Hey everyone, I thought I'd post a few of my recent builds here. It seems a lot of my rods look the same (which I'm fine with! - if you've ever heard me talk you could tell that I'm ok with monotony! ) but these are a few standouts that were a lot of fun to make and have gone to good homes.

Thanks Mike! Probably half of my current and recent orders, and 95% of my personal rods have ventilated grips. They're a bit of extra work but I love them!

Chris, that ventilated ritz grip is soooo cooool!!!!!

They all look perfect to me. Love ventilated grips, and yours are top notch! I just had a casting session this evening with the 8', 4wt McF taper you build couple years back. The grip and seat are just amazing together. Perfect pitch!

I agree with Dusty. I was surprised how natural it felt to cast a 70p with a ventilated grip. Makes me wish I had asked for that grip on my 70p.

Chris's won't have this problem (his gaps are nice and large), but if you make the gaps tighter (penny width), the cork can actually pinch your hand. After you fish a rod like this for a bit, it stops happening (I don't know if I adjusted my grip or my casting) but it is odd the first time it
happens. It doesn't hurt, but you notice it.

Thanks very much guys!

As mentioned above, ventilated grips feel and look a little strange at first but after casting one they typically win a person over. That's what I've noticed at least.

I've used narrower (1mm) spacing and prefer the wider spacing (3mm).
It's easier to clean out when constructing it. However, I don't find that gunk builds up over time between the gaps on my personal rods and haven't noticed other rods gunk up either. I guess it's possible though.
I think the sensation that people refer to as a 'pinch' is more 'movement' which is a new sensory input on a fly rod than a true pinch which is painful. Though a person who is sensory defensive might hate them and a person who is a sensory seeker would probably love them.

With parabolic rods, their bending primarily begins in the butt section, and there is an inherent need for the caster to allow the rod to do the work for you, extra pushing like you can do with a progressive rod is not necessary nor is it desirable. Having a ventilated grip on a parabolic rod is a good and helpful thing as it provides feedback to the caster which helps the rod to communicate what's going on as the caster can get a better sense of what the rod is doing when feeling the ventilated grip moving a little. I get a sense that a solid grip stiffens the butt section on a parabolic rod - whether or not it's a benefit or not is up to the caster.
Having a ventilated grip on a progressive rod is only a cosmetic thing as it has no real function.

Hopefully this makes sense?

They all look very classy, beautiful work.

I have observed some rods where the owners used the cork handle for a hook keeper; I reckon those folks would look on a ventilated grip as one with many hook keeper spaces.

That yellow blank vented Ritz grip is the S*%&.

Chris' work $$$$$ all day long!

Thanks very much guys!!



Can I quote you on that?

Sure Chris!