Stew
10-21-2005, 09:45 PM
I thought this would be an interesting read for those of you that are buying new rods and reels :cheers:
From Fly Rod & Reel Magazine
The balance of a rod is similar to its action, in that "right" is not absolute, but personal.
Generally, however, you want a rod that has the weight distributed so that, after some time on the water, you don't really find yourself thinking, "This rod feels tip heavy," or "This rod sure has too much weight on the butt end; I need a lighter reel."
Conventional wisdom is that the rod-and-reel combo, loaded with backing and line, should balance right in front of the grip, plus or minus a few inches. So, in a ready-to-cast position, with a few feet of line outside the rod tip and your hand on the grip, the rod should feel just the least bit tip-heavy, since your hand is just behind this "ideal" balance point.
The "balance" isn't static. If a rod "balances" too far in front of the grip (i.e., is too tip-heavy), it feels heavier than it really is after a lot of casting, especially when you're fishing a dry fly or nymph and holding the rod out during a dead drift. Also, when a rod is very stiff, it tends to feel tip heavier, at least to me. That's because the rod is not flexing as much as a softer rod, for a given amount of energy expended by the caster, and the rod fishes "longer" and "heavier."
Conversely, for a shorter rod, and/or one with a heavier reel, where the balance point is further back, even behind the hand, the rod will feel butt-heavy and the tip will be "wavy" and perhaps be (or feel) harder to track straight.
So, as a start, with loaded reel mounted and the rod threaded, the fulcrum ought to be a couple of inches in front of the grip. Then adjust from there to fit your needs and personality.
From Fly Rod & Reel Magazine
The balance of a rod is similar to its action, in that "right" is not absolute, but personal.
Generally, however, you want a rod that has the weight distributed so that, after some time on the water, you don't really find yourself thinking, "This rod feels tip heavy," or "This rod sure has too much weight on the butt end; I need a lighter reel."
Conventional wisdom is that the rod-and-reel combo, loaded with backing and line, should balance right in front of the grip, plus or minus a few inches. So, in a ready-to-cast position, with a few feet of line outside the rod tip and your hand on the grip, the rod should feel just the least bit tip-heavy, since your hand is just behind this "ideal" balance point.
The "balance" isn't static. If a rod "balances" too far in front of the grip (i.e., is too tip-heavy), it feels heavier than it really is after a lot of casting, especially when you're fishing a dry fly or nymph and holding the rod out during a dead drift. Also, when a rod is very stiff, it tends to feel tip heavier, at least to me. That's because the rod is not flexing as much as a softer rod, for a given amount of energy expended by the caster, and the rod fishes "longer" and "heavier."
Conversely, for a shorter rod, and/or one with a heavier reel, where the balance point is further back, even behind the hand, the rod will feel butt-heavy and the tip will be "wavy" and perhaps be (or feel) harder to track straight.
So, as a start, with loaded reel mounted and the rod threaded, the fulcrum ought to be a couple of inches in front of the grip. Then adjust from there to fit your needs and personality.