Bent Or Curved Handles On Baitcasters 2024
The Rooster reply :
With most baitcast reels going to curved handles now, do you ever find them uncomfortable to use, like maybe banging your knuckles on the nut cover?
Quitlimpin reply :
For me, it's quite the opposite. I prefer a swept handle. Do they work any better or more efficiently? I doubt it, but they sure do look cool!
LuckyHandsINC. reply :
On 2/22/2013 at 2:42 AM, Quitlimpin said:For me, it's quite the opposite. I prefer a swept handle. Do they work any better or more efficiently? I doubt it, but they sure do look cool!
My thoughts exactly.
The Rooster reply :
Yeah, I think it's just about looks. There is no advantage at all to a bent handle. I don't buy into the manufacturers saying it helps balance the reel by moving the weight inward towards the center. That's total BS. But I think curved handles are here to stay so sooner or later I'll have to get used to them. As of now, none of my reels have them. I'm about to get a Pro Qualifier though and I was wondering about banging my knuckle on the nut cover cap, and then I read a review where this is happening to one guy.
BenBassmaster reply :
I don't think that they are uncomfortable, I don't even hit my knuckle on nut cover. I think it makes the reel more ergonomic, and more comfortable.
Capt.Bob reply :
It does in fact make the reel more efficient. It helps with erganomics by keeping your cranking hand closer to the center of your holding hand. Try it sometime and the farther you get your cranking hand from the center of the rod and reel you are holding the more it puts torque on the rod and reel and makes it harder to stabilize and keep from wanting to roll as you put more pressure on the handle. This is minimal with a Bass and Walleye size reel, but more noticeable with bigger reels larger fish like the bigger Calcuttas and Pike Salmon and Musky, even large freshwater species like Catfish and Carp, on light tackle will be easier to control your rod hand and retrieve more efficiently by keeping your cranking hand closer to the center of your holding hand.
These companies think of everything anymore, and as a Charter Captain, I realize how the little things do matter.
NOW A CORK HANDLE DON'T! IT AINT LIGHTER "check out the St. Croix Legend Elite series, light as it gets" AND THEY HAVE A FULL, REAL, HANDLE!!
Sorry but I had to say that----------AGAIN! We all have our preferences!!
J Francho reply :
I don't really notice too much of a difference. The length of the handle seems to have a much greater effect on feel.
The Rooster reply :
Hmm....I may have spoken too soon. I'll wait on more replies.
OkobojiEagle reply :
Alright Rooster... let's see those Sasquatch hands of yours!
oe
BassingNick reply :
One of the reasons I do not have any Shimano's is because they do not have bent handles......ducks for cover!!
The Rooster reply :
I actually don't have large hands, or small hands either. I'm 6'1" tall, if that helps.I hope this picture works. My wife took it. I'm holding one of my old BPS Extreme reels with the straight handle. See where my knuckle is compared to the nut cap. Not all that close to it but a Pro Qualifier with the same nut cap on a bent handle will have my knuckle closer to it. I'm still planning to get one or two of these reels anyway but I'm wondering if I'll have to alter my grip on it to keep from hitting the nut cap.On 2/22/2013 at 4:33 AM, OkobojiEagle said:Alright Rooster... let's see those Sasquatch hands of yours!
oe
Maico1 reply :
Swept Handle's may cause an issue with your paws depending on the size of them just like
On 2/22/2013 at 4:44 AM, BassingNick said:One of the reasons I do not have any Shimano's is because they do not have bent handles......ducks for cover!!
That used to be true but they are finally starting to get with the program with Swept Handles .....It certainly took some time though.
The Rooster reply :
On 2/22/2013 at 4:55 AM, Maico1 said:Swept Handle's may cause an issue with your paws depending on the size of them just like
That used to be true but they are finally starting to get with the program with Swept Handles .....It certainly took some time though.
They are? Haven't seen any yet. What models?
Darren. reply :
Prefer swept handles over straight. My Quantums have straight, my Daiwa swept. Both work, just prefer swept.
