ducksterman,
This is a very good subject and should provide some interesting posts. I honestly feel that the cork handle grip plays a big part in a fly rod. I know that I have some fly rods that will cause me to have hand fatigue after 3-4 hours of fishing and other rods that do not seem to cause me any problems. I feel it is because of the cork grip being different on them and the one that causes me hand fatigue just does not fit my hand properly. I do not know if this can be changed on a factory built rod or not, but, would assume that a good quality rod builder could make the changes.
If anyone wants to read a very good article on this subject they could go to the "Features" section, click on "Rod Building" and then click on "Custom Grip" and you will find an excellent article written by Steven McGarthwaite entitled, "Determinining the Shape and Size of a Cork Handle".
Warren
Fly fishing and fly tying are two things that I do, and when I am doing them, they are the only 2 things I think about. They clear my mind.