Protecting your grip

[WhipFish]

I just spent what I consider to be a good chunk of change on a new salt rod, and from the start I wanted to protect the part of it that gets beat up the most (in my opinion)...the grip. Thinking back to my tennis days, I decided to go with a synthetic tacky over wrap. I wasn't sure how it would work so I hit the Housy this morning to test it (And to catch some fish, of course) It was only one time out but so far I am more than pleased. I was able to get a better grip then I could on the cork even with it completely wet and it worked way better than that with a glove on. It's tight and taped off so nothing can get underneath and I like the look of it to boot. It cost me $5 for a three-pack of the grips and I know from my time on the court that these things are very durable so $5 should go a long way.
I just thought I'd throw this out there for any who might be interested. And if you like the look and feel of cork, Soft Scrub w/bleach does a great job cleaning it without any damage.
http://www.flyaddict.com/gallery/data/504/medium/WrappedGrip.JPG

I also experienced one of the calmest nicest sunrises this morning. The river looked like glass and I caught 8 fishies, one measuring an inch away from the keeper line. Good times.

[Andrew]

There are parts of a fly rod that are supposed to show wear and tear !

What, do you wrap that stuff around your car tires too, to "protect" them?


:)

[Adam Taylor]

It cost me $5 for a three-pack of the grips and I know from my time on the court that these things are very durable so $5 should go a long way.


If it said Rio or Simms or Orvis they could charge 25 bucks....:)

[MuddlerMinnow]

The world's first Slazenger fly rod!

[WhipFish]

There are parts of a fly rod that are supposed to show wear and tear!

I know but I did it for function too. I knew you'd call me a skirt. And yes, all of my furniture is covered in plastic.

I bet in six months we'll see these wraps in fly shops. Just you watch. I thought of The Pasta Pot years before it was on QVC.

[southpaw526]

Well then you'd better start trying to market it to the fly shops, because if you do see it in a fly shop 6 months from now, you're going to be kicking yourself for not acting on it.....I personally like the worn cork look.

[Adam Taylor]

Well then you'd better start trying to market it to the fly shops, because if you do see it in a fly shop 6 months from now, you're going to be kicking yourself for not acting on it.....I personally like the worn cork look.


You got that right....on a somewhat serious note...Do you think or have you thought that the wraps might hold moisture between the wrap and the cork and potentially speed up the deterioration of the underlying cork?

[flyrodder]

I beat the crap out of my gear and the cork seems to survive. But if it doesnt, that's what lifetime warranties are for.

I would not use these grips because salt might build up between the grip and the cork and cause problems. I would also worry about moisture.

[dudley]

I have a bad habit of crushing my grips on my SW rods
One 8wt has gone through 3 since 1988
After crushing the grip on my 10wt some years ago I decided just to glue it back together and tape over it temporally with the tape that you use on baseball bats.
Ended up I liked it that way. So now I just change the tape periododically

[trouter203]

And yes, all of my furniture is covered in plastic.
all of your furniture is covered in plastic???? all of my furniture IS plastic.

[WhipFish]

I would not use these grips because salt might build up between the grip and the cork and cause problems. I would also worry about moisture.

Well we'll find out at the end of the season if I have to put the lifetime warranty to use. I don't think I will. It's wrapped tight, each wrap overlaps the underlying one by at least a quarter inch, and I wash off my gear with fresh water when I get back to the car and again when I get home. I'll be very surprised if the cork looks worse come the end of the year then if I left it bare.
Once again...to each his own. I figured some might find it interesting while others would just keep kicking it old-fashioned. Me, I don't like dirty chipped grips. The only thing I like dirty are my womens. (And thank God my wife isn't a member here :))

[MuddlerMinnow]

Be careful shaking hands with Dudley!

[WhipFish]

Be careful shaking hands with Dudley!

I had to reread his post to see what you were talking about. True dat!!

[Escapepod]

Curious - does the wrap help with fatigue? After cast a 9 or 10 wt for a couple of hours punching through the wind, the arm can get tired. How do you secure it to the grip and keep the end from fraying?

Thanks

[WhipFish]

How do you secure it to the grip and keep the end from fraying?

The starting 6 inches of the grip is cut on an angle. You wrap that portion around the bottom twice (really tight) and the tackiness holds it in place. Once the angle changes you begin wrapping up the handle, overlapping as you go. When you get to the top, you make one more half wrap, cut the excess, and tape it off. They come with tape but electrical works just as well and is wider. Then I put a drop of Zap-a-Gap on a needle and run a bead of it along that cut edge so it won't pull up.
It doesn't add any cushion though. I was just asked that by another member who was looking to add some thickness to the handle for comfort and I'm going to look into using a replacement racquet grip and putting this stuff over it to seal it all in. I'll post my findings once I'm done. I think it could definitely help those with weaker hands or arthritis. It works for golf clubs. Many other sports have grip width options. Even spinning/baitcasting rods come in different thicknesses and materials. Why should we settle? Don't get me wrong, I like the look and feel of cork but it can't be the only good material out there. I mean, they're making rods out of carrots now... Carrots!

[MuddlerMinnow]

I mean, they're making rods out of carrots now... Carrots!

Nano carrots, actually. The mystery is how they harvest them when they're still so small!

[Kype]

There are those who probably are correct in saying that a stiff handle will make a rod cast better. Perhaps instead of cork a light weight hard polymer handle covered with this discovery of yours could be the wave of the future?
In the mean time I enjoy the feel of cork and have never had a damaged cork handle. After a few days fishing I wash my cork with warm water and mild hand soap and a sponge at times gently using the abrasive side to help remove the perspiration and oils from my hands which cause the cork in time to dry and become brittle and damaged.
The cork remains clean, soft and undamaged. I like how it feels in my hand and I believe it helps my casting and contributes to the pleasure of fly fishing but that is just me.