WK Jenson Inc. is a privately held company located in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, near Eugene, Oregon, close to where the McKenzie River joins the Willamette River. Steelhead country!

The unique patented COBRA Handle System™ is a fishing rod handle that provides a comfortable grip, supports the wrist and improves control of the rod during fishing. It was the idea of an avid fisherman, Kevin Jenson, who noticed that his hand and wrist would often get tired holding the rod while fishing the McKenzie for steelhead. That led to his idea for a rod handle to support the wrist, and to "become an extension of the arm".

He began working on the prototype of the new handle and enlisted the help of a team of state-of-the-art composite molding experts. They produced a handle that not only supports the wrist, but increases sensitivity and control of the rod. The design includes a method for converting from right hand to left hand setup as well as a straight adapter so it can quickly be adapted to your fishing style.

The COBRA Handle System is a handle assembly made of a specially formulated high strength, lightweight composite material, with a unique urethane rubber over-molded grip. The handle assembly is modular in design so the elbow piece can easily be switched around with a screwdriver, converting it from left hand retrieve to right hand retrieve.

The optimum application is on bait casting rods in the 6# to 20# line weight categories. While it has been used to catch some good sized salmon, it is primarily designed for Steelhead and Bass fishing, and is particularly effective for back-bouncing, drift fishing, and fishing in fast water.

The COBRA Handle was first introduced to the public at the January 2004 Custom Rod Builders Guild Conclave in Nashville, Tennessee, where some of the top custom rod builders on the continent attended. A lot of interest was generated and rod builders were eager to purchase them to show it to their customers.

While attending the Custom Rod Builder's Conclave, our intent was to expose the new COBRA Handle to custom rod builders and to get their input as to the types of rods that would be suitable for the new handle system. The Conclave was also attended by three major rod manufacturers, and we had the opportunity to get their feedback.

We really began understanding the potential for custom high end rods, and even some of the special applications that would be possible with this rod handle for handicapped and elderly anglers. We plan to do more in this area with the help of a Florida rod builder that works with the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

The COBRA Handle system was shown the following week at the Eugene Boat and Sportsmen's Show in Eugene, Oregon, and received a full-page write-up and photo spread in the Eugene Register Guard newspaper. During the show dozens of customers purchased a Cobra Rod Handle to retrofit to their existing rods.

Two weeks later it was shown by three vendors at the 2004 Pacific Northwest Sportsmen's Show in Portland, Oregon where again nearly everyone that picked it up was very positive about it, and several dozen went home with one.

The feedback that was received from the public was all very positive, and many wanted to give it a try and were eager to install one on an existing rod or even buy a new rod and modify it. The central theme of the feedback was..."Wow, I wish I had thought of that!" Word quickly spread about the new "ergonomic" rod handle, but we were constantly getting requests for a rod with the handle already
built into it.

The COBRA Rod by WK Jenson™ was born, and after consulting with dozens of professional rod builders, guides, fishing pros, and avid fishermen, we decided to introduce a series of top quality rods designed specifically for the type of bait casting fishing the COBRA Handle System was meant for. We chose the highest quality graphite rod blanks, and premium titanium/zirconium guides, and engaged the services of one of the top rod builders in the country to help finalize the design, and oversee the production of the COBRA Rod.

The COBRA Rod by WK Jenson is one of the finest rods available today, equal in quality to the rods offered by the top names in the industry. They are Built from the highest quality components, featuring Rainshadow® high-modulus graphite blanks, Forecast® Titanium Plated Stainless Steel Guides with Zirconium rings, Forecast® graphite exposed blank reel seats and of course the unique COBRA Rod Handle System™. The comfort, control, and balance are evident as soon as you pick it up. Cast some bait out and bounce it off the bottom of the river and you can immediately feel the difference in sensitivity, partially because it contacts the underside of your forearm. In effect, it literally becomes an extension of your arm.

Many retailers are very interested in having this new rod to offer to their customers, and distribution will begin after the ICAST show in Las Vegas in July of 2004. The Cobra Rod™ and The Cobra Rod Handle™ are entered in the New Product Competition at ICAST, and we look forward to further discussions with major distributors wishing to handle the new rod and rod handle products.

The future looks bright for the WK Jenson Company.
Now if we can just get Kevin out there on the river a little more often to dream up some more products!