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| I have always griped my musky rods by the butt grip. I have always hunted and like the feel of the trigger. All the posts I have seen talk about holding the fore grip. Is there something wrong about the way I hold my rod that could cost me a big fish or even some expensive tackle? Thanks |
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Posts: 8840
| If you're doing what I think you're doing, which is holding your rod almost like a gun with your forefinger on the trigger, you don't have the strength to hang on to your rod should a big fish hit. No-stretch lines aren't very forgiving in that respect. Take your other hand, grab the rod and yank downward on it a few times. Now imagine a 40 pound fish swimming 30 MPH doing that. |
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Posts: 466
Location: Pittsburgh, PA | i cant even picture the grip. you mean you hold it with your hand on the rod, just below the reel and one finger on the trigger? (hand not on the reel at all?) |
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| I hold the rod just below the reel just like when I cast with my fore finger in front and my middle finger behind the trigger. |
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Posts: 158
Location: Eagan, MN | You'll get better leverage for hooksets by either palming the reel or holding the foregrip. I'd also be a little worried about a big fish swiping your setup on a hard strike near the boat.
Almost nobody holds a muskie rod the way you are describing.
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| Using the fore grip gives you the best leverage for proper hook sets  |
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Posts: 27
| I originally started using baitcasters while reeling right handed. I used to grip the cork in front of the reel and it was most comfortable for me doing it this way.
Now a few years back I switched over to reeling left handed and I hold my rod exactly the way you described. The pointer finger of my right hand on the trigger of the rod while my thumb is on the spool of the reel. All my other fingers are gripping the rod.
This way is most comfortable for me reeling left handed.
There has never been a time when a fish ever has come close to tearing the rod from my hands. I for one think you are doing nothing wrong. Do whats best for you. There are far to many critics or self proclaimed "experts" on these boards |
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Posts: 4266
| I won't even use the "pistol grip" when bass fishing. Your index finger isn't nearly as strong as your whole forearm.
I started using the fore grip for casting also. My right shoulder was hurt so I tried lefthanded and it was just too awkward, so I grab the foregrip with my left hand and use my right hand on the reel and cast over my left shoulder. Then my left hand is already in position for the retrieve, or I can slide it back and palm the reel, depending on what type of lure I'm throwing. When I set the hook while holding the fore grip, it is pure power and I generally wind up with a bruise on my forearm from where the reel digs in. I hope my forearm and my left side are black and blue for months 
Beav |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | I do exactly as Thunder described. I have all lefty baitcasters. I like to cast with my right arm and reel with my left. No switching hands here after the cast. I can get a pretty mean hookset because I keep the butt of the rod along my forearm and down towards my elbow. I have the leverage of the entire length of the butt end of the rod from my elbow to my right hand this way. Super duper sharp hooks don't hurt either for penetration. I sharpen all season long. I also don't like the mega XXXX hooks, or whatever, the thinner hooks penetrate so much better and leave a smaller hole. Your rod and drag should do the work for you. You should never straighten out a hook on a fish. I keep my drag loose enough for even a boatside hit to allow it to slip on a hard hookset. I compensate for this by keeping my thumb on the spool all the time. It makes for a wet wrinkled thumb after a long day casting but I like the controll.
I say do what ever works for you. |
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| I started musky fishing about 30 years ago which makes me old school. Hell all my friends thouht I was crazy when I bought my first 6'6" rod. I want to thank everyone for all the ideas. I think I will try the foregrip on my new longer rods which will give me good leverage. I will still use my old rods Like I always have, since they are shorter and need to use more of the length to get the best leverage. Thanks Again Chris |
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Fore grip