Looking for a medium baitcasting rod for kayak (jerkbaits, small topwaters etc) so I need a rod with a not-too-long handle. Eying ALX Zolo 6” 9” Medium (Rosa) and ALX site lists handle as 9.25” (end of butt to back of reel seat, they say). But TW has the handle listed as 13 1/2”. Same deal for Shimano Zodias: TW has their 7’ MH listed as having a 15 3/4” handle (!!) versus Shimano site, which lists it as 9.6”

 

I’m actually more interested in the 6’ 10”

Medium Zodias but TW has no handle length listed for that one; Shimano has it as 9.6” .

 

Any ideas why the difference? I assume difference ways to measure handle? (Back of reel seat versus front?)

TW measures rod handles to the top of the foregrip or lock nut. 

 

1 minute ago, BassWhole! said:

TW measures rods to the top of the foregrip or lock nut. 

 

Correct. From TW's site:

 

Ah that would account for the difference. Thanks!

14 hours ago, MontclairDave said:

Looking for a medium baitcasting rod for kayak (jerkbaits, small topwaters etc) so I need a rod with a not-too-long handle. Eying ALX Zolo 6” 9” Medium (Rosa) and ALX site lists handle as 9.25” (end of butt to back of reel seat, they say). But TW has the handle listed as 13 1/2”. Same deal for Shimano Zodias: TW has their 7’ MH listed as having a 15 3/4” handle (!!) versus Shimano site, which lists it as 9.6”

 

I’m actually more interested in the 6’ 10”

Medium Zodias but TW has no handle length listed for that one; Shimano has it as 9.6” .

 

Any ideas why the difference? I assume difference ways to measure handle? (Back of reel seat versus front?)

St Croix and 13 Fishing both have really good yak rods

You are nearing the price point where you can have something custom made as well.  Any size handle you want then.  None of my rods have the same size handle that the manufacturer uses on their stock rods.

On 5/6/2021 at 8:59 AM, galyonj said:

 

Correct. From TW's site:

 

 

Just did a Google search and this came up. I need to find a rod to replace one that broke and had no idea how they measured handles.

 

Allen