Hey guys,

What's the deal with these rod handles that are short behind the reel seat and long in front of it (opposite of a traditional setup)? I believe they are called a "Skamania style." Any advantages/disadvantages to this design?

Thanks again

I have a Loomis GL3 1173S SK that I have been using for 3 years now. I have found the skamania style handle nice for extra leverage when fighting fish. I can also get a little quicker hook set because the reel weight is below my hand and kinda works like a counter balance. Similar to a flyrod. The only drawback I have found is that when placing the butt of the rod against you for fighting large fish it is a little aquard reeling because the reel is close to your body. but once you get used to it its not bad at all. As far as being a advantage or disadvantage it all boils down to personal preference. I personally like them.

Well there are two reasons in my mind why people use a "skamania handle". First for the guys who like to drift fish here, when they use a spinning reel. When fishing they hold the rod at the top of the handle, people have told me that they do it cause they get better feel plus they hold the line between their middle and index finger I think, and it enables them to fish all day without the rod wearing their arm down cause they hold the rest of the handle aganist their forearm. I wouldn't have the slightest clue, since I have no use to drift fish here. Many people who float fish here with an "old school" handle configuration, they will put the reel down towards the butt because they feel that they get more line control cause there is more rod sticking past the reel. Although talk about a wrist killer, I broke a rod in Ontario last month, and had to fish with a buddies rod like that, after an hour my wrist got quite sore.