Butt length

[Monty]

I like the butt length on my rods to be between 20" and 22" long (to center of reel). This is on the short side. I find anything longer than this is uncomfortable for me. All my rods are that length, I have no problem cutting them with a hack saw and putting a new rubber butt end on them. Anyone else do this?

[crosseyedbass]

I never have gotten concerned about the length of the butt on my rod. After questioning several of my friends I realize the pro's and cons of different lengths. I wanted to learn more and in my searching I found this older article.



Assessing the Rod ButtJust as foundations vary with the sizes and styles of houses, rod butts vary to suit different fishing techniques and individual tastes.Apr 19, 2005By Andy Hahn http://www2.worldpub.net/images/Gearguide2%20368%20main%20page.jpgAndy Hahn
When choosing a house to buy, would you check the roof but not look too closely at the basement? In a way, that's how some anglers judge a fishing rod: They flex the tip to evaluate action and sensitivity, but don't pay much attention to the butt section. The butt section, however, acts as a rod's foundation, providing solid support for everything above it and firmly anchoring the reel. Just as foundations vary with the sizes and styles of houses, rod butts vary to suit different fishing techniques and individual tastes.

Cork It
Inshore anglers need rods that feel good in the hand during long hours of casting lures or flipping live baits. Foam and cork represent the two most common butt materials used for light-tackle rods. "Some anglers prefer foam for its durability and comfort; others argue that cork holds up better and looks great," says Brent Kane, sales manager for Penn (www.pennreels.com (http://www.pennreels.com/)). "Both materials work well and make comfortable grips."

Foam rod butts have a squeezable, nonslip texture that accommodates the angler's hand and offers a secure grip even when wet. Abrasive or sharp surfaces can take a toll on foam, however. Rods left to slap around in holders or rocket launchers as the boat bounces across choppy seas may suffer tears or cuts in the foam butt section.

Smooth and comfortable to the touch, cork also has more aesthetic appeal to anglers who prefer its natural color and clean-looking finish. Take a closer look at handles next time you shop for a rod. "Cork comes in different grades. High-quality cork has a tighter, denser texture that offers more durability and a better feel," says Kane. Lower-grade cork exhibits a more porous texture and may feel a bit spongy or show spots where filler material patches large gaps.

Anglers face numerous options when considering butt length for inshore rods. Okuma's Guide Select rod series, for example, contains 20 models and several different butt sizes. "Pros on the redfish circuit helped design these rods, which are aimed at the Southeast's redfish and seatrout fishery," says John Bretza, national sales manager for Okuma (www.okumafishing.com (http://www.okumafishing.com/)). "The growing trend toward using low-profile baitcasters for inshore fishing has increased demand for rods with shorter butts. Low-profiles are lighter and smaller than round reels, so most guys who use them cast with one hand. They find shorter rod butts easier to handle."

Although no set-in-stone standards exist, handles measuring about 9 inches or more from reel seat to butt cap are considered "long," and a "short" butt typically measures 7 inches or less. Whether they use baitcasters or spinning reels, inshore anglers who employ a two-handed casting style will find long rod butts more to their liking. "The 'right' butt length really depends on personal preference," Bretza says.

Forethought
A quick look at an offshore rod usually reveals its intended purpose. Trolling rods designed for use in a fighting chair have long butts and short foregrips. The long butt nestles in the chair gimbal and puts the reel within an angler's reach. "Chair rods have short foregrips because the angler pulls with the harness," says Greg Stotesbury, sales manager for AFTCO (www.aftco.com (http://www.aftco.com/)). "You don't need to grasp the rod because all the pulling power comes from the reel lugs and harness."

Stand-up rods typically feature long foregrips extending at least 15 inches above the reel seat. Made of foam (Hypalon or EVA), they provide a comfy, sure grip when pulling on pelagics. "A long foregrip lets you reach farther forward to pull with better leverage. When stand-up fishing with a harness, of course, you only use your hand to steady the rod. But when a tuna gets close and starts to circle the boat, you may have to hold the rod out to keep lines clear of the running gear. In this case, a long foregrip is easier to hold on to," Stotesbury says.

While most production stand-up rods come with round foregrips, Daiwa (www.daiwa.com (http://www.daiwa.com/)) offers the Power Lift grip on selected models. "We got the idea after looking at the triangular shape of a Pepto Bismol bottle," says Bill Liston, Daiwa's advertising manager. "The triangular grip keeps the rod from rolling in your hand. The Power Lift shape prevents rod-wobble problems when cranking hard on a fish."

