Too Small?

[TallFlyGuy]

You guys think the cork work for this 13'6" 7/8 spey is too small. At it's smallest point it is 3/4 of an inch.

I ordered the rod for large hands and am thinking I need to have it fixed. I just don't want to be an ass about it.

What would you do?

[Charles Sullivan]

Do you position your hand that high?
cds

[Rich McCauley]

Looks like the usual size from Meiz on that rod..... BUT

It does not matter what any of us think, its your rod and it should be the way you want it.

Give Bob a call, I am sure you guys can work something out.

[SSPey]

on the surface your post seems kinda idiotic, but being an idiot myself, with large hands, I can relate. I'm 6'5", and the XL work gloves rarely fit.

I've had several spey grips custom turned (by myself and other makers) to be thicker than anything on the market, 1" diameter at the narrowest point on the upper grip. I also fish several factory rods that are 0.85" at the narrowest point up high (by micrometer). The difference is only 0.15" between what I perceive as fat and skinny cork but it feels radically different in the hand if I mentalize about it.

know what? the skinny grips are on my two largest rods, a 15' 9 wt and 16' 10 wt, and I like them that way ... a lot. Enough that I am considering turning down some of my fatter corks.

Rich's advice to call Bob is the best. I'd also suggest to consider fishing the rod for a good 4-6 hours, and while on the water grab someone else's rod with a thick cork and see how it feels in comparison. You might be surprised, you might not, but it'll be based on real-world feedback from the rod to you.

[Rich McCauley]

Steve makes some excellent points, and evidently was more awake at !:20 am than I was at 1:05 ...so what the hell are we doing reading WFF posts at that time .....

Anyway, back to the subject. I had ASSUMED you had indeed fished the rod and were not pleased. If you have not, then Steve's point is spot on. Go fish for at least a full day and then form your opinion.

I build most of my rods and stop turning down the cork at least 1/4" larger than I think I want. Then we go fish, then maybe turn it down, fish ....

Of course this is not possible with even a custom builder unless you want to drive to Medford and hang around for a few days while Bob adjusts the cork for you. I did take my 8139 Burkie back to Kerry to get it turned down a bit more. I was on my way to the Deschutes so it was no big deal.

Steve is right about what seems to be a minor size differential. For me it can make the same rod feel like a club or a casting tool. I adapt much better to undersized, rather than oversized grips. Large grips cause my hands to cramp up.

All of this to say again give Bob a call and he will make it right. Next time, consider sketching the desired size and shape and send it to the builder. And yes I am that anal.

Rich

[James Mello]

You guys think the cork work for this 13'6" 7/8 spey is too small. At it's smallest point it is 3/4 of an inch.

I ordered the rod for large hands and am thinking I need to have it fixed. I just don't want to be an ass about it.

What would you do?

Kinda looks like a Meiser rod... Pretty typical.... Honestly I don't think it's an issue as how often do you hold your hand that high up? So all in all, I'd focus on the fit for where you hand will be held most of the time. If it ain't right there, then *definately* talk to the maker and have them adjust it. No custom maker in their right mind would refuse you the fit and finish you deserve....

With that said, in the future, try to get a grip fitted before you buy a custom rod next time. Some makers "claim" to be custom, but are nothing more than slam 'em out shops with fancy thread using commodity parts. But considering you went to what appears to be the Meis, I can only assume he'll treat you well! :)

[SSPey]

...so what the hell are we doing reading WFF posts at that time .....

I don't know about you, but I finished building a rod late night, and wanted to babysit it for a while to make sure all was well with epoxy before turning in for beddy-bye. It is more challenging these days with a 3 y.o. in the house, as rod building must occur in the wee hours.

[TallFlyGuy]

Thanks for the feedback,

Yeah it is idiotic. I was hesitant to post at first, but after a fellow board member told me it was too small for him as well, I decided.

I have fished it, and it isn't that bad, just takes a little getting used to.

Will a smaller grip affect performance energe etc? I guess that is my main question.

Thanks

Justin

[James Mello]

Thanks for the feedback,

Yeah it is idiotic. I was hesitant to post at first, but after a fellow board member told me it was too small for him as well, I decided.

I have fished it, and it isn't that bad, just takes a little getting used to.

Will a smaller grip affect performance energe etc? I guess that is my main question.

