully feel the difference in sensitivity between a rod with full cork and an identical one with exposed blank then my hat is off to you. You have a much more delicate sense of touch than I ever had or ever will have. I've been fishing ultra light tackle all my life with jigs down to 1/64 Oz. and never had any problems feeling the bites. I know there is a lot of ultra light tackle these days, especially this JDM stuff, that takes ultra light to a new level. But I will stick to my full cork handles. They look better and feel better and still catch plenty of fish.

For those that are suggesting cost savings that may be true also but I see full cork handles listed in catalogs that are in the same price range as other similar rods.

I am very much inclined to side with the notion that it is the latest in thing.

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If split grips are an in thing they have been so for about 3 decades if not more.

Regards


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I’ll speak of something that some of you may not know of yet. Some of the rods that show full cork aren't cork at all. They’re a foam form with a cork veneer. If you look close you’ll find a straight line where the seam in the cork is. My Fenwick Eagle was built like this. I was disappointed when I found this. High quality cork with very small voids has become hard to come by and therefore very expensive for production rods to tolerate the cost. Even the components I buy are all low grade with filler added to make it look better. If a sealer is added while it’s new and I stained it will look good for much longer. I’ve come around to liking EVA grips cuz I’ve cut them down to as small as I can. My recent build with the pink trim is a sweet thing in your hand but very different to hold than any other I’ve owned or built.

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

I’ll speak of something that some of you may not know of yet. Some of the rods that show full cork aren't cork at all. They’re a foam form with a cork veneer. If you look close you’ll find a straight line where the seam in the cork is. My Fenwick Eagle was built like this. I was disappointed when I found this. High quality cork with very small voids has become hard to come by and therefore very expensive for production rods to tolerate the cost. Even the components I buy are all low grade with filler added to make it look better. If a sealer is added while it’s new and I stained it will look good for much longer. I’ve come around to liking EVA grips cuz I’ve cut them down to as small as I can. My recent build with the pink trim is a sweet thing in your hand but very different to hold than any other I’ve owned or built.

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I had heard of the cork veneer but never seen one yet or if I did see one I didn't know it. But I have read about the quality of available cork being an issue for a long time now. I can see differences in the rods I have. My Winston fly rod is pretty old and you can see the quality in that cork handle.

The first ever split handles that I saw were on surf casting rods intended for two handed use. Split handles have been around for a while but their predominance, especially in lighter tackle, is relatively recent. Maybe it is cork availability causing it. Maybe it is newer materials available. Maybe it is weight savings. Just a personal preference but I just don't like a split handle. If I can find it I will choose a full cork handle. But then again my finances don't allow frequent purchases of new rods and reels. And what I currently have serves my needs.

Good luck on the water.

Shame we’re aren’t closer Bill. I could build you a rod that you’d fall in love with. Not fancy, just functional with some trimmings and done the way you like it.

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

Shame we’re aren’t closer Bill. I could build you a rod that you’d fall in love with. Not fancy, just functional with some trimmings and done the way you like it.

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I appreciate the thought. I've looked at the pictures of the rods you've made. You do very nice work. I'm sure they fish very well. But I am happy with what I have. I've never been one to accumulate a lot of stuff like that. I know lots of guys like doing that. It is part of their enjoyment of a hobby/pursuit. I understand that.

Take care. Go fishing.

First, thanks for the compliments. That’s kind of me but kind of not. My internal motor runs kinda quick and I don’t sit around very well. I’m usually doing something. The rod thing is a revisited desire. Now I have more patience and a little more money. Active word is little. I’ve given up a lot of things I’ve enjoyed over the years but I always came back to fishing. A few years back I realized that I couldn’t afford to follow all my hobbies and had to focus on a couple at best. Fishing is and will always be number one and a close up much more expensive second is my shotgun and clay targets. I’m down to shooting a Browning 28ga for less recoil. Once again, a social thing also with some of the best guys I’ve ever met. This better equipment is just part of the progression of a passion. Strapping a knockout reel onto one of my own built rods just tickles me. I’m gonna keep running my mouth and I’ll be ordering my Presso in a few minutes.

What Alphahawk said about weight being the enemy of sensitivity is what I’ve also heard. My opinion is that it’s all about vibration. The many guides we now use transfer vibration to the blank. All the cork on a full grip absorbs and dampens those vibrations. The experiment I can’t afford to try is to build one skeleton style and another, identical rod and guides with a full handle to compare the feel and sensitivity. So far, all I have is my opinion.

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

First, thanks for the compliments. That’s kind of me but kind of not. My internal motor runs kinda quick and I don’t sit around very well. I’m usually doing something. The rod thing is a revisited desire. Now I have more patience and a little more money. Active word is little. I’ve given up a lot of things I’ve enjoyed over the years but I always came back to fishing. A few years back I realized that I couldn’t afford to follow all my hobbies and had to focus on a couple at best. Fishing is and will always be number one and a close up much more expensive second is my shotgun and clay targets. I’m down to shooting a Browning 28ga for less recoil. Once again, a social thing also with some of the best guys I’ve ever met. This better equipment is just part of the progression of a passion. Strapping a knockout reel onto one of my own built rods just tickles me. I’m gonna keep running my mouth and I’ll be ordering my Presso in a few minutes.

What Alphahawk said about weight being the enemy of sensitivity is what I’ve also heard. My opinion is that it’s all about vibration. The many guides we now use transfer vibration to the blank. All the cork on a full grip absorbs and dampens those vibrations. The experiment I can’t afford to try is to build one skeleton style and another, identical rod and guides with a full handle to compare the feel and sensitivity. So far, all I have is my opinion.

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I hear you very well about having to set limits and make choices. I also have another passion or two which creeps into my budget. For me the number one thing is traditional archery. I shoot a longbow with wood arrows I make up myself. But I do very much enjoy my fishing especially because at this point I don't need to spend much money on it.

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Originally Posted by UpstateSC_Bill

I hear you very well about having to set limits and make choices. I also have another passion or two which creeps into my budget. For me the number one thing is traditional archery. I shoot a longbow with wood arrows I make up myself. But I do very much enjoy my fishing especially because at this point I don't need to spend much money on it.

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Another Trad shooter in the group around here .
Between getting older and arthritis I’ve had to drop way down in poundage to continue to shoot a few arrows.
My bows are a little more modern but I still shoot off the shelf , instinctive.
They’re mostly metal ILF risers , some with recurve limbs and some with reflex deflex longbow limbs .
I’ve been enjoying the longbows more lately .
But fishing is number one for me now .