Loose grip no squeeze stop?

[easterncaster]

There is the tightened grip locking the forearm muscles, what I expect John might consider a block.

Then there are the multitude of micro wrists that accelerate the rod, but do not necessarily mean the grip tightens.

Mac turned me on to a subtler form he considers "pulling", where the fingers furthest from the thumb close and lever the rod butt around a fulcrum at the base of the index finger.

All of these techniques seem beneficial (to me), but they are all distinct in my mind.

Thank you for this, because it better clarifies what it is that I'm doing when locking the forearm muscles. Whenever I try to use the Joan Wulff sponge squeeze, I tend to shock the rod. So I gave up on that and simply started locking the forearm. I never thought of it as a block, but that's exactly what it is!

I learned the same pulling technique from Mac (and Jonathan Walters) wherein the pinky and ring finger pull back into the palm. Combined with the lower hand grip that Mac uses, I use this stop a lot, especially after the stroke in roll casting for the delayed rotation, adjusting the amount of pressure applied for a given distance.

Thank you!

Hi Carol,

Maybe I misunderstand your thoughts on Joan's 'Squeeze Stop'...

The squeeze is not a simple gripping motion, it involves a thumb push and pulling up into heel of hand of the pinky and ring fingers. The pulling up of the back digits is often over looked. The Squeeze Stop begins with the thumb push and works its way down to the pinky, similar to a piano player finger roll.

Craig

[Carol]

Hi, Craig. You are correct in Joan's squeeze stop. It's just that when I think about engaging the thumb and all of the fingers, things go awry more easily than when I think of just using the ring and pinky fingers. It's thinking less about the thumb and finger roll (like milking a cow) and more about concentrating on only the ring and pinky movement/pressure. That instinctively engages the thumb in opposing pressure as the rod rotates. That's just how it works better for me. More highly skilled casters probably can do it either way and, as stated in the above posts, other ways as well.

[Paul Arden]

Something else you can try there, is instead of closing the fingers to bring the cork into the heel of the hand, is to turn your hand in such a way that the rod butt clears the inside of the forearm with no contact. This is what I consider “stopless” on the forward cast. I’d be interested to hear what changes you see in the rod leg of the loop (if any).

Another small change worth playing with, is instead of using the pinkie, is to use the third finger. This allows for a more open grip and wider arc. This is the “cradle grip”.

Cheers, Paul

[easterncaster]

Hi Carol,

Ahh...cool, understood.

While teaching at The Wulff School I use (of course) Joan's grip, but it is not how I hold/grip a rod when out and about on my own: I use the Key Grip or some bastardization of...

Craig

[Mangrove Cuckoo]

Apples and oranges!

Man, I really feel sorry for folks trying to learn from threads like this!

I am not sure what Carrol's goal is, but it would be most helpful to openly declared what type of casting is being considered.

The cradle grip is excellent for a final acceleration for comp distance casts.

Mac's buried pinky grip and finger closing is an eye opener with 10'+ rods and Euro nymph long leaders.

But neither is appropriate for the other type of cast... in my opinion.

One size does not fit all.

Don't bring either of those grips out in the boat tarpon fishing...again, my opinion.

[Lasse Karlsson]

I'm fucked then

I'm using just about everything from comp in my fishing, and would probably bring the cradle grip on a boat for tarpon fishing, I did for striper fishing

Cheers
Lasse

[Paul Arden]

I’m happy to use the Cradle Grip with 10 and 12WTs Gary. I generally don’t but I certainly could and do sometimes. It makes me think that we might be talking about something else. Why do you recommend not?

Cheers, Paul

[Graeme H]

Can someone put a few pics up showing these different grip styles please?

Cheers,
Graeme

[tinpusher]

Can someone put a few pics up showing these different grip styles please?

Cheers,
Graeme

Yes please

[Mangrove Cuckoo]

Y'all don't have to take trust my opinion (actually please don't)... just go out and try it for yourself.

Get out your full size tarpon reel, put it on a 12 wt rod, and carry a full head of a 12 wt line for a day of fishing.

I personally use a loose grip on most casts, but I find more stability is necessary with heavy tackle.

Maybe I'm just a wimp? Although I'm not small at 6' 2".