Maico1 reply :
On 2/22/2013 at 5:01 AM, The Rooster said:They are? Haven't seen any yet. What models?
The new Metanium will be offered in three different reel speeds and a bit of carry over from the new Antares...If you are a righty they will be available in March a lefty April.........
http://www.fishonmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/YH__1576-copy.jpg
tbone1993 reply :
On 2/22/2013 at 3:22 AM, Capt.Bob said:It does in fact make the reel more efficient. It helps with erganomics by keeping your cranking hand closer to the center of your holding hand. Try it sometime and the farther you get your cranking hand from the center of the rod and reel you are holding the more it puts torque on the rod and reel and makes it harder to stabilize and keep from wanting to roll as you put more pressure on the handle. This is minimal with a Bass and Walleye size reel, but more noticeable with bigger reels larger fish like the bigger Calcuttas and Pike Salmon and Musky, even large freshwater species like Catfish and Carp, on light tackle will be easier to control your rod hand and retrieve more efficiently by keeping your cranking hand closer to the center of your holding hand.
These companies think of everything anymore, and as a Charter Captain, I realize how the little things do matter.
NOW A CORK HANDLE DON'T! IT AINT LIGHTER "check out the St. Croix Legend Elite series, light as it gets" AND THEY HAVE A FULL, REAL, HANDLE!!
Sorry but I had to say that----------AGAIN! We all have our preferences!!
Cork isn't as much about being light as it is the handle material. I prefer the feel of cork over foam. I also like the weathered looks my rod gets after fishing using a rod repeatedly.
BradH reply :
I don't think it makes a difference but if you like the way it looks who cares, buy what you like. This rig is as about as "unergonomic" as it gets and I don't have any issues with torque or fatigue from having the handle so far away from the centerline of the rod. I'm chucking lures that are 10 to 20 times heavier than the average bass lure with more resistance in the water on the retrieve.
Capt.Bob reply :
Yes when I use to use a 5000 or 5500c with their very low speed gearing and long from center to end of handle, called a power handle it is very easy pulling big cranks. Why I use a Calcutta for my deep cranking reel, for cranking effort with the hand doing the cranking, not torquing the hand that hold the reel. I wasn't clear about cranking effort not being affected. But when you run reels half the size and weight, it gets much more noticeable. the power handle is for less fatigue on the hand you crank with, which is the longer from the thumb knob to the center screw will make it easier to turn the handle, or "CRANKING TORQUE" but if you could put long screws in where the knobs are you would see the farther you go out away from the reel the less efficient it is on the hand holding the reel! I am exagerating here and although bent handles are not that big of an improvement they are an improvement, the closer you crank to the reel the more efficient it is to hold the reel, and the longer the handle the less force it takes with the hand cranking it to turn it.
.ghoti. reply :
Rooster, if I'm seeing oyour pic correctly, you may indeed have to modify your grip.
I have reels with swept handles and without; about an even split. I don't see any real difference. They certainly do not feel any more ergonomic than straight handles. I would not base my purchasing decision on the shape of the handle. Now, a handle with four bearings: that would be a different story.
TNBassin' reply :
I prefer the bent handles. Gotten used to them over the years, and now the regular handles feel weird to me.
BassinB reply :
the thing I like most about swept handles is that I can pitch with my left hand and reach underneath the reel with my middle finger. Hook the handle and engage the spool with it and never have to take my right hand out of my pocket when its cold. I often wind up slack by using my left hand fingers underneath the reel, and just spinning the handle. Now it doesn't leave you lightening fast reaction time but if your drinking a beverage or its cold out it sure is convenient.
BradGuenette reply :
The main reason I don't like the hawg handles.. They need to make a swept handle. There's no design to the current one, it just looks like they cut a piece of carbon and drilled some holes in it for the knobs.
