Rod & Reel Balance Question

FAOL Community Fly Anglers Online
1

Friend and foes…yup, singular and plural…

I have a question. I am curious about the balance of a rod with reel. I have some very good old geezers, and when they build a rod I ask them what reel they intend to match it with. They say the cheapeast they can find, with total disregard for weight. They say it is just to hold the line. I disagree. I think there are some important factors in there, but not sure which are the most important.

I am not interested in hearing any discussion on the pros and cons of bending the wrist or not. I do. Period. Well, depends on the situation. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t.

Anywhoooo…I usually just check to see if the rod and reel balance where I hold it when I fish. I have heard some say there is no fulcrum point. I don’t see how that can be true when the tip of a rod 9’ plus some arm’s length travels all the way from parllel out in front of you to in back of you…quite a distance, while the reel itself travels much less in distance. Soooooo

I THINK I want my reel, with about 45-55 feet of line pulled off and out on the ground, to still be slightly reel heavy. I think of this as ballast. So when I cast forward, and near the end of my cast I snap my wrist forward I have more ballast to help me power the tip of the rod forward.

The question for you psychics, physicists, one of them thre things is…would it be easier to power that tip near the end of my forward cast with a balance of rod and reel at the palm of my hand and thumb on the cork…with a lighter reel, or a heavier reel for ballast and the teeter totter affect, with the heavier end wanting more power over the lighter end?

The other question is…with this set up am I subtracting, or even ruining the ability to make accurate, soft short casts.

Next question of course is if you can get by with a lighter reel…will your arm endurance last longer in the day…or with the extra ballast for aid, would that set up help your arm last longer?

There’s probably no perfect answer. I personally think I want to set up a rod to be slightly reel heavy, so at the palm of my hand point while gripping, (which I consider to be the fulcrum, and 45’ feet of line on the ground) and I set it on my finger to check balance, the tip of the rod will STILL move up into the sky, but not at a drastically over weighted rate, because with ALL the line on the reel for short casts one wouldn’t want the reel to be all THAT extra heavy.

To actually do all of this in a beta test way would just be too much work for me as I am too indedisive. I doubt I would ever achieve any answer at all due to all the close calls, gray areas and, different rod lengths, weights, actions, and combos thereof. Frankly I don’t have THAT much time left in my life. grin

Would appreciate opinions from one and all…pros and cons.

2

One of the truest statements made. I buy cheap reels myself. They are just there to hold the line. The rod does the work.

All of the scenarios you’ve played out have way too many variables, such as the type of line, WF, DT, floating, sinking etc. and weight of the fly attached to the end. Each variable will have an effect on how the line casts.

Pick a combo that you feel comfortable with. Otherwise your just over analyzing the whole thing.

3

That’s the part I like, the over analyzing. As long as there is a song to sing…as long as there is a curiosity in my mind…I’m interested. Once I think I know all I need to, which I never do, I would no longer be interested.

Although I do like to make long casts,tend to sway your way. The $15 Martin 4-6 wt CC65 (Caddis Creek) at Wally World probably all I will ever need. Comes with backing, line, and leader all included and already tied up and wound on the reel for $15. That’s nothing to do…just go fish. Get it on sale…even better.

4

You have been here?
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/view … hp?t=13940

5

Well, Jc…been ther now. I don’t agree with very much that Emerger had to say. Some yes, but most no.

There is a difference between speed…and POWER. They are not the same nor linear. I think I get more distance when I put more power into the punch when I am trying to throw a load forward…not speed.

Then again I couldn’t hold a candle to all the experience and knowledge you guys have.

Just my own opinion, it’s the only one I’m an expert on. But that’s also the why of the question.

Truthfully, where and how I fish I do not have a need to make long casts. I just enjoy doing it.

I hope the day my mind stops being inquisitive never comes.

6

Gemrod,

‘Balance’ is too subjective a term.

Balance ‘where’? Where your hand is? At front of the reel seat? End of the grip? I’ve seen all these attempted. Never works, though.

Balance ‘when’? Rod held static and parallel to the ground? What good does that do? Do you cast with it that way? Balance it so that it’s at the ‘preferred angle’ you want for fishing after the cast? With how much line out? Matters a lot. Drag of the line in current? Drag of the fly if it’s subsurface? Changes it.

Lighter is always better than heavier if you have to hold it up all day.

Good Luck!

Buddy

7

Thanks Buddy. I was hoping you would chime in. I was also thinking the term “balance” was not really what we were really talking about. I agree it is subjective. I think it is more proper to ask what is better…or what do various people prefer.

I am not concerned with lightness…at least not now. However, I probably will be someday…and maybe sooner than I think huh? grin

8

Friends,

A pretty good definition of balance in this context is “perceived lightness.” Since perception is obviously subjective, I don’t know if Gemrod’s question has an answer. Is that a conundrum?

I like my reels to “feel” balanced on my forefinger with my normal grip (that’s another subject altogether) when the rod is held horizontally. Don’t bother asking how it feels when I’m casting. I’m too busy fishing then to worry about it.

Best,
Will

9

I like my rods heavy in the reel when I use my wrist as the pivot point which I ususally do. When I use my elbow as the pivot point and keep my wrist locked I find it doesn’t matter as much because the reel is above the pivot. I find a heavier reel is easier on the wrist.