a fishing rod includes a reel rest whose top has a reel foot mounting portion , and a grip located in front of the rest , and having a front portion and a thumb contact part which defines a flat top surface having a sufficiently lower height that the top of the front portion . when a fisherman uses the fishing rod while gasping the grip with his hand , a fishline is kept from coming into contact with the thumb of the hand or the portion thereof , which adjoins the thumb .