cork handles

[bassbandit]

What is the advantage of a cork tape or shrink tube handle? Why do you not see plugging rods with cork handles any more. I am having a rod built and was thinking of a custom cork split grip style handle. Just looking for pros and cons
thanks
bassbandit

[Sudsy]

A few reasons
1. Good cork has become extremely hard to come by and very expensive when you do
2. Most large surf rods are too wide at the butt to use cork rings, you'd barely be able to get your hands around em.
3. Building a rod with cork handles is much more labor intensive then just wrapping it with tape or shrinking on some wrap. Labor = $$