papaperch
Active member
Years ago I was taught by an oldtimer ( chit I'm an oldtimer now ) this grip while ice fishing. It is a deadly presentation when vertical jigging. By holding the rod this way you can move the jig extremely slow. Which on some days is especially crucial. Holding the rod the more traditional way requires that you move your wrist. If you don't believe me get a piece of 3 inch pvc pipe.
Using the traditional grip try drawing a figure " 8 " either horizontal or vertical without touching the inside of the pipe with your rod tip. Try with a 5 to 5 -1/2 rod at first. Longer the rod the more difficult it is. Then try it with the pencil grip as pictured. Bet the pencil grip makes it easier to do.
I soon adopted this method while still fishing out of my boat. It proved especially useful for tight jawed fish during open water. Some of my friends have expressed concern about a fish jerking it out of your hand. Well a 25 # flathead didn't pull it out so I haven't had it happen yet. I got into the habit of wrapping my fingers around the rod stem anyway. This allows for a mighty secure hold.
Some credit Dave Genz the father of modern ice fishing with this technique. But " Ernie the Gill Guy " was the oldtimer that showed me and that was back in the 70's . It has allowed me to come home with fish when others were going to the zero can around me. Same with Ernie I seen him in the middle of a crowd just hammer these platter sized gills. While the other ice guys just looked on in amazement. By the way you don't have to change grip to wind fish in just grab reel handle the way you do normally.
Not telling anyone how to fish or anything. But if you add this to your arsenal I bet you will be glad that you did. That figure 8 thing is not a waste of time either. That drawing of an imaginary 8 in the air produces a subtle movement that seals the deal.
Using the traditional grip try drawing a figure " 8 " either horizontal or vertical without touching the inside of the pipe with your rod tip. Try with a 5 to 5 -1/2 rod at first. Longer the rod the more difficult it is. Then try it with the pencil grip as pictured. Bet the pencil grip makes it easier to do.
I soon adopted this method while still fishing out of my boat. It proved especially useful for tight jawed fish during open water. Some of my friends have expressed concern about a fish jerking it out of your hand. Well a 25 # flathead didn't pull it out so I haven't had it happen yet. I got into the habit of wrapping my fingers around the rod stem anyway. This allows for a mighty secure hold.
Some credit Dave Genz the father of modern ice fishing with this technique. But " Ernie the Gill Guy " was the oldtimer that showed me and that was back in the 70's . It has allowed me to come home with fish when others were going to the zero can around me. Same with Ernie I seen him in the middle of a crowd just hammer these platter sized gills. While the other ice guys just looked on in amazement. By the way you don't have to change grip to wind fish in just grab reel handle the way you do normally.
Not telling anyone how to fish or anything. But if you add this to your arsenal I bet you will be glad that you did. That figure 8 thing is not a waste of time either. That drawing of an imaginary 8 in the air produces a subtle movement that seals the deal.
