Broke a Falcon Low Rider at Fayette last week and I am looking to replace it with a good quality, short - cork handled rod. The popular style seems to be long handled when looking for a replacement....My Low Rider has 9" cork. My favorite Rod and probably my oldest is an "ancient" 6" handled medium fast All Star Rod (at least 20+ years old)! Also, my oldest Curado reel is on that rod. Best Rod/Reel combo in my arsenal....primarily used with weightless fluke. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I don’t like long handles either and that’s all they make, so I cut the handles down myself. First cut the very bottom cork button (bottom cap) off with a hacksaw and set it to the side. Make a nice straight clean cut. Then mark the length you want the handle and cut it nice and straight.

Grab the bottom button/cap and put it against the handle that you just cut. If they aren’t nice and pretty, sand the ends until they mate up nicely.

Mix up a little clear gorilla glue expoxy (like a tablespoon) and put a tiny bit on both the handle cut and the bottom cap. Don’t put so much that it’s squirting and oozing. Hold it till the epoxy sets or use a rubber band to hold the bottom cap on and tight to the cork.

Once it cures fully (I wait a full day), take a palm sander/multi tool sander and sand the bottom cap down nice and smooth with the handle.

It sounds complicated, but realistically it only takes 15 mins or so (minus the drying time).

I’ve cut down about 10 rods now and I like them alot more now. I end up removing 1 1/2”-2” usually.

Check directly with Falcon on what they currently make... I don't see handle lengths on their website... What's the model number on the one you broke???... I have a few just collecting dust and maybe able to help... Dan

I would be glad to make one for you. you can fully customize the layout, guides, grips, and brands

I like the longer handles, but my Wife does not. I bought her a rod to replace a rod they don't make anymore and the first thing she said was that the handle is too long. I am going to give this a shot.

St. Croix has Mojo Yak rod that are short handle.

I did two of my Wife's rods. I actually installed some specially sized dowel rod to give it strength. It's amazing how thin the handle tubing is.

I find the long handled rods to be difficult to manage when fishing sitting down, which is most of the time for me. When sitting, I find it easier and more efficient to cast with one hand, so that means a pistol grip rod. The problem with that is that nobody in the rod industry makes a decent pistol grip, so I build them myself.

For crappie fishing, I've built several 7' light action pistol grips. The modern pistol grip extends to about a half inch from the end, so the sensitivity is the same as a long handle. However, I put a large 3" fore grip on the rod and hold it by it when fishing, greatly increasing the sensitivity. My forefinger is actually on the blank, and my thumb is over the line. I can detect light bites far better with one of these rods vs a spinning rod. I use BFS reels with 5 lb Sunline with these rods when crappie fishing.

I build my bass rods the same way, except use a medium or medium heavy blank. They are either 6'6" or 7' in length. It needs to be a really high quality and light blank if it's 7' or it can get out of balance. I think a blank under 2 oz is ok to go out to 7.

The primary advantage of these is in fishing while seated. I'm definitely an Olde and only fish for the fun of it; wouldn't expect to see these by competitive fishermen. The exception might someday be in smallmouth fishing. I don't understand why pros don't use BFS reels instead of spinning reels in the northern tournaments. What am I missing?

I think that good quality, modern pistol grips would sell very well, and I don't understand why none of the manufacturers make them.