What is a Tennessee Handle

[mjluddenjr]

I was reading the article Fishing a Drop Shot in Deep Water. There was a link for allprorods.com. I went to the site to get some prices. There were a few different rod handles. One of which is called a Tennessee Handle. It says its a spinning rod.
OK here comes the stupid question. Where does the reel go?? I looked at it and just don't get it. Can anyone help educate me?

[bass1cpr]

Tennessee Handle is just two rings that slide up and down the handle so you can position the reel where ever it is comforatble for you. When you have it where you like then you wrap the reel seat and rigns with tape or some sort of wrap fixing it in place. This is done by wrapping one ring a couple of time and doing a figure 8 wrap around the seat and other ring.

[crazybass]

I have one spinning rod with a Tennessee handle. It's a custom rod with a loomis blank medium/heavy, 6' in length. I use it around docks and heavy grass in the Upper Chesapeake Bay. The best part is that I can locate the spinning reel where I want it on the handle to balance the rod. I know most of the guys in my local club weren't familiar with a Tennessee handle and just laughed when they saw the tape holding the reel on.

[walnutshoe]

The guys are right on about the handle. It can be cork, EVA, and the local rod shop here has thin walled reinforced graphite tubing that is fitted over graphite arbors. Talk about super light and super sensitive !! Some folks forego the locking rings and use wire ties to hold the reel in position. Roll the little ratchet head next to the reel foot so it doesn't find fingers and then finish off with tape as suggested above. The black plastic coated electrical tape works best. I like this style better than the locking seat as you don't have anything wearing against your fingers all day. I'm not sure why they call them Tennessee handles but we will gladly take the credit for it.

Walnutshoe
Tims Ford Lake - Tennessee