How do you palm a baitcasting reel?

[mark poulson]

Fatigue is definitely a big problem for me. I find myself constantly changing my grip as the day wears on. I've actually thought about learning to use left handed reels just to change things up .

I did that when I developed tendonitis in my left forearm/elbow, and couldn't work a jerkbait with my left hand. It wasn't hard to switch, since I still cast right handed. Funny thing was when I finished laying some brick paving at my house, the tendonitis went away!

[21farms]

davej, you're actually missing one: it's a variation of method #5 except that the middle finger is over the rod instead of under it. seems really strange to me as that grip only has the ring finger and the pinky holding the rod but at least two of the guys on major league fishing hold it that way (can't remember their names).

[SteveSchmelzle]

number 2 for me.

[Mnbasser]

3 when i crank using my right hand, 5 when i do tip up presentations using my left hand for sensitivity

[dragon1]

dragon1, that is an impressive 5 on a bigZ. My hands aren't nearly big enough to do that comfortably. Had to sell my Z because of it.

DaveJ

My hands/palms are about average, but have long fingers. I really learned to use different finger and hand/wrist angles/arrangements to wield weapons, ie, wooden battle stick, knives and short swords...really helped me to handle bigger reels for sure.

Nothing beats out youth and young body parts for all day durability and comfort, my friend!

[mark poulson]

I checked how my fingers relate to the trigger yesterday, and they are in front of it, but I have small hands. I'm 5'9", and go 160lbs, soaking wet. My fishing partner is 6'4", and goes 250 lbs, down from 300. He jokes that, in the last year, he has lost a small child. He has huge hands, and, even though he also passes the line over his index finger, he has at least one, and lot of times two fingers behind the trigger, depending on the reel seat.

[IlliniDawg01]

davej, you're actually missing one: it's a variation of method #5 except that the middle finger is over the rod instead of under it. seems really strange to me as that grip only has the ring finger and the pinky holding the rod but at least two of the guys on major league fishing hold it that way (can't remember their names).

I have never seen anyone hold that way. I would add it, but I'm afraid it would reset the entire poll.

DaveJ

[froteur]

davej, you're actually missing one: it's a variation of method #5 except that the middle finger is over the rod instead of under it. seems really strange to me as that grip only has the ring finger and the pinky holding the rod but at least two of the guys on major league fishing hold it that way (can't remember their names).

I have never seen anyone hold that way. I would add it, but I'm afraid it would reset the entire pole.

DaveJ

i've done it this way before but only a couple of times.

[thaos95]

Number 4 for me

[87tpita]

usually 2.. sometimes 3 ......... when going into long periods on the water Ill start changing the grip to all types of strange positions like #1.. probably due to fatigue

[IlliniDawg01]

usually 2.. sometimes 3 ......... when going into long periods on the water Ill start changing the grip to all types of strange positions like #1.. probably due to fatigue

Yeah, at the beginning of the day I'm a 3 for sure, but as my hands and fingers get a little sore and fatigue sets in I will notice that I start randomly holding things differently for a few casts just to use a different muscle for a bit.

It sounds like a lot of people palm differently depending on the reel or technique instead of forcing a specific grip for everything. Certainly makes sense. I know I hold my Lexa 300 (2) differently than my Zillion/TDZ/T3B (3) and my Viento (5), but I have to remind myself to switch the grip on the Lexa and Viento because I want to grab them in hold 3 naturally.

DaveJ

[bradjames12]

Method 2 for me

[fishballer06]

Method 3 for me. All my reels are 150 or 200 size.

[FrankW]

I use #2 and especially for pitching. I can pitch and retrieve with our repositioning my hand.

Frank