Hey everyone,

  Im trying to learn more about rods and rod options.  Can anyone fill me in on the benifits of having a split grip handle? Is it for weight reduction and better balance?

Thanks for any info!

Vic

From a practical standpoint, can it improve a rod's fishability?  I belive it can if you manipulate the placement of the weight to better balance the rod and if you make the rear grip some sort of positive locator, it will help in casting accuracy and consistency.  

It gives you a few options, some physical some asthetic.  As a builder, I use a split grip to accomplish several things.  I like to use Lamar Burl cork but it's so dense, I need to split it to keep the weight down but also by varying the size of that grip I can balance most rods with no added weight.  It also gives you some more "canvas" between grips to weave, wrap, decal, flame or whatever you want to do.

Some people just think it looks cool and some think it looks crappy... to each his own, but I like it and probably won't ever build a rod with a full length grip again.

Hey thanks for the insight

 It was something I was always curious about.  I like the look of the split grip also, but I cast a lot using the middle section of the handle where the split would be so it was always impractical for me to get one.

Thanks again

Vic

Good post flechero.....and Vic, if you're looking for a nice custom split grip rod, talk to flechero, he makes some killer rods. I saw one or two of them at Fork and they were sweet.