Wasn’t sure where to ask this, so I thought I’d start with some rod builders for your perspective...

 

Is there a way way to add a trigger grip in front of a casting reel for your index finger?  I’ve seen this on Wright McGill Rods, but I already own several other rods and was wondering if this could be added aftermarket?

 

I have an arthritic pinky finger that I butt up against the rear trigger when retrieving a lure or fighting a fish, and would be interested to add a trigger grip in front for my index finger thus taking some of the pressure of my painful pinky.

 

Thanks for any response/perspectives..

All you need is a rod with a fore grip to hold onto with your hand and the little finger against the standard trigger grip located underside of the front reel seat.

Tom

If your rod has a cork foregrip you can "notch" it to provide some shape to accept your index finger.  Don't get into the blank with your notch.

 

It is not impossible to add a foregrip.  Buy one of the diameter, length, and diameter you want, ream it to an approx good fit to the blank, split it and glue it onto the rod, then finish it.  Done right, the split line should be pretty unobtrusive.

I’m thinking an index finger trigger could help in some finesse situations in manipulating a casting rod better to give the lure more subtle action, or could offer more dexterity/control with jerk baits...

Been done before, Fiji IPS reel seat installed threads down and the trigger added up front backwards. St. Croix and many others have installed the spinning version thread down on their rods, makes a nice smooth grip.

17 minutes ago, spoonplugger1 said:

Been done before, Fiji IPS reel seat installed threads down and the trigger added up front backwards. St. Croix and many others have installed the spinning version thread down on their rods, makes a nice smooth grip.

Thank you - wondering if you have a picture of this, and can it be added aftermarket?  I already have a number of newer baitcasting rods I like and want to add the extra trigger to them vs. buying/building another rod..

On 2/22/2019 at 9:55 AM, spoonplugger1 said:

Been done before, Fiji IPS reel seat installed threads down and the trigger added up front backwards. St. Croix and many others have installed the spinning version thread down on their rods, makes a nice smooth grip.

Does this give the second trigger that the OP is looking for?  

No, but it sounded more like an interference for his pinky than an anchor point, I could be wrong.

I think what he is after is a second trigger at the front of a conventional casting seat.  I see two possibilities, the first as I mentioned before, add a foregrip and contour it to provide a finger notch which will work like a trigger even though it does not look like one.

 

The second option that might work is to add a skeleton cast seat trigger piece up front.  Easier said than done on a completed rod, which is why I think the first option is the better.  

This is what I'm proposing.  If the rod has an adequate foregrip on it now it can be altered like this.  Do the slot on the bottom, then do a slot on the side where your finger wants to access the slot.  Be careful, you cannot put the material back on.  And be careful not to touch the blank.  Better to do a new foregrip because then you can get a lot of blank exposed.

If this is not what you were trying to accomplish, please clarify.  thanks, Mick

36 minutes ago, MickD said:

This is what I'm proposing.  If the rod has an adequate foregrip on it now it can be altered like this.  Do the slot on the bottom, then do a slot on the side where your finger wants to access the slot.  Be careful, you cannot put the material back on.  And be careful not to touch the blank.  Better to do a new foregrip because then you can get a lot of blank exposed.

If this is not what you were trying to accomplish, please clarify.  thanks, Mick

I think I’m following the two options you’re talking about.  Either could possibly work...

 

A good technique example of what I’m ultimately trying to accomplish would be a jerk bait rod.  Think of palming the reel, but extending your index finger forward to the rod blank (which I do).  Now you snap the rod downward - and that’s where I’m thinking a stem or trigger at the tip (or near it) of the index finger to get more strength and control of the downward action.  

 

The notch diagram above might work, but if it’s a soft foam/cork foregrip I don't know how much grip/dexterity you’d have versus a hard plastic trigger... but you got me thinking anyway..

Cork is not soft, so if you can get about the same shape as a trigger it will work as a trigger.  You only use one side of the trigger, and the slot in the cork is about the same.  EVA is not the right material for this.  Good luck.

Length will be the problem with a thread forward seat, I don't have the biggest hands, but I cut off all exposed threads on my trigger reel seats and still don't get much finger on the bare blank while palming a reel, the Wright Mcgill seat is in essence built as backward as you can, threads in the back, so you can pull the trigger closer and the triggers turned 180 from normal seats because of it.

Here you go.  

Looks like the front trigger is right under the level wind on the reel.

4 minutes ago, spoonplugger1 said:

Looks like the front trigger is right under the level wind on the reel.

That grip would probably work for what I need it for.. might have to experiment with one or two fingers in front of the front trigger - for balance and to take pressure off my ailing pinky, but I’d like to try it.  

 

Problem is is I don’t see any way to add the double trigger grip to my Loomis, Daiwa and Lews rods

5 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

That grip would probably work for what I need it for.. might have to experiment with one or two fingers in front of the front trigger - for balance and to take pressure off my ailing pinky, but I’d like to try it.  

 

Problem is is I don’t see any way to add the double trigger grip to my Loomis, Daiwa and Lews rods

This is what you are trying to accomplish, right?  One way to attack this is to take an old cheap rod and try the fore end notch to see if it does what you want. If not you haven't screwed up a nice rod. If it does you may want to do it on your better rods.

1 hour ago, MickD said:

This is what you are trying to accomplish, right?  One way to attack this is to take an old cheap rod and try the fore end notch to see if it does what you want. If not you haven't screwed up a nice rod. If it does you may want to do it on your better rods.

Thanks Mick, I do think this gives me some ideas how to approach this.  Appreciate your input, and for sure the advice to try a prototype first... Let me see what I can come up with and maybe I’ll have something to post/picture down the line.. 

This is interesting, as I'm interested in modifying rods to suit my fancy. Did you ever find a solution?

7 hours ago, Bazoo said:

This is interesting, as I'm interested in modifying rods to suit my fancy. Did you ever find a solution?

Oddly enough, the bone spur on my finger dissolved and went away about a year ago. I’m back to “normal” whatever that is… Interestingly, that the pinky on my other hand is affected now, but I only use that hand to reel, so far I’m good 👍

Nice. Glad to hear you have relief, at least on that side.  For a while, I had a wrist sprain and I had to be very careful. Makes fishing less fun.