I need your opinions.

I’m building another rod and in kinda torn between three styles of grip/reelseat combos. The cork is a reelseat that is used on some JDM rods, maybe the Presso in one of its offerings. I’ve looked long and hard to find the exact one on those rods but I don’t have resources to find it. I’ve seen JDM rods have it in both eva and cork and would prefer the eva for this rod. The blank is green and the guides are black and tall. Thread colors are still in the thought process too.

The eva grip is thinner but the same style, the new version of the other one. Weight isn’t too different (I think) but I’ll weigh it before I get started. Either one is nice in its own right and comfortable enough to spend some time with.

The third is the minimal style I used on my 5’6” build that you’ve all seen in pics a bunch of times. They don’t come much if any lighter and that has become my rod that I reach for without thinking. I have to remember to leave it alone and give the others a bit of play. So a lot of you have more experience with different rods and I’m just looking for input. Please step and give your thoughts, good or bad, and let me know what you think might be the one you chose if it was your build.

Mr Moderator, please don’t move this to the rod building forum for a week or so. I need a bit more exposure before it goes there. Thanks.
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How comfortable is that minimalist grip on your 5’6” build ?
I’m a lightweight fan , the lighter the better and if that felt good , I’d go with that one . I like the looks of that one .
If you could fit a carbon piece in the middle, I would think it would make it more comfortable and increase the sensitivity. I know they make them for flyrods .

They do have em but as I remember they don’t fit the components just right. If I was to get it off center I’d be tweaked. When I put pressure on a bigger fish it’s usually with the heel of the hand and that lands on the threads so comfy enough. Thanks for the input.

with me the looks are a little bit of the what is me on the like it thing , but to be sure the feel is the end game .
something that feels really good can be a bit short on looks as far as I am concerned ,,,,just saying

That’s my hard part Ketchn, I like all of them. I have some that fill your hand like the cork one does, and others that are slender but they all feel good to me.

Hard to beat cork. Foam always got slimy and slick when hammering fish

I like cork, and I like Light too, the St. Croix UL is the lightest rod I own, and all the rods you have shown look to be very nice weight and component wise :ThumbsUp I have thought about trying to build my own, Have done bass rods in the past, but looks to me when you start building as little and light as possible, I'd have to "scale back" on doing guides:Doh:rotflrotfl

MT, don’t intimidate yourself into not doing it. It takes a little practice and a bunch of YouTube watching but it’s not hard. And best of all, no one’s keeping score. If you don’t like the way something turned out, pull it off and start again. Talk with Jamesdean some, he’s just getting started too. It’s good fun and a hoot catching fish on what you built. I caught a five pound ten ounce tilapia on the minimal built rod in the pictures, and it was fun beyond belief.

Skeet, I don't know anything about rod building, but I know which handles I like most when holding and fishing them. Some told me this MC rod handle is called the cigar style, and it seems that's what your cork handle is. It's my favorite handle to fish with thus far if this help.Attachment 464441

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It does LV, and thanks. I’m still searching for a grip like that but I haven’t found one yet. There’s a fat style like my cork made from eva that I also like, haven’t found it either. The nut on yours with the decorative stuff on it is another I’m searching for. I think it would be more comfortable than the basic nut that I have. Good input. Now I know what rods to look at when folks say they don’t know what it looks like.

My favorite split grip all cork turned to fit my grip. I think this also is about the lightest grip I can make. My 2 cents worth!Attachment 464452

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This is a better photo. Attachment 464453

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Got no opinions...but you might get some ideas out of a few of the rods I have.


Regards

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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

Got no opinions...but you might get some ideas out of a few of the rods I have.


Regards

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Which grip do you prefer?

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Originally Posted by gillchaser999

Which grip do you prefer?

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You know Gill I don't really have a preference out of what I have in the pics. They all feel comfortable to me. I know a lot of folks add tape...or have certain grips they do not like...or maybe the size is too small or large. My hands are not large and yet not tiny either.
I love skeletal grips...like the red grip on the Abu....but....I do not like the fact that dirt easily gets into the grip and instead of using a cloth to wipe the grip clean I use a detailers brush to get the dirt out of the crannies. I also have a lot of rods with full cork and I have no issue with them either....although I do not want full cork grips on my crappie and bluegill rods. All my full cork grips are on trout rods.


Regards



Regards

Tim, if you can't find eactly what your looking for, you can Always turn it yourself, be it EVA or cork. Use the minimalist aproach you have and turn your grips to what you want. Just sayin'. Eric.

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

I’m building another rod and in kinda torn between three styles of grip/reelseat combos. The cork is a reelseat that is used on some JDM rods, maybe the Presso in one of its offerings. I’ve looked long and hard to find the exact one on those rods but I don’t have resources to find it. I’ve seen JDM rods have it in both eva and cork and would prefer the eva for this rod. The blank is green and the guides are black and tall. Thread colors are still in the thought process too.

