How to Balance rod and reel plus line

[Sully]

You might find this interesting.

Let us first rid ourselves of a widespread idea, which I have often had occasion to point out as false or , at least, much exaggerated: the reel does not balance the rod; though in the past when rods were ten feet or more, very long and very heavy, a reel as a counterweight did produce the illusion of balancing the rod in the hand; but it is the line which plays the principal role owing to its weight and the shape of it's taper. It is indeed, on the line that the rod depends above all for giving its maximum, and yet retaining its balance. The ideal would be to be able to fish with the reel in your pocket! Charle Ritz 1959

And I dont believe it for 1 second and have never seen any actual data to back that statement up!