Avid fishermen in search of a better mousetrap often customize their sticks. "Some West Coast anglers who pursue 200-plus-pound tuna like to grind finger notches in the foregrip to gain a better hold on the rod," says Stotesbury. "And serious long-range anglers never taper the forward end of the grip where it meets the rod. A square edge lets them lock their fingers in front of the grip for a slipproof hold when pulling on fish close to the boat. It seems like a minor detail, but when you're trying to lift a 300-pound tuna into gaffing range, every little bit helps."

Slick or Sticky
Choices for butt material in offshore rods include foam, hard plastic and aluminum. Fishing style usually dictates one's selection, and trends are often described along geographical lines. For example, you'd be hard-pressed to find anything but foam butts on a long-range trip out of California. "Penn recently added foam-butt models to our International V Stand-Up and Pro Guide Bluewater series of rods to accommodate West Coast anglers, who do a lot of casting and rarely fish from rod holders," says Kane. "Foam offers comfort as well as security. If your hands get slimy from handling live bait or you have to pass rods over and under other lines along the rail when fighting fish, you can confidently hold rods by the foam lower-butt section."

Foam has one drawback: It's more susceptible to damage than harder butt materials. "Okuma's Pursuit series of rods caters to California-style anglers. The foam butt is more comfortable to hold than our nylon butts, but there are trade-offs. Although we use tough, high-density foam, it can get gouged or torn if you're not careful," says Bretza.

East Coast anglers do more trolling and therefore favor hard-plastic or aluminum rod butts that rod holders won't chew up. Plastic butts consist of composite (nylon, graphite or plastic) sleeves bonded to the rod blank to provide protection and facilitate removal from the rod holder. "These butts offer a cleaner look because they don't scar like foam," Bretza says.

Each manufacturer has its own formula and name for composite-coated rod butts. Examples include Penn Slick Butt, Daiwa Quick Grip butt and Okuma graphite butt. "We call it 'Slick Butt' for a reason," warns Penn's Kane. "It slides out of a rod holder easily, but by the same token, it can slip out of hands greased with fish slime."

Aluminum butts also offer an attractive finish as well as smooth transfers in and out of rod holders. In addition, they deliver strength for battling big fish on heavy tackle. AFTCO specializes in making swaged aluminum butts for rods ranging from 20-pound stand-up to unlimited-class tackle for use in the chair. The swaging process begins with a large-diameter aluminum tube, which is heated and struck with dies to work it into the desired shape. "Swaging produces a relatively thin wall in the butt's large-diameter areas and thicker walls where the diameter is smaller. It provides strength where you need it most," explains Stotesbury. "Machining the part would cost less, but machining actually removes metal to reduce the diameter and makes a weaker product."

AFTCO's product line includes the Unibutt and Storabutt, among others. Unibutts combine handle and reel seat in a single piece that runs from the gimbal through the reel seat. Storabutts feature threaded connections that allow fishermen to remove the butt section just behind the reel seat, leaving the reel on the rod. This facilitates storage of bent-butt rods on boats.

Bent Logic
Originally, curved-butt rods were designed to maximize an angler's ability to put heat on fish when using a fighting chair, but they have found their way into the stand-up specialist's arsenal as well. "Curved butts dominate in the heavy-tackle arena. AFTCO's feature a 37-degree bend for an optimum angle that gives 30 percent more pulling power from the chair than does a straight-butt rod," Stotesbury says. He compares fishing with a long, bent butt with using a crowbar with a "cheater bar" that provides additional leverage.

Short curved butts work to the advantage of fishermen who don't want to use the chair. "Combine a short, bent butt with a sit-in harness such as a Braid or Black Magic to make the ultimate pulling tool for stand-up fishing," Stotesbury suggests. "This setup redirects the load down toward your legs instead of putting it on your lower back."

Anglers who carry several Storabutt styles for their rod can enjoy flexibility on the water. Say you target broadbills off Florida. You can start out fishing with a short, straight butt for light-duty stand-up action. If you hook a big swordie and want to fight it from the chair, change to a long, curved butt. Or switch to a short, curved butt to fight more effectively while standing up. If an angler makes the switch himself, he can trade butts in the middle of a fight without violating IGFA rules. "It's not difficult to spin the collar, drop off the butt and add another while cradling the rod in one arm. You can make the swap in just a few seconds," says Stotesbury.

When deciding which rods to take on your next fishing trip consider the butt section and handle as well as rod length and action. Anglers who carefully choose rod handles to suit fishing style and personal preference definitely have a better grip on the situation.



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