The eva grip is thinner but the same style, the new version of the other one. Weight isn’t too different (I think) but I’ll weigh it before I get started. Either one is nice in its own right and comfortable enough to spend some time with.

The third is the minimal style I used on my 5’6” build that you’ve all seen in pics a bunch of times. They don’t come much if any lighter and that has become my rod that I reach for without thinking. I have to remember to leave it alone and give the others a bit of play. So a lot of you have more experience with different rods and I’m just looking for input. Please step and give your thoughts, good or bad, and let me know what you think might be the one you chose if it was your build.

Mr Moderator, please don’t move this to the rod building forum for a week or so. I need a bit more exposure before it goes there. Thanks.
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Build one of each, keep your favorite and post the other two for sale on here. They won’t last long


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Originally Posted by LVSpinfisher1

Skeet, I don't know anything about rod building, but I know which handles I like most when holding and fishing them. Some told me this MC rod handle is called the cigar style, and it seems that's what your cork handle is. It's my favorite handle to fish with thus far if this help.Attachment 464441

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Tim,

That is a Fuji IPS reel seat. The hook is KDPS with carbon sleeve. You would need to cut off extra threads to keep the length that is just sufficient and can hold the reel securely. The grip is sanded down to be shorter. Need a lathe for that or a power wrapper that can double up as a lathe.


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You guys have not disappointed me in the least. Some great info. I’m liking the three below the red one in Randy’s pic. I’m trying hard to find a nut for the reel seat like on the major craft just above that one. I have a wrapper and rounded the cork one in my pic. The bottom one in Randy’s pic is either a VSS or ISP seat and eva grip. The vss is thinner and not as comfortable as the ISP but parts for the ISP are hard to locate. I tried shaping the eva on the one in my pic and it’s nothing like cork to work with. My hands are pretty big and some slim handles while still comfortable aren’t as appealing to me. Should I fool with eva I’ll probably consider my first attempt as sacrificial, it may not come out as planned. And this rod is 6’1” and will replace my 6’ Fenwick build. It’s a good rod but things are going on in my life that may demand a smaller stable of rods. I carried four rods today and used em all. It seems it’s going to come down to availability of parts but it’ll be as good as I can find. I kinda rushed the others a bit but I’m holding out for what appeals to me most as best I can. I’m still finding suppliers I didn’t know about. I really appreciate all the input, gives me more questions to answer while doing the research.

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

… but parts for the ISP are hard to locate.

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I’m quite certain voodoo rods has them. Reel seat + the nut/hood.




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They do, and the matagi parts explained lots more to me. I lost an hour looking through the options they offer. This one’s gonna be special for me. Thanks for your help Danny.

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

They do, and the matagi parts explained lots more to me. I lost an hour looking through the options they offer. This one’s gonna be special for me. Thanks for your help Danny.

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Anytime!

I’ve built one. Will send pic tomorrow morning.


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Originally Posted by skeetbum

That’s my hard part Ketchn, I like all of them. I have some that fill your hand like the cork one does, and others that are slender but they all feel good to me.

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i am fond of certain rods I have and some are just ok to use , some look the part and some don't , but to be sure some have both and its one of those things where what one fella loves the next one don't ....
that lil red Vigilante I set up is a dream boat small set up for short rod use
feels nice and looks nice too ....
but several others I have fit that bill as well ....
the 7 foot old style tica I use they dont make anymore is super pretty and a very nice rod to use on crappie , but it lacks the hammer big ones back bone ...
rarely find a rod that does the entire enchilada is me .....

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Originally Posted by dannypeoples

Anytime!

I’ve built one. Will send pic tomorrow morning.


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Tim,

You will need to cut the hood to shorten the length is you so desire. I didn’t want to bother myself with shortening the length so I sent with stock.

Note that I used a carbon fiber grip. If you use cork or Eva you would sand it down.

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That’s the nut style I’m liking but not sure about the grip, looks rough to me. Interesting though and a very nice build.

Looks like you might already know about the mule tackle baits? Working extra well for me the last couple of weeks.,

I’ve been dry fitting things together. I’m leaning towards the cork but folks, the eva feels awful good. The cork feels better in hand set up as a lock down seat. I’ve bought some guides and taped em to a dowel as a mock up and I’m not happy with em. So it’s back to mudhole and get em set up the way I have in mind. It feels awful good in hand. Thanks for all the help and input.

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

I’ve been dry fitting things together. I’m leaning towards the cork but folks, the eva feels awful good. The cork feels better in hand set up as a lock down seat. I’ve bought some guides and taped em to a dowel as a mock up and I’m not happy with em. So it’s back to mudhole and get em set up the way I have in mind. It feels awful good in hand. Thanks for all the help and input.

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Looking forward to how it turns out.