It seems to be a given that a lighter rod (and I am dealing with "bass" rods) will be better performing. Any extra weight on the top of the rod degrades the performance, but... If we have two identical rods and on one we put a reel that weights 2 ounces more will that have a material effect on our rod performance. In other words does weight in the butt area (either a heavier handle or reel) have a big effect? My quess is that weight above the reel makes a lot of difference, below the reel not much. Correct?

I am far from an expert, but my feeble mind could only come up with the fatigue factor. I have and still use some old fiberglass rods that weigh a ton compared to the graphite ones I build now. I can notice a difference on how "tired" my wrists are at the end of the day.

Dave

Bill,

When you talk about adding weight to a rod and hurting it's performance, you are MOST LIKLY refering to guide and wrap weight. Weight added to the part of the rod that bends. But, butt weight is a big consideration, especially on bass rods. Bass fishermen throw baits constantly, one cast right after another. If you are in a bass tournament, that could be for hours nonstop. You can see how over-all weight becomes a "Performance" characteristic. I try to build all rods as light as possible. On bass rods I work to remove excess cork, use seats as small of a diameter as possible and any other way I run across while building one.

Bill Doherty

Bill,
I have the benefit of having first hand in my shop/rod store a progression of weights in rods from moderate grade (heavier) to premium (lightest). What I tell my customers (well really, they just logically see this when placed on the rods) is that a very light weight high end graphite like the St. Croix SCV legend series will definitely
deserve a lighter weight reel. With this degee of fineness, a 2 oz. difference will definitely be noticed.

I think most will agree that fatigue factor is due also in part to placing more weght on the butt area, and basically defeats building a fine custom rod with the best light weight materials and Adding more weight at ANY point.

Consider this. Why do baitcasting reel manufacturers strive to make a lighter reel than their competition? Many low profile baitcasters now days go down to 7 or 8 oz. from what a few years ago might have been 10 oz. as the norm. ??

Rich
Richard's Rod & Reel

Rich,

That is why I capitalized "MOST LIKELY". I do agree with you. It is hard to convince a person of the difference without them feeling it in person. Different size masses on the butt end will change the way the tip feels to you. When I build any rod, I want to know what reel you will be using before we choose a blank and components. I try to keep the total weight as light as possible, with the blank and reel already selected. At this point of the process, total weight savings is my goal.

Bill Doherty

That is where a split handle configuration on the butt can help enhance the balance feature, that we all should strive for and promote as a custom feature, when selling the custom rod or for one's self building. By moving the reel seat up or down, by just a small amount, should help accomplish this. Split butt grips, make odd butt lengths easier to deal with. You can use the blank space between the grips to place weaves, decals, inscriptions ??
Works great for casting and especially spinning, as well. And Hey, it does look pretty cool!!

I'm running out the door to go fishing, but YES, weight matters.

Counterbalancing helps, but the less the rodtip AND reel weighs to start with, the less needs to be balanced.

My first rods needed two weights in the back, my most recent only need one to balance perfectly with a 12 ounce reel. VERY LIGHT in the hand!

I'm going to strip that first rod and re-do it. Balance and weight are THAT important to fishing nuts like me.

TH

The differences in comparabe bass baitcasting reels from most brands is a couple of oz at the most. Remember most of this wt is at the fulcrum of the rod and will not impact (percieved) performance as much as wt at the tip. A well balanced rod will seem much lighter than a poorly balanced rod of the same wt. I do believe were talking about performance from a fatique standpoint and not a sensitivity standpoint. I don't feel the reel wt would impact sensitivity at all. Now guide wt, wraps finish would to some extent but not nearly as much as the composition of the blank ie: lightweight high modulus graphite like GLX or SCV compared to say S-glass or E-glass.