Big thanks to Eric Noest for writing this article. An often overlooked topic is now covered with a strong research focus. This article was originally featured in De Nederlandse Vliegvisser, the publication of the Dutch Fly Fishing Association (VNV).

I was around 17 when I visited a friend's house and witnessed her father tying flies. He was working on Red-Tags, marking my first encounter with fly fishing. Though I had been fishing with a fixed rod and casting rod for many years, this experience opened up a new world for me.

Like many, my journey followed a familiar path. The purchase of my first fly fishing rod came with a few lessons. My friend's father also imparted much of his wisdom onto me. Later, I joined a fishing association, where I tied my first flies. With a bit of luck, as in my case, I got my first rod. After creating my first rod, which was around 35 years ago, I delved deeper into materials and different handle shapes.

Understanding the Grip

Broadly, most fly fishing rod handles can be classified into three shapes: half wells, full wells, and cigar. While there are other variations, like tapering from thick at the top to thin at the bottom or grips with slight spaces between the cork segments, let's focus on the primary three.

During my physical education teacher training, I learned about the anatomical hand position. In a relaxed state with arms by the side, the thumb points forward. If one were to hold a rod in this natural position, the thumb would be on top. This grip is the most relaxed and natural. Holding the rod with the index finger on top requires one to rotate the forearm inwards (pronation). Given the repeated motions in fly fishing, this can lead to injuries, like tennis elbow. One advantage of the index finger on top is it can prevent the angler from casting too far backward.

A common mistake among beginners is to swing the rod tip back to 2-3 o'clock while holding the rod handle with the index finger on top (in the middle in the photo below), which can lead to injuries.

Another grip involves holding the rod with both the thumb and index finger around it, often referred to in tennis as the shake hands grip.

Not only does the grip method matter, but the design, thickness, and length of the handle are also crucial in preventing injuries. When buying a tennis racket, one of the first questions often is about grip size, which depends on the hand size. The handles on fly fishing rods are usually much thinner. As someone who has been a tennis coach for over 40 years, I understand the importance of having the right grip size to prevent injuries.

Expert Opinion

I reached out to an expert, Henny Hakker, a physiotherapist specializing in shoulder, elbow, and wrist injuries, to validate my theories. Henny wasn't surprised about the potential for injuries when using the index-finger-on-top grip, especially with repeated motions. He stated that the middle grip is much better, and ideally, the thumb-on-top grip should be used to prevent injuries. The latter also provides more power, allowing a broader range of shoulder movement.

Henny also highlighted the importance of grip thickness for hand and forearm muscle relaxation. A thin grip results in more tension compared to a thicker one. He also pointed out the risk of gripping too tightly with a thicker handle, especially with a heavier rod. Henny even found an American study on injuries among 162 fly fishers, providing more insight into the importance of the grip.

The Weight and Balance

In the 35 years of rod-making, especially split-cane and glass rods, I've observed that not all rods feel equally heavy. For me, it's not about the total weight, but the weight distribution. A longer handle allows for a higher grip, changing the rod's feel. Combining this with a heavier reel, especially the older versions, and a downlock reel holder can offset the top-heaviness of the rod.

Conclusion

Based on our observations and American research, the thumb-on-top and middle grips seem to cause fewer injuries. This is probably why most rods in the longer and heavier categories (size #6 and above) are typically made with a full wells grip. We hope our insights emphasize that injuries aren't just caused by the weight but mainly the repeated motion.

Combining heavier and/or longer rods with weight displacement by using a heavier reel and a downlock reel holder could prevent injuries.

To close

More than convincing everyone about our grip theory and the importance of the handle's design, diameter, length, and balance with a heavier reel and downlock reel holder, we hope to have sparked some thoughts or provided helpful tips. I understand that the time isn't here yet when one can request a specific grip size or length in a fly fishing store.

Research used in this article

Upper Extremity Pain and Overuse Injuries in Fly Fishing

A North American Cross Sectional Survey and Implications for Injury Prevention Andrew W. Kuhn, MD and John E. Kuhn MD

Investigation performed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA