Where do you believe a Spinning Rod Balance point should be ....

1. On the trigger finger when the hand is over the reel foot. Nice placement if you are drifting.
2. Forward of the trigger finger to provide some weight to a cast? Or have the lure be the sole source of forward weight.

Thoughts?

Are we talking a drift rod for salmon/steelhead?

It started with a drift rod. Like many, I suspect, I several rods in-process. Number 3 in the queue is a 13'6" steelhead drift and while doing some preliminary work, I have decided to add weight to balance near the index finger. Do not cast often and the high-stick line-control is critical.

Then I went back to an old and nicely finished short spinning rod, lightweight, 7'0", and notice its balance point is well forward of the grip. If building this again, I would have to add a lot of weight or move the reel up significantly.

Rod 4 in the queue is a short ultralight spinning rod. Hence, I am interested in the topic as a whole.

I am satisfied with my approcach on the drift rod, but considering what would be best for the ultralight spinning rod.

Thank you,
David

Don't know if it's right or not, but I prefer the rod to be fairly well balanced when I lightly hold it with the reel stem between my ring and next finger, which is how I hold the rod while fishing. I think that it's probably more of a personal preference for most

Mike

Mike - which next finger are you talking about - pinky or middle?

Usually between the ring and pinkie is where I hold a spinning reel, but I assume everyone holds them different. A quick balance check for me is to place my straight index finger under the rod in front of the reel and see if the rod will balance on it.

Mike