When you are bottom contact fishing.  Up until a few years ago, I kept my pinky behind the trigger. You wouldn't think moving that pinky up would make a big diffetence...but it did for me.  Seems to increase agility and even hookseting power.  I have pretty big hands, and I need a smaller framed reel to be able to do this.  You?

I’ve never consciously thought about this?  d**n now I’m going to have to figure this out for myself.

Very Carefully..

I've always held my rod with all fingers in front of the trigger so I can easily palm the reel. I've recently been experimenting with 2 in front and 2 behind, it feels weird but I do feel like I have a little more grip control in some circumstances. 

I had to reread this to make sure we were talking BCs. I also grabbed a rod, and double checked real time. I always palm the reel with the pinkie, ring, and middle finger gripping below the rod 1/2 to 1 inch ahead of the trigger, and the index wrapped around the front of the reel and the thumb on top, if I am not moving the bait much, my index and thumb gravitate toward each other and meet pinching the line ahead of the line guide, and hand slides up a tad, you know, like a human...

My 'fishing grip' on casting reels is always the same.

Pics below are a 300 size reel and a swimbait rod,

which is about as big as I can palm.

100, 150 & 200 size reels are a little easier to control.

A-Jay

 

6 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

I’ve never consciously thought about this?  d**n now I’m going to have to figure this out for myself.

Same. 

6 hours ago, Hammer 4 said:

Very Carefully..

Yup.  Times 1000.  BTW, I no longer try to one-hand cast a 13 Fishing Omen Black that I bought from a guy that only casts one-handed and didn't like the rod.  I made one cast one-handed and darn near threw the rod/reel into the lake.  Strictly a two-hand casting rod for me, too.

This thread reminded me of the Randy "Everyone is an Idiot but Me" Blaukat video from a month ago. Only his way is the right way. LOL

 

 

 

Gearing up this morning so I was able to look. Like this for me.

 

 

30 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

Same. 

Yup.  Times 1000.  BTW, I no longer try to one-hand cast a 13 Fishing Omen Black that I bought from a guy that only casts one-handed and didn't like the rod.  I made one cast one-handed and darn near threw the rod/reel into the lake.  Strictly a two-hand casting rod for me, too.

I see this a lot from righties touting left handed reels, they often try to cast while semi palming the reel, sad...

I've never found a baitcaster that is well balanced if all fingers aren't in front of the trigger and index under the front of the reel, thumb across. Its a great grip... and center-balanced, not tip heavy.  Someone told me once for every 1 inch you grip behind the center of gravity, it takes up to 33% more strength to set the hook/fight the fish. 

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

 

A-Jay

 

 

 

Oh hey, I have a video about that too!

 

 

33 minutes ago, Glenn said:

Oh hey, I have a video about that too!

Only way I'd be surprised is if you didn't have a vid about something.

BTW ~ my 'grip' changes a bit for the cast.

Especially when I want to reach out and touch a bass . . . .

A-Jay

 

Pretty much the same as iron and deleted.

Baitcasters, trigger goes between my pinkie and ring finger.  With spinning reels, the stem of the reel foot goes between my middle finger and ring finger.

I grip a baitcaster the same as A-Jay. With spinning the stem goes between the pinkie and ring as well. 

Little finger behind the trigger.

I use the Vardon grip.

 

No.. wait,  that my golf grip.  Never mind.

Firm, yet gentle...

With my pinkie behind the trigger.

I hold on loosely but don’t let go. If I hold too tightly I’m going to lose control. 

1 hour ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

I hold on loosely but don’t let go. If I hold too tightly I’m going to lose control. 

Oh, I remember that song like it was yesterday...

some of you guys had me questioning my sanity on this one so I had to grab a rod.  Pinkie and ring finger on either side of the trigger (pinky behind, ring in front, but both touching the trigger), middle finger and index finger even with the front of the reel (middle under the blank and index on top), thumb wraps over the top of the reel.  Its pretty close to CC's picture above but I can't see the underside.  If I'm fishing bottom contact my index finger is under the line and even holding it up a little bit.  If I'm fishing a moving bait, I have the tip of my index finger on the blank in front of the seat.   

On 8/14/2022 at 6:06 AM, A-Jay said:

My 'fishing grip' on casting reels is always the same.

Pics below are a 300 size reel and a swimbait rod,

which is about as big as I can palm.

100, 150 & 200 size reels are a little easier to control.

A-Jay

 

^^Yep,... Same^^

Bottom contact