Modern casting rod handles are just too long for my liking. They get in the way . I would like them to be two or three inches shorter. Im going to alter an older lightning rod first. Just planning to clamp it down and take a hacksaw to it.    I dont have a plan for the end cap yet. If any of you have done this , how did you fix the end cap ?

Duct tape

You can get end caps at rod building suppliers.

I've done this years ago, and I used a crutch cap or cane cap. Just heavy enough to help balance the loss of a couple inches of the handle.

Hootie

Works great. Just plan on never having any warranty service on the rod. I've got an old flippin stick that has a wonderfully short handle. It's still my favorite heavy cover rod. Never gets in the way.

Used to do this to jig fishing rods when I pier fished for pompano a lot. Cut it off draught and a lil silicone or epoxy to hold a cane or walker cap on done right it looks nice

1" furniture end caps look pretty clean.  You can also add quarters in the cap to help with balance.  

1" furniture end caps look pretty clean.  You can also add quarters in the cap to help with balance.  

This is an old rod builders trick. It work well and looks right. There are any number of decorative end caps available but the installation is a little more involved. Run a strip of tape around where you want to cut to help keep it straight unless you're luck enough to have a fine kerf chop saw available.