The Rooster reply :
Funny you should say that. I'm a sucker for handle bearings now. I just ordered 4 more to upgrade one of my old Extremes that has none now. The one in my pic, I did it years ago. Makes them super slick feeling and I'd swear it seems to improve sensitivity since I'm more in tune with what the bait is doing and not distracted by little ticks, bumps, and other things that I might feel from cranking a handle without bearings.On 2/22/2013 at 9:52 AM, .ghoti. said:Rooster, if I'm seeing oyour pic correctly, you may indeed have to modify your grip. I have reels with swept handles and without; about an even split. I don't see any real difference. They certainly do not feel any more ergonomic than straight handles. I would not base my purchasing decision on the shape of the handle. Now, a handle with four bearings: that would be a different story.
I love it! Extreme laziness at its finest. If I get a reel with a bent handle, I'm going to try this.On 2/22/2013 at 11:27 AM, BassinB said:the thing I like most about swept handles is that I can pitch with my left hand and reach underneath the reel with my middle finger. Hook the handle and engage the spool with it and never have to take my right hand out of my pocket when its cold. I often wind up slack by using my left hand fingers underneath the reel, and just spinning the handle. Now it doesn't leave you lightening fast reaction time but if your drinking a beverage or its cold out it sure is convenient.
G3Steve reply :
On 2/22/2013 at 12:09 PM, The Rooster said:Funny you should say that. I'm a sucker for handle bearings now. I just ordered 4 more to upgrade one of my old Extremes that has none now. The one in my pic, I did it years ago. Makes them super slick feeling and I'd swear it seems to improve sensitivity since I'm more in tune with what the bait is doing and not distracted by little ticks, bumps, and other things that I might feel from cranking a handle without bearings. I love it! Extreme laziness at its finest. If I get a reel with a bent handle, I'm going to try this.
You can do this with a straight handle too... Just use your middle finger to catch one of the tines of the drag star and give it a spin.
On 2/22/2013 at 4:53 AM, The Rooster said:I actually don't have large hands, or small hands either. I'm 6'1" tall, if that helps.I hope this picture works. My wife took it. I'm holding one of my old BPS Extreme reels with the straight handle. See where my knuckle is compared to the nut cap. Not all that close to it but a Pro Qualifier with the same nut cap on a bent handle will have my knuckle closer to it. I'm still planning to get one or two of these reels anyway but I'm wondering if I'll have to alter my grip on it to keep from hitting the nut cap.
Nevermind hitting your knuckles, how do you keep the other knob from hitting your hand when you turn the handle? LOL
0119 reply :
To me the best thing about a swept handle is the bent drag star. Easier to make slight adjustments to on the fly since my thumb has more purchase on the tine.
bassinbrian reply :
On 2/22/2013 at 11:47 AM, DirtNasty said:The main reason I don't like the hawg handles.. They need to make a swept handle. There's no design to the current one, it just looks like they cut a piece of carbon and drilled some holes in it for the knobs.
I agree!
BrettD reply :
I dont notice a difference between the two.
The Rooster reply :
On 2/23/2013 at 3:43 PM, G3Steve said:Nevermind hitting your knuckles, how do you keep the other knob from hitting your hand when you turn the handle? LOL
It never does on straight crank reels. I went to BPS today and held the PQ in my hand and cranked it. The handle nut cap, and sometimes even the metal handle bar itself, was banging my knuckle. I can modify my grip on the paddles and have it clear so it's doable, but I got starry eyed at all the baits around me and passed on the reel. I spent $170 on a $20 tackle bag, $30 on 4 rolls of line, and the rest in baits. I still want a reel but I think I'll put a little more use on the ones I have. Later in the year or maybe next spring I'll get two of them.
J Francho reply :
Most reels with swept handles have a clicking drag star. In all but Shimano's clicker, that mechanism adds significant length to the crank shaft, and puts the bobs out further. The solution is a swept handle. You can easily test this by putting a Sol and a Zillion on the same center axis, and compare. The Zillion's knobs are no closer to the centerline than the Sol's. Compare a Revo STX with a E series Shimano, and you'll see that the Shimano handles are actually closer to the centerline than the Revo. I believe this is the reason Shimano is so late to the game with respects to swept handles - there was no issue to solve. One thing I do notice is relative weight of the handle assembly. I notice that more than bearings, sweep, or length.
