Longer Handle On Baitcaster? 2025

Dypsis reply :

What are the advantages (if there are any) of adding a longer handle to a baitcaster?

I was looking around at hawgtech among others and was just curious.

J Francho reply :

Greater leverage. Sometimes it just feels better. In the case of a Hawgtech handle, you're shedding weight and adding smoothness to the retrieve.

Darren. reply :

On 10/15/2014 at 11:04 PM, J Francho said:
Greater leverage. Sometimes it just feels better. In the case of a Hawgtech handle, you're shedding weight and adding smoothness to the retrieve.

Agreed. I've got two Chronarch 50e reels, one with a Hawgtech, the other with the stock handle.

Hawgtech really does feel better.

bootytrain reply :

I have feels with handles ranging from 80mm to 100mm. After using them I personally think my sweet spot is 85-90mm for moving reaction lures. Just feels less cumbersome than the 100mm handles.

mjseverson24 reply :

I like larger handles with larger knobs as well, I don't necessarily care too much about weight reduction, but I do care about the increased torque the handle will produce especially when using higher gear ratio reels like 7+:1. Another benefit to the larger handle is it causes the bait to slow down a bit while using your natural retrieve. I like this because I tend to catch larger fish when I move slower. I have no experience with the HT handles, they look great and I am sure they perform above the price point as well.

Mitch

Grantman83 reply :

3 chronarch d's and and zillion crazy cranker with Hawgtech handles and to me they make them smoother and and extra leverage when fighting fish.

I especially like them on the higher gear ratios because on hard pulling baits it makes them easier to retrieve.

Josh Smith reply :

1. It produces greater leverage, as was said. In doing this, you reduce the overall gear ratio of the reel, thereby reducing the top speed of the retrieve. Mostly this won't be noticed.

2. It some (maybe most) cases it allows the elbow to help with the retrieve, allowing greater power due to improved ergonomics.

Remember that the crank is a glorified lever. It transforms distance traveled to power. The greater the distance traveled for one spool revolution, the more torque imparted on the spool, gears, etc.

Josh

J Francho reply :

Gear ratio can only be changed by changing gears. All a longer handle does is alter the distance your hand travels. A 6:1 reel is still a 6:1, no matter if the handle is 100cm or 100'.

In physics terms, the handle is actually a lever, though not the Type I, II, or III you learned in high school. It's a continuous lever, like a screwdriver.

Alonerankin2 reply :

Yep, ^ the leverage is all you gain, besides a trifle amount of weight lost in a carbon handle. Plus the cool factor.. Hawgtech makes a great product at a fair price.

I.rar reply :

Really considering a hawgtech for my curado 51. The stock handle seems smallish especially when burning baits.

Josh Smith reply :

On 10/16/2014 at 4:29 AM, J Francho said:

Gear ratio can only be changed by changing gears. All a longer handle does is alter the distance your hand travels. A 6:1 reel is still a 6:1, no matter if the handle is 100cm or 100'.

In physics terms, the handle is actually a lever, though not the Type I, II, or III you learned in high school. It's a continuous lever, like a screwdriver.

Overall ratio is changed.

The distance traveled by your hand : inches of line retrieved is certainly changed.

Josh

Cgrinder reply :

On 10/16/2014 at 5:54 AM, I.rar said:
Really considering a hawgtech for my curado 51. The stock handle seems smallish especially when burning baits.

They are worth it. The 94mm fits those reels very well.

I.rar reply :

Looking at the numbers, the handle seems huge for the reel but I'm sure it would be a great match.

Finally going to get that ML *** ordered today or tomorrow!

rippin-lips reply :

On 10/16/2014 at 5:58 AM, Josh Smith said:

Overall ratio is changed.

The distance traveled by your hand : inches of line retrieved is certainly changed.

Josh

One rotation of the handle,no matter the length, still turns the spool the same amount of times. It changes nothing but torque. Ipt stays the same.

Cgrinder reply :

On 10/16/2014 at 6:37 AM, I.rar said:

Looking at the numbers, the handle seems huge for the reel but I'm sure it would be a great match.

Finally going to get that ML *** ordered today or tomorrow!

There's always the "petite" 90mm handle. I think the cork knobs are worth the money but the Shimano knobs are still solid.

Good call. You'll love that rod.

Josh Smith reply :

On 10/16/2014 at 6:40 AM, rippin-lips said:

One rotation of the handle,no matter the length, still turns the spool the same amount of times. It changes nothing but torque. Ipt stays the same.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/145860-reel-gearing-vs-inches-retrieved-turn-of-the-reel-handle-and-mechanical-advantage/

Edit: I made this answer a separate thread as it was divergent enough to constitute a threadjacking.

