Shimano pole question/gripe

I am seeing more and more pole manufacturers starting to go to this "split-grip" configuration and i think (and this is my opinion of course) they are hideously ugly and don't feel good at all in your hand.  I am one for the nice good looking cork handles that show their use and age by the oils from your skin and fish slime accumulated over the years over them that cause them to darken and show a bit of "color"

why are these companies going away from this nice, classy look for this trendy bass tourney fisherman looking style. it stink big time because i was just looking to get another one of the poles i already have (shimano crucial) and i cant seem to find them anywhere that look like the one i already have.

anyone have any input on this or information that might ease my troubled mind. lol. or at least someone tell me this is just a trend, a fad or something that will lead me to believe that this isn't something that is permanent

The split grip adds to the sensitivity of the rod so your hand is in direct contact with the blank.

It's here to stay until something better comes along.

hate it.

i want the cork back asap. it is more than sensitive enough for me. if a fish is worth catching... you are gonna feel it regardless if it is cork or the blank your hand is sitting in contact with. who are the manufactures catering to? people trying to catch salmon fry that have severe nerve damage in their hands?

I love the split grip for sensitivity, although an exposed blank under the grip does the job too.

hate it.

i want the cork back asap. it is more than sensitive enough for me. if a fish is worth catching... you are gonna feel it regardless if it is cork or the blank your hand is sitting in contact with. who are the manufactures catering to? people trying to catch salmon fry that have severe nerve damage in their hands?

I once landed a 6.5 foot fish and I never felt it bite.  I wonder if I would have detected a bite if I were using more sensitive rod.

It's a fad. I don't like the split grips for kayak fishing because they can be cracked by the flush-mount holders. So I mostly use mine for shore or boat fishing now...or just be mindful not to bang them in & out of the flush-mounts. I prefer cork grips because they're lightweight, comfortable, and don't get stinky (like EVA grips). Fenwick still makes some nice cork grip rods. 

It's a fad. I don't like the split grips for kayak fishing because they can be cracked by the flush-mount holders. So I mostly use mine for shore or boat fishing now...or just be mindful not to bang them in & out of the flush-mounts. I prefer cork grips because they're lightweight, comfortable, and don't get stinky (like EVA grips). Fenwick still makes some nice cork grip rods.

true about the smell.

I love the split grip for sensitivity, although an exposed blank under the grip does the job too.

hate it.

i want the cork back asap. it is more than sensitive enough for me. if a fish is worth catching... you are gonna feel it regardless if it is cork or the blank your hand is sitting in contact with. who are the manufactures catering to? people trying to catch salmon fry that have severe nerve damage in their hands?

I once landed a 6.5 foot fish and I never felt it bite.  I wonder if I would have detected a bite if I were using more sensitive rod.

hey, watch your mouth!!!!!!!!!

It's a fad. I don't like the split grips for kayak fishing because they can be cracked by the flush-mount holders. So I mostly use mine for shore or boat fishing now...or just be mindful not to bang them in & out of the flush-mounts. I prefer cork grips because they're lightweight, comfortable, and don't get stinky (like EVA grips). Fenwick still makes some nice cork grip rods.

true about the smell.

Everything you have for kayaking smells. Even your car.

I didn't care one way or the other until I went to Florida last year to fish.  I used both styles of rods during my trip  We were making repeat casts with lots of top-water "twitch" action retrieves and after a day of casting, I was tired.  However, the heavier rod was definitely more of a workout than the split-grip one.  If you aren't casting all day long, then I can't see how it would matter though.

hate it.

i want the cork back asap. it is more than sensitive enough for me. if a fish is worth catching... you are gonna feel it regardless if it is cork or the blank your hand is sitting in contact with. who are the manufactures catering to? people trying to catch salmon fry that have severe nerve damage in their hands?

I believe it came about for the bass fisherman for finesse fishing.  Might be wrong.  After than, I think it just went viral & everyone seems to do it.  I'm undecided if it looks/performs any better or not.

As for cork .... I'm THAT guy who leaves the plastic on over the cork to keep it clean 

I didn't care one way or the other until I went to Florida last year to fish.  I used both styles of rods during my trip  We were making repeat casts with lots of top-water "twitch" action retrieves and after a day of casting, I was tired.  However, the heavier rod was definitely more of a workout than the split-grip one.  If you aren't casting all day long, then I can't see how it would matter though.

i have heard this on a few occasions but with me banking it pretty often during salmon season i will cast and retrieve non stop sometimes for literally sun up until sun down and I have used some of my "sturdier" poles for this and i don't get tired. I don't personally understand this, but that is just me. (this is me just cracking a joke don't take it personally anyone) but maybe ya'll should lift some weights  because unless you are casting a surf pole all day long i don't see how a pole that is a couple of ounces would "wear someone out" (ok ok add a few ozs for a reel). this split grip thing is mostly about looks i would assume because the weight that is lost from not putting cork on it is minuscule and would not honestly make a difference between you being tired or not...

hate it.

i want the cork back asap. it is more than sensitive enough for me. if a fish is worth catching... you are gonna feel it regardless if it is cork or the blank your hand is sitting in contact with. who are the manufactures catering to? people trying to catch salmon fry that have severe nerve damage in their hands?

I believe it came about for the bass fisherman for finesse fishing.  Might be wrong.  After than, I think it just went viral & everyone seems to do it.  I'm undecided if it looks/performs any better or not.

As for cork .... I'm THAT guy who leaves the plastic on over the cork to keep it clean 

awww Fishing... i didnt take you for that guy. i have seen that a few times and i have always wondered "why?" because like in my last post i like my poles to show their maturity fom the oils and fish slime that has accumulated over time to show their age & use. I like that seasoned look (that was the word that i was looking for) the cork has to still be in good shape and not all gouged and dinged and rough looking but the "patina" like on an old car... it shows the life it has "lived"

Where it all started for me was fishing a local lake that had TONS of duck crap around & often we were jamming our rods into broken concrete areas while trout fishing.  Kept the handle clean & allowed me to stiff fish the rod every day.

Some like patina .... others enjoy the new car smell.

Where it all started for me was fishing a local lake that had TONS of duck crap around & often we were jamming our rods into broken concrete areas while trout fishing.  Kept the handle clean & allowed me to stiff fish the rod every day.

Some like patina .... others enjoy the new car smell.

haha stop sniffin rods man! just kidding i understand though i would just go crazy with that feel of plastic against my hand all day. but i see where you are coming from.