Capt.Bob reply :
On 2/27/2013 at 3:14 AM, J Francho said:Most reels with swept handles have a clicking drag star. In all but Shimano's clicker, that mechanism adds significant length to the crank shaft, and puts the bobs out further. The solution is a swept handle. You can easily test this by putting a Sol and a Zillion on the same center axis, and compare. The Zillion's knobs are no closer to the centerline than the Sol's. Compare a Revo STX with a E series Shimano, and you'll see that the Shimano handles are actually closer to the centerline than the Revo. I believe this is the reason Shimano is so late to the game with respects to swept handles - there was no issue to solve. One thing I do notice is relative weight of the handle assembly. I notice that more than bearings, sweep, or length.
That is correct, and why all handles are kept close to the reel, it is not about looks, like I said, the farther you get away from the rod HAND! the more awkward it is to hold while cranking under a load!
FLcentral reply :
I bought a BPS Extreme Low profile 7:1 with a swept handle to use on a heavy action flipping rod. Love the reel but not the swept handle. Peeled the skin off my knuckle twice hauling bass out of heavy cover. The edge of the handle is a very sharp 90 degree corner, very effective for peeling knuckles. If I were useing the reel for more moderate techniques like crankbaits I probably wouldn't have a problem.
The handle also has long cut outs in the center which weakens it. I bent the handle on mine cranking about a 3ft gator out of heavy pads so I will be replaceing it soon. I do love the soft rigded grips though.
Hooligan reply :
On 2/22/2013 at 2:59 AM, The Rooster said:Yeah, I think it's just about looks. There is no advantage at all to a bent handle. I don't buy into the manufacturers saying it helps balance the reel by moving the weight inward towards the center. That's total BS. But I think curved handles are here to stay so sooner or later I'll have to get used to them. As of now, none of my reels have them. I'm about to get a Pro Qualifier though and I was wondering about banging my knuckle on the nut cover cap, and then I read a review where this is happening to one guy.
It isn't about moving weight inward, it's about moving the centerline more towards the gears and it makes a large difference in torque transferred to the gears, as well as making it easier to crank the handle under load. It's not BS at all.
BrettD reply :
If you measure a reel with a bent handle front the back of the knob to the centerline of the rod and you do the same with a reel with a straight handle. I willing to bet you will be suprised there isnt any difference or a very minor difference. I know on my shimano curados/citica 200e's its the same distance as a lews tp with a bent handle. I measured myself the lews has a bent handle but the mounting surface is further from the center of the rod which negates the benefit of a bent handle. You can only get so close most reels are limited by the spool tension cap getting in the way of the drag star and handle.
baluga reply :
What Hooligan said.
Shimano's answer to swept handle is by positioning the handle closer to the body by placing the start drag positioned after the handle instead of before the handle. Sample application is the new Calcutta D.
The Rooster reply :
This is one of those replies I was waiting on. Can't argue with facts.On 2/27/2013 at 9:36 PM, BrettD said:If you measure a reel with a bent handle front the back of the knob to the centerline of the rod and you do the same with a reel with a straight handle. I willing to bet you will be suprised there isnt any difference or a very minor difference. I know on my shimano curados/citica 200e's its the same distance as a lews tp with a bent handle. I measured myself the lews has a bent handle but the mounting surface is further from the center of the rod which negates the benefit of a bent handle. You can only get so close most reels are limited by the spool tension cap getting in the way of the drag star and handle.
J Francho reply :
QuoteI measured myself the lews has a bent handle but the mounting surface is
further from the center of the rod which negates the benefit of a bent
handle
Another way to think this: it solves the issue of having the knobs too far off center, when a taller clicking drag stack is used. The swept handle keeps the knobs in the usual place.
thehooligan reply :
I think the swept handles look cooler but my problem is i have huge hands. The hawgtech handle has been a big help for me, im not banging my knuckles anymore...