Regards,

Josh

J Francho reply :

Josh, I responded there, and I'll respond here. Your math is not correct. What you're suggesting is tantamount to being able to change gear ratios in a car transmission simply by changing tire size.

QUAKEnSHAKE reply :

On 10/16/2014 at 11:04 AM, J Francho said:
Josh, I responded there, and I'll respond here. Your math is not correct. What you're suggesting is tantamount to being able to change gear ratios in a car transmission simply by changing tire size.

Rollout

We use this in rc on-road racing

I spent about 40 minutes writing a reply but then said to hell with it not that important.

Josh Smith reply :

On 10/16/2014 at 11:04 AM, J Francho said:
Josh, I responded there, and I'll respond here. Your math is not correct. What you're suggesting is tantamount to being able to change gear ratios in a car transmission simply by changing tire size.

The math is fine.

Overall gear ratio does change in a car when you change tire size. You cover more road for the same engine RPM with larger tires. As well, the speedometer will be off something like 5mph per inch if I recall. It's been a while since I built a vehicle. Those were the teenage years.

Sure was fun, though!

Hotrodding reels and guns is much easier on the back.

Josh

Hogsticker reply :

90 mm is my sweet spot. My knuckles don't knock on the other knob.

J Francho reply :

On 10/16/2014 at 1:35 PM, Josh Smith said:

The math is fine.

Overall gear ratio does change in a car when you change tire size. You cover more road for the same engine RPM with larger tires. As well, the speedometer will be off something like 5mph per inch if I recall. It's been a while since I built a vehicle. Those were the teenage years.

Sure was fun, though!

Hotrodding reels and guns is much easier on the back.

Josh

Ahhhh, no. My 3.73 gears don't magically become 4.10 gears by changing tire size. You're misunderstanding the relationship between tire travel, gear ratio, and rpm.

I will stand by my original statement. Inches per turn and gear ratio are most definitely not affected by handle length. Ever. The only thing that will change IPT is spool diameter.

spool diameter : d

gear ratio : r

inches per turn: i

r * d * π = i

π, r, and r are constants.

d is altered by how much line is on the reel.

Generally, when rating reel for comparison, the maximum diameter is used. Notice what is NOT in this formula: handle length. IPT degradation, based on line diameter and aspect ratio of the spool (width x diameter) is pretty much never talked about, and has a minor effect, but is out of scope in this conversation.

Bottom line, your math, naming conventions, and explanations are incorrectly applied to the relationship between the objective knob travel and subjective feel different length handles offer.

I'm pretty much not going to debate this topic, since it's clear that you're unwilling to accept the math and physics involved here. Really the only thing up for discussion is leverage, how it applies to exerting torque on the spool, and the subjective feel increased leverage and knob travel different length handles provide.

*******************************************************************************************

Personally, I like my long handles for some thing, and I also appreciate my shorter handles for others. Math can quantify the difference, but nothing beats user experience for developing preferences.

J Francho reply :

On 10/16/2014 at 11:23 AM, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

Rollout

We use this in rc on-road racing

I spent about 40 minutes writing a reply but then said to hell with it not that important.

Rollout = (tire diameter * π) / ((spur / pinion) * internal gear ratio)

Translated to a fishing reel:

Rollout (knob travel per revolution of the spool) = (handle length * π) / (gear ratio)

There's no "transmission or rear differential" in a reel, so gear ratio is all you need. Note what's not here: IPT. Also note that reels are not driven by the spool. As they say in New Hampshire, "You can't there from here."

OkobojiEagle reply :

On 10/15/2014 at 11:38 PM, DarrenM said:

Agreed. I've got two Chronarch 50e reels, one with a Hawgtech, the other with the stock handle.

Hawgtech really does feel better.

Darren and others... can you put into words what it is about the longer handles that improves your fishing experience. I provide "leverage" with the rod, so I'm looking for other tangible and intangible qualities. How long is your Hawgtech handle... frankly, I'm not even sure what the stock handle length is on my Chronarch 51e.

BassinLou reply :

I love my Hawtech's, especially on my frogging outfit. Those long handles provide me with right amount of torque i need to wrestle the bass out of the thick stuff.

OkobojiEagle reply :

I'd like to add this to the discussion as well... What advantages does a "bent" handle provide over a "straight" handle to a bass fisherman?

Darren. reply :

On 10/17/2014 at 9:16 PM, OkobojiEagle said:

Darren and others... can you put into words what it is about the longer handles that improves your fishing experience. I provide "leverage" with the rod, so I'm looking for other tangible and intangible qualities. How long is your Hawgtech handle... frankly, I'm not even sure what the stock handle length is on my Chronarch 51e.

oe

The stock handle is 90mm, the Hawgtech I bought

for one 50e is 102mm and the swept model. It took

a little getting used to at first, and I'm actually okay

switching between the two I have - one 50e is stock...

