Rod Balancing

[BassinB]

I've got a 7' medium action Cabelas prodigy casting rod that im going to use for a finesse/worm rod this year. Its not a bad setup but im pairing it with a bps prolite finesse reel and the setup is really tip heavy. The rod has a threaded butt cap for a weight system but it costs ~20$ from cabelas. Wondering if anybody has any clever ideas for balancing their rods?

[OkobojiEagle]

Pay the $20

 

oe

[flyfisher]

I have heard of people just using a blot and washers on the butt of the rod but for me I would say pony up the $20 and get it right.

The other thing is until you actually fish with it you don't really know how much of a problem the balance will be. I have had rods that are a little tip heavy when playing around but when fishing I didn't notice it to much.

[Fish Chris]

If you Pay the $20, you will have thrown away $17

 

1" black rubber table legs caps (about 4 for $2 or $3) usually fit perfectly over most rod butts. Quarters fit perfectly in the bottoms of them. Test for balance, then once you get it correct, put a blob of silicone inside the cap, shove it back on, and wipe off any excess silicone which squeezes out.

 

I balance every rod I ever own. The micro-lights usually just need the weight of the rubber cap itself. My heavier, swim bait or striper rods usally take 2-4 quarters + the cap.

 

Easy. Cheap. Effective.

 

Fish

[Felix77]

If you Pay the $20, you will have thrown away $17

 

1" black rubber table legs caps (about 4 for $2 or $3) usually fit perfectly over most rod butts. Quarters fit perfectly in the bottoms of them. Test for balance, then once you get it correct, put a blob of silicone inside the cap, shove it back on, and wipe off any excess silicone which squeezes out.

 

I balance every rod I ever own. The micro-lights usually just need the weight of the rubber cap itself. My heavier, swim bait or striper rods usally take 2-4 quarters + the cap.

 

Easy. Cheap. Effective.

 

Fish

 

This may sound stupid but when you balance your rod are you making sure that it balances even around the reel or where you would hold it?

[Flukeman]

I buy the kit at BPS for 9.99. I used to use the table leg ends but wanted to be able to make adjustments if I changed baits or reels.

I put the reel and bait I plan on using for the day on the rod, and add the balancing kit. It makes the set up effortless to fish with. If I spend an 8 hour tournament fishing with a long tip heavy rod, my elbow will start to ache. I have a couple of them and can rotate them to different rods when I need to and increase/decrease the weight when it is warranted.

By the way - this kit is a slip on and off unit.

[iabass8]

This may sound stupid but when you balance your rod are you making sure that it balances even around the reel or where you would hold it?

I've done the same thing with an older rod. It works perfectly. I balanced it where it felt "weightless" as or light as it could without throwing the tip down where I hold the rod.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

If you Pay the $20, you will have thrown away $17

 

1" black rubber table legs caps (about 4 for $2 or $3) usually fit perfectly over most rod butts. Quarters fit perfectly in the bottoms of them. Test for balance, then once you get it correct, put a blob of silicone inside the cap, shove it back on, and wipe off any excess silicone which squeezes out.

 

I balance every rod I ever own. The micro-lights usually just need the weight of the rubber cap itself. My heavier, swim bait or striper rods usally take 2-4 quarters + the cap.

 

Easy. Cheap. Effective.

 

Fish

 

X2

Easy to try and cheap. Some would say to use a heavier reel but you can use much less weight on the butt end. Here a pic of the bit of difference one makes. Now the reel pictured is a 50E at 6.9oz even with a 10oz abu reel the balance wouldnt be as good as the cap.

 

 

[BrettD]

I drill a small hole in the end of the handle and use a tungsten bullet weight pushed in the handles are soft enough where no glue or nothing is need to hold the bullet weight in just friction holds.

 

Reel weight has little effect on the balance of a rod because it is so close or at the balance point.

[Mike L]

This may sound stupid but when you balance your rod are you making sure that it balances even around the reel or where you would hold it?

 

I've allways balanced mine on the middle of the foregrip, as the picture above shows.

I don't mind a little tip heavyness. I find that I can feel the bite a little better especially by fingering the line.

 

Mike

[Darren.]

I have the BPS rod balancers, believe they're designed by Larry Dahlberg.

They don't fit my Compre's and they didn't allow easy use in my PVC rod holders, so I don't have them on any rods, currently. Been thinking about using them again.

Same exact concept that Fish Chris detailed, but they come with lead (?) quarters. Real quarters recommended if extra weight needed.

[The Next KVD]

If you Pay the $20, you will have thrown away $17

 

1" black rubber table legs caps (about 4 for $2 or $3) usually fit perfectly over most rod butts. Quarters fit perfectly in the bottoms of them. Test for balance, then once you get it correct, put a blob of silicone inside the cap, shove it back on, and wipe off any excess silicone which squeezes out.

 

I balance every rod I ever own. The micro-lights usually just need the weight of the rubber cap itself. My heavier, swim bait or striper rods usally take 2-4 quarters + the cap.

 

Easy. Cheap. Effective.

 

Fish

 

Best and Cheapest way to do it!!  Plus if you ever need a little spare change while towing the boat, its right there behind you! lol.

[BassinB]

obviously paying the $20 is an option, I was just curious about any clever DIY ways to do it.  I like that idea quite a bit Fish Chris,  thanks.  I was thinking of using lead shot (like out of a shotgun shell) instead of quarters though. That should work.

[Felix77]

d**n ... I have a 7' rod which I felt was too tip heavy and I was going to replace it with a new, lighter Veritas rod as the solution to the problem.  I guess I will take the trip to home depot instead.   

[Felix77]

I should have never doubted this group. Those 1" table caps worked perfectly! Best $1.25 I spent!

.50 for the cap (4 for $2)

.75 in the cap

Balances out nicely!