The Rooster reply :
On 2/27/2013 at 11:53 PM, J Francho said:Another way to think this: it solves the issue of having the knobs too far off center, when a taller clicking drag stack is used. The swept handle keeps the knobs in the usual place.
This could be true too. What I don't get is if some companies have made a solid reel with straight handles and still have clicking drag stars, like the straight handled Shimanos, then why would others still have that problem to overcome? Bent handles don't get much closer, if any, and adding something that moves the handle out seems unnecessary also, since there are ways to do it without causing that issue.
BrettD reply :
I honestly think its just a marketing gimmick. Just like the amount of bearings in a reel is a marketing gimmick. Its all to catch the fisherman not the fish.
J Francho reply :
I explained that above. Shimano's clicking solution is already VERY low profile. It's actually recessed in the TOP of the drag star, and add very little weight and no extra height. It does predicate using a spring, and it can be tricky to replace the star and handle after service.On 2/28/2013 at 12:03 AM, The Rooster said:This could be true too. What I don't get is if some companies have made a solid reel with straight handles and still have clicking drag stars, like the straight handled Shimanos, then why would others still have that problem to overcome? Bent handles don't get much closer, if any, and adding something that moves the handle out seems unnecessary also, since there are ways to do it without causing that issue.
J Francho reply :
Definitely not a marketing gimmick in the case of Daiwa's introduction of this feature. The marketing itself is gimmicky lacking an explanation of why engineers developed such a thing, but if you sit, and compare two reels, and put a straight shaft on a OE swept reel, there is about 1/2" difference. Now, whether that makes an actual difference probably has more to do with what you're used to, how you hold the reel, etc. I don't really feel much difference, as I stated initially. the weight of the handle and star, along with the length is something I notice first.On 2/28/2013 at 12:08 AM, BrettD said:I honestly think its just a marketing gimmick. Just like the amount of bearings in a reel is a marketing gimmick. Its all to catch the fisherman not the fish.
BrettD reply :
On 2/28/2013 at 12:13 AM, J Francho said:Definitely not a marketing gimmick in the case of Daiwa's introduction of this feature. The marketing itself is gimmicky lacking an explanation of why engineers developed such a thing, but if you sit, and compare two reels, and put a straight shaft on a OE swept reel, there is about 1/2" difference. Now, whether that makes an actual difference probably has more to do with what you're used to, how you hold the reel, etc. I don't really feel much difference, as I stated initially. the weight of the handle and star, along with the length is something I notice first.
Read my post above post #33 I have actually measured the distance of the knob to the centerline of the rod there is no difference. Of course if you put a straight handle on a reel that is intended for a bent handle its going to stick out a 1/2" further because the mounting surface is further away from the center of the rod then a reel designed for a straight handle. Now if you put a bent handle on a reel designed for a straight handle you might see a difference. Every reel I own with a bent handle the handle mounting surface is further away from the rod then my reels with straight handles. I have lews,abus,shimanos,quantums,and diawas I measured them all. And the difference is no where near a 1/2" maybe a 1/8" difference at most.
What manufactures do I feel is move the center out for whatever reason and put a bent handle so it looks cooler and sells.
J Francho reply :
QuoteWhat manufactures do I feel is move the center out for whatever reason and put a bent handle so it looks cooler and sells.
Did you read all my posts? The clicking drag feature on both Daiwa and Abu reels predicates a longer shaft. The mechanism adds about a 1/2" or so to the length. So, it's actually a design solution, not a gimmick. The marketing behind it may be gimmicky, but it's a compromise in design. Add one thing, and there's a result. From there a new solution arises: swept handles.
At any rate, it all boils down to personal preference. I ave aftermarket straight handles on reels that originally had swept, and I don't really notice it.
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