Real cork vs Cork Tape handles

[fishing bum wannabe]

For the past 4 years I have been using a real cork foregrip with cork tape for the rear grip, usually double wrapped and sometimes with anti skid overwrap. This spring I built up 2 - 9' and 1 - 10' rods this way and am very happy with the setups. These are not light rods, with optimal loadings running from 2 - 4 ozs. Even with the anti skid overwrap of the cork tape I haven't worn any skin off. Maybe I'm not doing enough fishing? I don't see any disadvantage to a cork foregrip other than cost, and it sure is more comfortable when you are playing a fish.

I much prefer real cork, although I am not sure where your hand is coming in contact with the tape if you hold the reel with the reel seat between your fingers on a spinning reel. On a casting reel I find my hand wrapped around the reel, and hardly coming in contact with the grips at all except to cast and play fish. Is it the real seat on the rod that is doing the damage?