Has anyone used this handle. I'm thinking of sticking one on a 10' 6 wt rod I'm building.

Here's a link
Maniform Cork Handle

Siesta Cork Tiles: Maniform Fly Rod Handle

Thanks
AL

Actually i quite like the way the maniform grip feels in your hand.. I casted a couple of rods with the maniform and it is very comfortable, ugly (i think ) but comfy... You will have to pick out your seat because there is not much room to inlet your reel foor cover. maybe a downlock!! I would never build up a rod (for me that is) with such a grip but then again i'm a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to rods and rodbuilding..


Jerry

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When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

Thanks Jerry, do you reckon a fly rod sized fuji reel seat in an uplocking configuration would be ok?

Thanks
AL

Yeah i think so, the 16 i'm sure of, the 18 not really.. Remember, i just casted the rods i didn't really like the looks of them, so i'm guessing really .. Do you like to fish thumb on top?? If not you might want to reconsider, i didn't really like the feel when my index finger was on top but then again my hands are, well strange .. But i'm thinking because it's a ten footer for a six you will probably cast thumb on top..

The guy who build the rods used forecast woven graphite seats but i'm not familiar with those seats.. I do remember there was just a very thin layer on top of the butt ring (very funny indeed but thats what they are called i guess).. I will have a look if i can find the seats some where on the net.. So i can give you a better idea of how thick the lower end is..

Jerry

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When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

Hi Al, have never tried a "maniform" but ther's a guy who used to have a joint season ticket on Chew/Blagdon who made his own versions of them & they were ever so comfortable. He started it as he had slight arthritous in his hands & they allowed him to cast all day & more or less every day without a problem. Yes they look hideous, & you'll probably be unable to sell the rod with it fitted, but if comfort's the name of the game then why not give it a try.

A very experienced pro rod builder tells me that you should always fit reel fittings in the downlocking position as it maximizes the blanks casting potential.

I've fitted odd Maniforms since they came out.

They are exceptionally useful for folks who have no strength of grip from nasty diseases ( like Polio) or Arthritis or Industrial Injury - and will keep those guys actually fishing .

I have fished extensively with one just to see and have to comment that they ain't for me and for quite a few other able handed lads who also tried . What happens is that you basically have to set them dead square onto the rod and this can slightly affect your normal casting style - you're committed into one plane effectively !

I always keep a couple about me because as a sometime VP of the English Disabled Fly Fishers I have a committment to sort folks less fortunately off than I am .

You really need to try one to see if it is for you .

Best wishes

Steve P

Downlocking is for salmon rods - uplocking is for real fly fishermen with single handers !

thanks for that steve, just glued up my struble d2 on a three weight

I for one liked it for distance casting, you do have to move in one plane but that's what makes a good distance cast and also should help those having wind knot problems.. But the best thing is to try one and see if they fit your style.

Rollcast, i can't seem to find that seat i mentioned try googling it in German (maniform rutenbau) there is a guy on the german rutenbau forum who used a couple on his builds..

Jerry

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When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

Jerry is this the reel seat?

Rollenhalter Wovencarbonoptik-Sonstige, Rollenhalter, Rutenbau

Thanks for the help will see about getting one and stuff it on the rod and see how it goes.

AL

Hi Al,

The seat he used was a fly seat. Do you want to inlet the hood in the cork?

Jerry

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When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

We get asked for them on the odd occasion too Steve. Reports are mixed. Personally I'm not entirely sure of the point. You can get a similar grip effect by building a grip up from large diameter cork shives, then flattening the sides. A bit like a shampoo bottle. The oval type with flattened sides. Even a larger diameter regular handle can alleviate a lot of problems for anglers with hand or wrist problems. As I have mentioned before on this forum, my experience of years of building custom handles of all shapes for customers, shows that if the handle of whatever shape you have on your rod has a diameter that does not allow the tip of the ring finger to meet the muscle of your thumb when you grip the rod. The diameter of the handle is just fine. If it is a smaller diameter that allows the tip of your ring finger to touch, the only way to grip the handle properly is to close the bones around the back of your hand and this can cause fatigue and cramp. This applies more to longer rods 9ft and over that exert a bit of leverage on the hand. With shorter and lighter rods diameter is not as critical.

Regards,

David.

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