MontanaMoose thank you for your response! The fighting grip I am referring to is the applied piece of cork that is installed above the handle. However you may have answered my question by your statement - "One thing you don't want to do while attached to a larger fish is to reach up the rod above the main grip to apply more pressure". A fighting butt is something I have on all my rods from 6wt up... Gotta have them! Again, Thank you for your response!