Balancing Rod&Reel

[Phil13]

I betcha 75%+ casters prefer the rod to be more balanced than not...I'm in the camp that I don't understand why someone wouldn't...and I know old school carpenters that definitely prefer a balanced hammer...

Yeah. Hammers and cricket bats already are balanced.

And when a rod feels tip heavy, use a slightly larger reel. 15 to 20g makes a huge difference. The Golden hardy instead of the regular could be enough. This happened on my 8'3" 4wt blackburn. Ever so slightly tip heavy. Put the heavier version of the same reel (featherweight) on and no tip heaviness. Neato!

And if you don't notice a reel at all, cool, be happy small details don't

[MattZilliox]

I can add this to the talk. Im not interested in casting efficiency, adding distance, blah blah blah. im only even thinking about balance in terms of being with the setup on the river all day. its not like selecting the correctly balanced reel adds anything to casting mechanics, its that i feel and therefore fish better when the setup is pleasing. its really that simple. this particular rod felt better with a heavier reel, if im imagining that, it hardly matters right?

[Flykuni3]

I betcha 75%+ casters prefer the rod to be more balanced than not...I'm in the camp that I don't understand why someone wouldn't...and I know old school carpenters that definitely prefer a balanced hammer...

Ach, that hammer thing, sooo not analogous -- carpenters or other tool users do not hold a hammer out in front of them waiting for a riser to strike. I don't care too much about balance when casting, but holding a rod in front while fishing will indeed make me care.

[dder]

will put in my 2 cents on balance of a rod ,reel and line. Most seem to forget you spend most of your fishing time with the line out of the rod tip. I hate to be fighting to hold the rod tip up all day and try for a level or slightly tip high balance with the average length of line you expect to fish out in current and not all on reel. maybe its weakness but I find it tiring to my wrist to be holding tip up all day long. Daryl

[Gnat]

I agree, it is the "fishing time" and fighting to hold the rod tip up that causes much of the arm strain when a rod is out of balance and tip heavy.

[Random Casts]

Wow!

So I gather from all these responses that our forefathers that used 12-14 foot rods that weighed pounds not ounces, balanced with a dinky 2 1/2” reel must have had arms that were made of steel! Granted they didn’t wave their arms around like we do. Or is it we have become less vigorous?

Richard, the Fishn’ Pole

[Flykuni3]

Ya But, our grandads also used asbestos-infused face coverings, painted with lead-based paint, smoked unfiltered Camels and Luckies, and never wore ear protection, what did you say?

[Gnat]

I've also wondered about 12-14 foot rods used in the past. I imagine these were used with a two-handed casting and fishing style, rather than the one-handed casting and fishing style that I use.

[Random Casts]

I've also wondered about 12-14 foot rods used in the past. I imagine these were used with a two-handed casting and fishing style, rather than the one-handed casting and fishing style that I use.

A generalization:

Actually very little casting as we know it was done back then, as far as trout fishing in NA. Wet fly tandem rigs and worms were the norm, until the dry fly revolution. As far as the Spey Style of casting, two handed that is, salmon and sea trout were the focus across the pond and the salmon rivers of Canada.



Poking the bear: the Pendulum Effect

Richard, the Fishn’ Pole

[Webfly]

Wow!

So I gather from all these responses that our forefathers that used 12-14 foot rods that weighed pounds not ounces, balanced with a dinky 2 1/2” reel must have had arms that were made of steel! Granted they didn’t wave their arms around like we do. Or is it we have become less vigorous?

Richard, the Fishn’ Pole

Have you ever seen or heard an old Homelite or McCulloch chainsaw that our Grandad's used???

Oh, and a Vom Hofe salmon reel was not a dinky little reel.

[barebo]

I had a Homelite 770G - 1950's green and red monster with a 24" bar that weighed twice as much as my XL12. In my early 30's it was a wood eating unit that made my arms rubber bands after a few hours. Sold it. When "men were men" applies to that. At 67 no thanks!
Fishing my first bamboo rods after using fiberglass of course in the standard 9' length was a learning curve and there was a "light bulb" moment when realizing that a heavier reel reduced the wrist and forearm strain that likely is what a lot of folks complained about transitioning to bamboo from graphite or glass. I don't see why you wouldn't want to balance your rod/reel as it does become an extension of your arm and fighting the rod all day detracts from why you have it in your hand in the first place.

[Random Casts]

Oh, and a Vom Hofe salmon reel was not a dinky little reel.

No it isn’t. However I don’t believe it was part of the gear employed by the fellows that took the train from the City, hired a buckboard to take them to their favorite rivers, used horse hair lines and fished out most of the Catskill rivers of brook trout. I could be wrong. Another generalization.

Balance is a matter of personal choice: two or three maraschino cherries in my Manhattan, one or two ice cubes in my Henry McKenna, new or vintage Martin guitar, over and under or side by side shotgun, Brittany Spaniel or English Setter, it goes on and on. Who really cares except the person making the choice. And quite frankly, who are we to judge.

Richard, the unbalanced Fishn’ Pole

[Phil13]

Oh, and a Vom Hofe salmon reel was not a dinky little reel.

No it isn’t. However I don’t believe it was part of the gear employed by the fellows that took the train from the City, hired a buckboard to take them to their favorite rivers, used horse hair lines and fished out most of the Catskill rivers of brook trout. I could be wrong. Another generalization.

Balance is a matter of personal choice: two or three maraschino cherries in my Manhattan, one or two ice cubes in my Henry McKenna, new or vintage Martin guitar, over and under or side by side shotgun, Brittany Spaniel or English Setter, it goes on and on. Who really cares except the person making the choice. And quite frankly, who are we to judge.

Richard, the unbalanced Fishn’ Pole

Agree! Social media. a judgment free zone. As it started and as it shall remain forever!
YMMV…


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[barebo]

I like your sentiments Richard and it's hard to contest your analogies. My response was directly related to the initial post regarding the pros and cons of matching the reel to the rod, and as you well stated, it all boils down to what lights your fire. I'm not sensing any judgmental themes though - only opinions, and echoing your take on it...everyone has one.

[PYochim]

My opinion on this matter: I don't believe in the formula "balancing rod&reel", but I always look for the lightest reel that's capable enough to hold a specific line size. So that's how I usually select a reel, very simple.

That’s pretty much where I am on this. Grab a reel and go.

[Webfly]

See you all at the next rod balancing debate in a couple of months!

[boo4life]

If balance doesn't matter, why did Abel make and sell a balance arm ?

[Brooks]

If balance doesn't matter, why did Abel make and sell a balance arm ?

And how many did they sell?

[PYochim]

See you all at the next rod balancing debate in a couple of months!

I will not be there. I’ve already made plans to attend the USPS one.

[Webfly]

See you all at the next rod balancing debate in a couple of months!

I will not be there. I’ve already made plans to attend the USPS one.