I’m building a 7’ extra heavy swim bait rod, spinning. Does any one have an idea of how long my grips should be? I am doing soild grips on this rod instead of split grips.

Thanks,
Kenne

Kenne,

We don't know anything about you, or your build, but you can find out for yourself. Install your reel seat on your blank on a bunch of tape arbors, now move the reel and reel seat back and forth till you get the rear grip length you need and just measure it. My guess is it will be around 14 inches give or take an inch, or two.

Do what Spencer said, put on your fishing clothes and try to cast. I've had to cut several store bought rods when they hit my clothes. 14" is way too long for me.

I actually just got done re-reading an article in Rod Maker about the Science Behind this taken into account different measurements between your hand in the rod. I was just wondering if there was a general rule of thumb when ordering components as that is what I’m doing right now.

Kenneth,
I think that the 12-14 inch length would be perfect.

Good luck

Kenneth, check out some factory rods of the same nature. That'll get you in the ballpark.

On a 7' foot rod, once the handle length exceeds the distance from your palm to your elbow, it's really just wasted rod length - you might as well have chosen a shorter rod to begin with. On this rod 10 or 11 inches should be plenty for most folks.

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On a 7' foot rod, once the handle length exceeds the distance from your palm to your elbow, it's really just wasted rod length - you might as well have chosen a shorter rod to begin with. On this rod 10 or 11 inches should be plenty for most folks.

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I like the 14 inch length you speak of! My only question is, in that the entire grip from foregrip all the way to the back of the blank or is that the length of the grip from the reel seat to the back of the blank?

Tony,

That would be the rear grip length only, not including fore grip or reel seat lengths. Personally, I would be more include to agree with Tom's or Roger's suggestion above on a 7' long swimbait rod. You don't want to be hitting yourself in the stomach every time you cast the rod. Measure the distance between your palm and elbow ond use that as a starting length, then adjust to what feel comfortable to you.

Don Campbell
don@sensorfishingrods.com

Hello All.

I'm with Tom on this one, I measure from elbow to the middle of the palm.

Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

You're building this rod on an extra heavy power rod blank, I'd ask what are the sizes and weights of the swimbaits that are going to be thrown on this rod? If you're talking big 12" baits with weights upwards of 6 oz, then I'd be looking at the 14" length that Roger is talking about. A rear grip of that length is going to allow you to easily get the butt of the rod along your side, for leverage while retrieving the bait, and when fighting a fish. With baits that big it is definitely going to be a 2 handed rod, so chances are that the manner in which you'll need to cast, is going to nullify any body clearance problems a long rear grip could cause.

If you're going to go with a 14 rear grip (butt of the rod to the back of the reel seat) I personally would be looking for a longer blank. Something in the 7'6" to 7' 11" length. Are you, or the person you may be building this rod for, married to the 7' length?

If you'll be throwing baits in the 2 - 6 oz range, and the rod is going to be a dedicated swimbait rod. then I'd be looking at the 12" number Roger mentioned. If the rod is going to see double duty as a flipping/ pitching rod, Carolina rig rod, or any other similar bass technique, Then I'd go with the 10" number that Tom mentioned. When you start putting long rear grips on rods used for the latter type techniques, body and rear grip clearance needs serious consideration.

Lynn's suggestion of looking at similar factory rods, is an excellent one. I'd also suggest that if you can, you may want to talk to some muskie fisherman, and see what kind of rear grip length they're using. Either way. if you're throwing big heavy baits. you're going to want to be able to get the butt of the rod along your side.

10" - 11" is perfect for most 7' rods, but a big swim bait rod is a different animal.

Awesome David thanks that helps a lot! My next swim bait rod I’m for sure going with a 7’ 11” for my big 6oz swim baits this 7’ will be for no larger then 3oz’s

Ken,
Thought you said it was X Hvy, that's tweety bird stuff. LOL. Won't need a long grip on that rod, the long grips are only needed if you tuck the rod butt into you arm pit to anchor the rod for the big stuff on the retrieve.

Kenneth, with the bait weights you mention I'm assuming you're going to be throwing baits like a Hudd 68 or 6" and 7" Talons. Maybe something like a 6" Spro BBZ? Like Spencer said, you won't need a long grip with those kind of baits. They're pretty small as swimbaits go. If it's a dedicated swimbait rod, I wouldn't think you'd want or need to go longer than an 11" - 12" rear grip with baits in the weight range you're talking.

But as I mentioned before, if it's going to see duty other than just swimbaits, I'd go with a 10" rear grip.

I once had to cut 1 1/2 inches off the butt of my first SCV Legend rod I had built, and screwed up with a rear grip too long, and it caught on my clothing much of the time. That was a tough cut to make! It depends on what kind of fishing you're doing, what your normal motions are, and the clothing you want to wear while fishing. But for me, 14 inches would be about 3 inches too long. Don has it right, in my opinion.

Something I haven't seen mentioned in the thread. When I started to fish out of kayaks, long handle rods stuck me in the gut. Sitting in a kayak, a 7" to 9" handle works well.

It all depends on how the rod is to be used.