The intangible for me would be overall feel of the

product.

Dang. I didn't think it would be this hard to put a pin

on the intangible donkey tail.

Tangible are the lightness and build quality. It both looks

and feels good in the hands.

Catch and Grease reply :

On 10/17/2014 at 9:28 PM, OkobojiEagle said:

I'd like to add this to the discussion as well... What advantages does a "bent" handle provide over a "straight" handle to a bass fisherman?

oe

Some people say it helps balance the reel by keeping the weight closer to the reel or some BS, I just think it looks cool haha

tomustang reply :

On 10/17/2014 at 9:28 PM, OkobojiEagle said:

I'd like to add this to the discussion as well... What advantages does a "bent" handle provide over a "straight" handle to a bass fisherman?

oe

More compact design

Darren. reply :

On 10/17/2014 at 9:28 PM, OkobojiEagle said:

I'd like to add this to the discussion as well... What advantages does a "bent" handle provide over a "straight" handle to a bass fisherman?

oe

I read somewhere, and it could be only marketing-speak,

that the closer to the reel your handle, the less torquing

there is in your hand.

Do I feel that? Well, perhaps if I had a swept handle the

same length as the stock, it might be really noticeable.

As it stands, the longer handle took a little to get used to,

perhaps for fact that it was longer, and not the Shimano

designed spec of 90mm.

Oh, I was hoping for more inches per turn with the longer

handle. I really wished Shimano made a 7:1.1 Chronarch.

J Francho reply :

On 10/17/2014 at 9:16 PM, OkobojiEagle said:

Darren and others... can you put into words what it is about the longer handles that improves your fishing experience. I provide "leverage" with the rod, so I'm looking for other tangible and intangible qualities. How long is your Hawgtech handle... frankly, I'm not even sure what the stock handle length is on my Chronarch 51e.

oe

I'm in the leverage on the rod guy as well, BUT....

There is leverage on the reel. How much? Enough to keep the rod fully loaded. This might not be a lot, say on a finesse rig, with 6# line. But consider other methods, like fishing slop with an XH power rod and 50+ lb. line. To keep that rod loaded certainly requires some leverage on the handle. Another situation might be a cranking rod. It doesn't take much to get fully into the bottom third, "power" section of the blank, and often, I find fish come in easier if I use the reel to slowly tease them in and gain line. The longer handle helps in both scenarios. Maybe those scenarios aren't applicable.

The swept handle thing, I see that as a stylistic aspect of the reel, with minor ergonomical consideration. I don't find any advantage to it, other than some reels have such a long crankstack, that the knobs stick out too far. Abu Revo reels really fit that description, as do Zillions. They need a swept handle. Many reels with a clicking drag, like my Zillions, add to that length all the mechanics to get a clicking drag. If you look at an Alphas and a Zillion stacked, and aligned on the reel foot. The knobs of each are pretty much in the same position. The Alphas doesn't have a clicking drag, and therefore has a shorter crank stack.

tomustang reply :

On 10/17/2014 at 9:16 PM, OkobojiEagle said:

Darren and others... can you put into words what it is about the longer handles that improves your fishing experience. I provide "leverage" with the rod, so I'm looking for other tangible and intangible qualities. How long is your Hawgtech handle... frankly, I'm not even sure what the stock handle length is on my Chronarch 51e.

oe

You still provide leverage with the reel handle, the handle length is more of comfort really, like palm ability

Fish_Whisperer reply :

On 10/16/2014 at 6:40 AM, rippin-lips said:
One rotation of the handle,no matter the length, still turns the spool the same amount of times. It changes nothing but torque. Ipt stays the same.

I agree with this... nothing about the ratio changes. Your hand goes through more motion by adding a longer handle.

OkobojiEagle reply :

On 10/17/2014 at 9:39 PM, DarrenM said:

Oh, I was hoping for more inches per turn with the longer

handle. I really wished Shimano made a 7:1.1 Chronarch.

I acknowledge that "muscle memory" plays a significant part in my fishing concentration... turning the reel handle with a similar tempo in most retrieve situations. A longer handle would result in "slowing down" the bait speed. (I'm not venturing into the mechanical ratio change discussion!)

OkobojiEagle reply :

On 10/17/2014 at 9:41 PM, J Francho said:
Maybe those scenarios aren't applicable.

They seem plausible to me

3791

Longer Handle On Baitcaster? 2025

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