It's been many years since I've been fishing.  After much time spent in the corporate grind, I'm now semi-retired and find time to take up this sport once again.

In searching for new fishing equipment, I find myself stymied when it comes to rods.  When I last had a fishing rod, it had a fairly short "pistol grip" handle.  As I look at new rods, it seems that all the rods I see have long handles, some as much as a food or more from the "trigger" to the butt end of the rod.

2 Questions:

1.  What is the advantage of the long handle on these new rods?

2.  Where can I find a good quality rod with the shorter handle that I'm used to?

This old dog probably don't need any new tricks.   :-[

longer handle=more leverage

for a pistol grip rod you will be hard pressed to find one over 6ft

Old dogs can learn new tricks if they want to.The rods are so much nicer now and more comfortable to use.

How short of a handle are you looking for? If I were you I'd go on www.***.com and I would search around for the handle length your looking for. Some split grip rods may feel more natural in your hand and in that case I would look into e21 carrot stix. Good luck.

Old dogs can learn new tricks if they want to.The rods are so much nicer now and more comfortable to use.

I got back into fishing last year after a 23 year hiatus. Always used spinning gear. This time I went with baitcasting gear because I wanted to start targeting bass. Turned 63 last month. I'm really enjoying the new gear. I understand that not everyone enjoys learning new things. I do.

Heck, still learning new things at work, and I've been in my current position almost 26 years. ;D

Also I went from low priced gear to gear not so low priced...Diawa, Airrus, Falcon, the better Abu products.  Still looking to get Dobyns, Shimano, Phenix, Powell, etc.

St croix premier 5'6" M has a pistol grip. Thats about one of the only ones I've seen.

Thanks for all the responses.  I found what I was looking for at BPS.  A Team All Star rod, with the "A" grip.  Pretty nice rod.

I also got a Duckett 70MHC bowing to the pressure of learning new things... 

the longer handle has more leverage. Split grip rods are usually more sensitive also since you could hold the actual rod blank where the split is.

Browning Medallion rods have a shorter handle and are a good rod for the money. id start there.