Bursting balanced rod bubble?

[steve(IL)]

A popular notion states that a rod/reel should balance on a finger just in front of the reel for maximum sensitivity. Sounds great! Now, take that same rod and tie a 3/8's oz jig on and try to balance it..... what happened?! (Pure physics - put a 3/8 oz weight on the end of a 5' or 6' lever and it feels much heavier) Add the drag of twenty feet of line w/ river current and you are all out of whack. Sometimes I slide my hand forward on the grip - always keeping one finger on the blank and one on the line - for better balance.

I think it is more a point of scale - to make sure your rod and reel are similar - not a surf reel on an ultralight rod for example. Beyond that, you'd probably want to be a little butt heavy w/o anything tied on.

[N.D.]

Why do you think they have the "rod balancing" kit for those that need it?
I change my rods and reels for speciffic applications and on occasions the balance is improved by the kit.Especially for long day of fishing there is a marked difference.

[REW]

For casting all day and for jigging -- it is tough to beat a balanced rod.
Sure, anything that you are going to tie on the end is going to make the tip heavier -- however, an awful lot of jigging is on a slack line with the weight either on the bottom, or falling on a slack line. It is most often during these times, that the faint tap of a walleye bite is felt. With a perfectly balanced rod -- the rod/reel is lying lightly on the palm of your hand -- where that faint vibration is easily transmitted. You haven't been clenching it all day -- just to hold on to it.

Sorry to disagree, but I think rod balance is one of the very most important to successful long term fishing.

Take care

REW

[Grampa_Joe]

I have to disagree as well. I run rods as long as 9' and anything you can do to take the weight off the tip of the rod not only helps your sensitivity, it saves wear and tear on your arm. Your rod is essentially a lever, the more weight on the tip and the longer the rod, the more foot pounds you are exerting on your hand holding the rod.
Joe

[steve(IL)]

Please re-read my post. I phrased the header as a question because I brought home a balanced rig and tied on a jig in the garage and it wasn't balanced any more. That made me question the whole premise. I do very little slack line jigging. I'll pop a jig up and then try to maintain contact/ control on the drop back because that's when many of my bites come - especially in current or pulling situations.

If I read your response correctly, you are saying you're out of contact with your jig more than in contact with it? Meaning you'd rather be in balance w/o the weight of the jig + line resistance(current/movement generated)?

I also mentioned in my post that I move my hand accordingly to improve the balance for the conditions I'm fishing in hopes of improving sensitivity. I suspect this is more of a key than how the rig balances in the store.

Just thinking out loud :-)

Again, I'm just questioning the premise.

[twogun]

I agree with Joe. Thats why rods came out with the "Pendulum" series. You can fish all day with less strain on your wrist and forearm.

[River_eye]

I think I get what you're saying. It is true that a rod that is balanced in your hand normally is put off balance by a jig and the resistance of the water. But still, it doesn't have to be exact, if your rod balances well with nothing on it, it will still balance relatively well with a jig.

You could never have a rod that was perfectly balanced for every lure and every depth without a balancing kit. So, you try to get as close as possible and it will still do wonders for hand/arm fatigue.

You will always be able to tell the difference between a well balanced (not perfectly balanced) and an unbalanced rod.

River eye

[bob oh]

LAST EDITED ON Apr-17-00 AT 09:36AM (CST)[p]REW,
Am I correct in understanding you to say that you are feeling a slight tap on a slack line!!! Unless you and I have different ideas of what a slack line is I think you are seeing the bite???? I think what Scott is saying has merit...don't get too hung up on the "balanced" outfit hype. Get a rod and reel combination that is sensitive and comfortable for YOU and then adjust the balance point with your hand as you fish. Sometimes we try to make fishing rocket science ;-)

Bob

[SUPERTROLLER]

LAST EDITED ON Apr-17-00 AT 03:20PM (CST)[p]Scott, If you had a balanced set-up and tied on a 3/8 oz. jig, then cast the jig in the water, how far could you possibly be out of balance? How much difference does the bouyancy of the water also lessen the "felt" weight of the jig? I think to claim your rod/reel combination is now out of balance doesn't make the slightest bit of sense. Not looking to argue, just looking at this logically.

[steve(IL)]

That's cool - discussion and advancing our understanding is what we come here for. A balanced rig might make sense in casting jigs or casting in general - although I believe many people like Al Lindner rig their rods w/ weights to be a little butt heavy. Bass fisherman do this as well.

I'm just saying my rod which balanced nicely in the store was way out of whack the minute I tied on a jig and lowered it into the current. To achieve balance, I had to slide my hand way forward on the grip - not really comfortable.
I'm going to experiment w/ a slightly larger reel to see if the balance improves while actually fishing.

The balanced rod thing isn't always right. That's my point.

[Weyes1]

K.I.S.S. - Keep it simple stupid - Buy the rig that feels good to you. Don't get caught up with a bunch of sales crap and fishing show advertising. A well balanced rod is one that you can fish with all day and not have your arms fall off at the end of the day. (unless you're catching hogs!) I like going as light as possible. If you're holding your rod while verticle jigging you don't want to keep fighting to keep the tip down. And if the reel is too light just slide your hand forward toward the blank. Little adjustments are easier to make than waiting three days for your arms to recover.
BTW, I didn't call you stupid.
Weyes1