Thanks

Justin

If you're asking if it will change the action of the rod, the answer is yes, but I hesitate to say so... Most of the casting energy will be imparted from the upper portion of the blank. When casting Skagit style systems and such, the rod will bend more deeply into the butt section. This is where the length of the cork and it's thickness *MAY* change how the rod reacts. In general, it's of no concern, but considering that cork does change how stiff that section of the blank is, it will of course change the action of the rod.

Now with that said, if you can tell the difference, then you're a freak of nature. Most folks complain about it (things must be spined a certain way, etc...), but the reality is most folks can't tell the difference even taking the Pepsi challenge. In general you can consider the change in energy transfer to be so miniscule that you won't need to worry about it. To put it another way, you've got 13' of graphite that is bending. The last 6 inches whether it's covered in .75" of cork or 1" of cork is only going to deflect maybe a millimeter during the cast. Also, this section is *very* thick and difficult to bend (try it, it takes some power!) so a little cork isn't really going to impede it too much. Now compare this to the arc length the tip and middle sections move (a meter or more at the tip, several centimeters near the middle section), and it gives you the idea of the relative un-importance for the cast that very last 6" matter.

Now if someone where to put several INCHES of grip around there, or cover it in concrete, that's another story, but I wouldn't worry.....

[Rich McCauley]

Steve .. I was screwing around building a new rod wrapping jig .. My cardboard box wore out;)

Yeah what Mello said

Bob usually turns the grip down that far, so the prototyping was done using that or a similar size. The one Kinney fishes is almost a mirror image of yours. Having the "thumb notch" that deep increases the feedback you get from the rod. That is, you can better feel the rod load and unload. Better feedback equals better timing which leads to better casting. But not necessarily to better fishing if is not comfortable. It is your entire conection to the rod and it needs to be right. Don't stress about it ... call Meiz and he will take care of you.

BTW I always hold that high both to cast and on the swing. On the swing I usually have my thumb and forefinger over the front of the grip on the blank itself. On occasion it has saved me from having the rod ripped out of my hand. BIG natives and huge flies can make for a very explosive take.

[fredaevans]

Too small? Probably not.

Reason I say that is (and I must admit I have 'small hands') is a 'large/fat' handle tends to require the caster to hold it 'too tight (read "death grip"), whereas a smaller/thinner handle allow you a light touch.

The first will kill a cast (think very bad casting habits!!) very quickly, where the thinner handle allows (almost requires) a light 'floating' grip. As noted above, I suspect that after you've cast the rod for a bit you'll come to love the thinner/lighter grip the rod affords.

That said, if you have XXL sized hands the handle may be a tad small, but it's because you 'exceed the norms.'

Fred

[halcyon]

Another thought is, the handle style is simply not one you are comfortable with. You might wish to try casting other rods with different handle styles (shapes) and see if changing the shape is really what will make your hands "happy hands" :)

Regards,

[James Mello]

Another thought is, the handle style is simply not one you are comfortable with. You might wish to try casting other rods with different handle styles (shapes) and see if changing the shape is really what will make your hands "happy hands" :)

Regards,

God only gave man the shape he was born with! One should learn to use the stick one has! :)

[Red Shed]

Tall, Your question is not idotic. You paid a good deal for the rod and it should please you (and only you).

Having said that, I didn't care for that style of grip to start with, but I like it now and I think it has made me cast better. I know several people that also didn't like Bob's grips, again to start with but they are sold on them now big time.

Rich has nailed it in his first post.

[Sloan Craven]

Bob meiser is a nice guy. Send him a picture of your hands and he'll understand.

[Steelie Mike]

I have casted that specific spey rod and it did not feel comfortable in my hands. My hands are on the larger size as well and thought Justin's observations were the same as my own. That said it is hard to go from one type of cork one rod and then cast another. I am sure you can get used to it if you stuck with it. That said, do what feels right.

[Dan Page]

My hands are not gigantic, but at first I was skeptical of the skinny grip on my Mieser. But after a year of Skagit style casting I love them. For that "light floating grip" they are perfect. Also, I rarely reach to the top of the cork for the more underhand style casting. A friend had a rod made up by someone else with standard cork for Skagit casting, then later had them turned down.
I agree, try them for awhile and if you don't like them Bob will surely change them.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Just wrap some duct tape around that puppy, that'l fatten'er up in no time!
.....sorry

[James Mello]

Just wrap some duct tape around that puppy, that'l fatten'er up in no time!
.....sorry

Uncle Jimmy with the engineering solution from Forks! :) BTW, how are the rivers other than the Bogi fishing right now?

[fredaevans]

Bumping this up to the top as Bob's been off on Holiday's. Think he gets back today (1-2-7).
Fred