Balancing Your Rods

[5/0]

When palming my bait casters with ring and pinkie behind the rod trigger I can’t reach the line with my pointing finger. I have fairly big hands but pretty stubby fingers. So I was experimenting with just my pinkie behind the trigger. It was better, but when holding the rod at a 45 degree angle the rod felt tip heavy. I feel that this would really fatigue my wrist and arm during a day of fishing.

What do I need to do to balance my rods to make this more comfortable? And once done, how do I determine when they’re balanced correctly?

 

Joe

[dodgeguy]

I used to balance my rods with rod balancers bps used to sell. I have arthritis through my entire body and thought it used to help. Then the rods started getting really light about 8 years ago and I found I was better off without the added weight. Try it and see if you like it.i found a link for you.

 

https://www.mudhole.com/The-Balancer-Removable-Butt-Cap

 

[MIbassyaker]

26 minutes ago, 5/0 said:

When palming my bait casters with ring and pinkie behind the rod trigger I can’t reach the line with my pointing finger. I have fairly big hands but pretty stubby fingers. So I was experimenting with just my pinkie behind the trigger. It was better, but when holding the rod at a 45 degree angle the rod felt tip heavy. I feel that this would really fatigue my wrist and arm during a day of fishing.

What do I need to do to balance my rods to make this more comfortable? And once done, how do I determine when they’re balanced correctly?

 

Joe

 

Hold on -- this does not compute.

 

With both ring and pinkie behind the trigger, there should be more rod mass in front of your hand than if just your pinkie is behind the trigger. To move your ring finger from behind the trigger to the front means you move your hand forward, no?  So if anything, the rod should feel more tip-heavy with both fingers behind, and less tip-heavy with them in front....

[5/0]

31 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

 

Hold on -- this does not compute.

 

With both ring and pinkie behind the trigger, there should be more rod mass in front of your hand than if just your pinkie is behind the trigger. To move your ring finger from behind the trigger to the front means you move your hand forward, no?  So if anything, the rod should feel more tip-heavy with both fingers behind, and less tip-heavy with them in front....

I’m sorry! You are absolutely correct! It does feel more awkward though with just the pinkie behind the trigger. I wish I had Hank Parker hands!

42 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

I used to balance my rods with rod balancers bps used to sell. I have arthritis through my entire body and thought it used to help. Then the rods started getting really light about 8 years ago and I found I was better off without the added weight. Try it and see if you like it.i found a link for you.

 

https://www.mudhole.com/The-Balancer-Removable-Butt-Cap

 

Thank you for the link! Once the weights are added, should the rod feel light towards the tip?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

2 hours ago, 5/0 said:

When palming my bait casters with ring and pinkie behind the rod trigger I can’t reach the line with my pointing finger. I have fairly big hands but pretty stubby fingers. So I was experimenting with just my pinkie behind the trigger. It was better, but when holding the rod at a 45 degree angle the rod felt tip heavy. I feel that this would really fatigue my wrist and arm during a day of fishing.

What do I need to do to balance my rods to make this more comfortable? And once done, how do I determine when they’re balanced correctly?

 

Joe

There is no right or wrong 100% personal preference. Do whatever feels good to you. Personally, I would never add weight to a rod o paid extra for to have a light, sensitive, responsive blank and rod, but that’s me. 

[dodgeguy]

14 hours ago, 5/0 said:

I’m sorry! You are absolutely correct! It does feel more awkward though with just the pinkie behind the trigger. I wish I had Hank Parker hands!

Thank you for the link! Once the weights are added, should the rod feel light towards the tip?

I used to balance them right under the center of the reel.you can use quarters to fine tune it. The tip will feel weightless.if you don't like it just slide balancer off and add or remove weight.

[diehardbassfishing]

Well, I'm likely an outsider on this one. I never palm. I want to hold the rod directly!

So, I only fish using rods with foregrips. I find it "interesting" how bass rod companies have in large part thrown foregrips out the window! There's still a few good brands that see there may be at least a few folks that appreciate a rod build that includes this simple option. My question is why hold a reel when you can hold the rod??

 

Karl

[LionHeart]

I'd give it a few trips with the new hold (pinky only behind trigger) before making any changes to the rod.   When I switched from 2 finger behind trigger to pinky only, it felt weird for a while, now it is the only way I can imagine holding a rod. 

 

Maybe give your hand some time to get used to it. 

[deadadrift89]

I only balance my jig and Texas rig rods. I use quarters in chair leg protectors so rods balance a little tip up when I put my finger just in front of reel. To me it makes a big difference in feel.

 

https://www.lowes.com/pl/Chair-leg-tips-Furniture-hardware-Hardware/4294711122

 

[5/0]

Thanks all! I like the quarters in the chair leg protector idea.

 

[Steveo-1969]

22 hours ago, stratoliner92 said:

I only balance my jig and Texas rig rods. I use quarters in chair leg protectors so rods balance a little tip up when I put my finger just in front of reel. To me it makes a big difference in feel.

 

https://www.lowes.com/pl/Chair-leg-tips-Furniture-hardware-Hardware/4294711122

 

This is what I did on 2 of my jig/texas rig rods as well. It made the rod tip lighter and easier to hold with less stress on my wrist when palming the reel.