Roger

I agree, that simplifies the choices for a acceptable solution.

Thanks

John

I have always wondered what benefits occur by "balancing" a rod [or even how to tell if and when my rod is balanced] without consideration of how much weight the rod will be casting? Maybe a previous post on this site explained this?

Phil, previous posts have indeed discussed this and if I'm not mistaken you've taken part in a few.

Lynn - You are correct, I have asked about rod balance before, but I am a slow learner. I'm not even sure yet whether or not the balance point is determined while the line is run through the guide train while a typical casting weight [or no weight] is attached to the end of the line, or even if the balance point is determined with a reel attached? For a two-handed rod should the balance point lie behind, under, or in front of the top hand gripping the rod handle? I have no prejudices about the rod balance issue - only unanswered questions.

My simple answer to balance is this.

With a rod that has a reel on it filled with line - resting in the hand - does the rod stay level when it is being held with an open palm. If not, it is not balanced.

When lure or weight is on the tip of the rod, it will be tip heavy. If a hand is holding the butt of the rod, it will be tip heavy. If a person is holding the rod in the middle of the blank it will be butt heavy.

So, place your rod and reel in your open hand in the position where you normally fish with the rod. If it stays level, it is balanced. At least that is my definition of rod balance.

Take care

Phil, from my perspective, the lure would be on the bottom of the lake and be lightly hopped or crawled back to the fisher-person while trying to feel the bottom. (bottom contact baits) This operation is less fatiguing if you don't have to fight the weight of the blank and guides ahead of the reel. I only balance casting rods used for these techniques. I try to achieve a tip neutral attitude with the reel in place. Hope this helps. Hi David, hope your'e watching! For me this topic only applies to bass rods or similar.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/05/2020 05:45PM by Lynn Behler.

I think I got it. For display purposes to find the balance point you move your grasp up and down the blank but with with no lure or weight suspended and no weight or load on the rod tip. When the rod remains horizontal you have the balance point. For fishing purposes you put a weight equivalent to the weight of a lure or a fishing weight and suspend it from the rod tip, then move your hand up and down the blank until the rod remains horizontal - you have found the balance point.

Phil, read it again. What do I need the weight for?

Lynn,
You are correct.
You want the rod to be neutral in balance when you have no weight on the tip and no extra weight anywhere else.

The fatigue that comes from a tip heavy rod is when you are fishing long hours bottom hopping a jig or lure on a semi slack line with no weight from the jig, weight or lure adding to the weight of the rod.

i..e you want to hold the rod in your normal fishing rod hold and with nothing on the end of the rod like extra weight or a lure - have the rod rest level.

Take care

Lynn: As I understand it you need the weight to balance the rod by imitating the rod while it is in use, not to balance it while you aren't fishing. I'm confused because all fishing rods become class-one levers in use: the casting hand becomes the fulcrum of the lever no matter where you grip the rod - except for fly rods which are class three levers. I'm clueless about the leverage of a two-handed cast or how to determine the fulcrum - "Balance point" - of a two handed rod.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2020 11:08AM by Phil Ewanicki.

Phil,
You are balancing the rod while you are using it. As soon as you cast, there is no weight from a lure on the end of the rod, so it makes no sense to balance the rod with any weight from a jig or weight on the end of the rod tip.

Best Wishes

Now I get it: The rod needs to be balanced AFTER you cast, while you are "using it" reeling in or waiting for a bite - but I'm still not sure how to do this?

Hi Lynn ....... yes, I'm watching, and you're doing a bang up job !! lol

And Phil, you got it........ and to be sure of how you do this, just go back and read this thread over again. Or read any of the other threads that deal with rod and reel balance. There's a bunch of them.

Also I would like to know how the "Spine" [AKA "spline"] of the rod interacts with its balance.

To the best of my knowledge it has no discernible effect.