Balancing Rods

Haven't been out on the lake to fish yet this year. The weather hasn't been very cooperative. I've been biding my time tinkering with the boat a little and arranging jigs in plano containers, surfing the web looking at fishing reels and playing with rods and reels. I decided to switch reels around on some of my rods for better balance. All the rods were a little bit tip heavy. Last year I used steel washers and rubber chair leg covers on two of rods. I wanted to use lead this time, I tried hammering some lead bullets but the shape wasn't working out. I don't cast my own jigs or bullets so I needed to figure out how to melt the lead bullets and form them to the right size. For the size I drilled a 7/8 hole in a piece of plywood for my mold. Now to melt the lead, I had a couple of ideas from a heat gun to the coal furnace, I ended up on my garage floor with a large kitchen spoon in a pair of vice grips and a Mapp gas torch. The first thing that went through my mind when I kneeled down with a big spoon and a torch was I must be a fishing addict. Ended up melting two 40 cal bullets for each weight, they ended up weighing about .7 oz each.

I also went to the store today to get an actual look at some of the reels I was debating on. Up until 2 years ago I only used spincast reels since then I've made the switch to spinning reels. I've guess I've decided on Diawa reels since that seems to be what I have on my rods. I have 2 pfluger trions, and a shimano but everytime I put them on a rod I end up taking them back off eventually. I was debating between the Diawa Revros (I already have two on rods), and the Diawa Regal. I ended up going with the Regal, mainly because it was a little lighter than the Revros. Spooled it with 4lb Vicious and mounted it on a 6'6" ESP rod, and balanced the setup to be slightly butt heavy for casting jigs. I balanced all the rods with a slightly butt heavy bias thinking for casting jigs I want the tip up anyways.

Any opinions on the slight butt heavy for casting vs perfectly level balance or slightly tip heavy?

Every rod/reel combo has a balance point. Some ahead of the reel, some behind, but I prefer under the reel. Under the reel is where my hand lands. Added weight before, after teh hand will get tiring over time.

As for melting lead, I had a need recently for my grandkids Pinewood Derby cars. I drilled out some holes in the car and back drilled so the weight could come out. As for my forge, I emptied a can of green beans for dinner. Had my grandkids clean the can, wash it, and peel the label. Pulled out the MAP torch and burnt off the wax coating. Dropped in lead and proceeded to melt it. Used channel lock pliers to handle the can. Worked great.

I have a Mitchell 308x on my 6'6" ESP rod, and it's a little more butt heavy than what it was with the other reels I've had on it prior to putting the Mitchell 308x on it. No big deal, IMHO, as the combo works very well for me.

I prefer a slightly butt heavy outfit over a slightly tip heavy one. It only "seems" to make the outfit "feel" heavier in hand, but it's really not. But, for sure, a tip heavy outfit wears on my wrist/forearm over time vs the butt heavy outfit.

That works on the same principle as lifting a brick on the end of a stick vs lifting it with the brick close to your hand. In both instances the brick & stick weigh exactly the same, but the weight distribution dynamics are working against you when the brick is on the far end of the stick.

It is possible for me to move the Mitchell reel closer to the front of the handle to make it more "perfectly balanced", but that merely adds that distance towards the extended handle end ... which I'm not overly fond of in the first place, as it occasionally gets in the way or hangs up on clothing. I've even considered cutting the "poodle tail" off, but just never have.

I prefer them to be neutral or butt heavy. Just seems to feel better to me. Lets the tip of the rod float out there

I have one rod that’s very tip heavy….. I hate it. I tried putting a heavy reel on it and added all the weight to the butt that came with it. Still this is by far my worse rod and I haven’t fished with it but maybe two times and I doubt I ever do. Tip heavy is not for me!!!

That vintage steel rod I have is extremely tip heavy. It certainly effect the way a rod fishes and cast

I've added lead in chair leg caps to some tip heavy bass flipping sticks & it works great. If just enough weight is added to them to get the tip up it makes them feel like a totally different rod which seems more sensitive & doesn't wear you out either.

Balance seems to be important for a lot of things to prevent fatigue. Firearms are certainly another example to comes to mind

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

I prefer them to be neutral or butt heavy. Just seems to feel better to me. Lets the tip of the rod float out there

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:hesaid I believe balance is very important. My setups typically balance in back of the leading edge of the handle, and usually a little in front of the reel foot. I can cast this for hours with no fatigue. Tip heavy is to be avoided. Try to match your reels as best you can.
Bob

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

I prefer a slightly butt heavy outfit over a slightly tip heavy one. It only "seems" to make the outfit "feel" heavier in hand, but it's really not. But, for sure, a tip heavy outfit wears on my wrist/forearm over time vs the butt heavy outfit.

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That was what I was thinking. I'm fairly new to casting jigs as a presentation. I've mostly used minnows with slip bobbers or hand tied 1/32 hair jigs tippped with wax worms with a fixed pencil bobber. Have a good selection of Bobby Garland Baby shad colors, the Slabanator bodies in various styles and colors, crappie nibbles and slab sauce. Have to see how this years fishing goes.

I have 5 rods I'm setting up for casting jigs trying to figure out which setup works the best for me.
9' ESP with Diawa BG 2500 spooled with Power Pro 10lb braid
9' Sam Heaton with Diawa Revros 2000 currently spooled with Vicious 10lb braid, going to respool with 6lb Vicious panfish
7'6" ESP with Diawa BG 2500 spooled with Power Pro 10lb braid
7' Sam Heaton with Diawa Revros 2000 spooled with 6lb Vicious panfish
6' ESP with Diawa Regal, line 4lb Vicious panfish

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

It is possible for me to move the Mitchell reel closer to the front of the handle to make it more "perfectly balanced", but that merely adds that distance towards the extended handle end ... which I'm not overly fond of in the first place, as it occasionally gets in the way or hangs up on clothing. I've even considered cutting the "poodle tail" off, but just never have.

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I remember your comment about that when I was reading about rods. I was mistaken on having the 6'6", I ordered the 6' specifically so it wouldn't have the poodle tail.

Get a custom rod builder to replace the factory running guides with micro guides. The entire rod will be lighter and will not be tip heavy. The difference is really something.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

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Originally Posted by BobC

:hesaid I believe balance is very important. My setups typically balance in back of the leading edge of the handle, and usually a little in front of the reel foot. I can cast this for hours with no fatigue. Tip heavy is to be avoided. Try to match your reels as best you can.
Bob

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This is how I likie my rods set up for neutral balance.

To add weight I first figure out how much I need then take tin foil form it over the rod butt melt lead using propane torch into form I made then use heat shrink to attach it to the rod.

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Originally Posted by Bricks

This is how I likie my rods set up for neutral balance.

To add weight I first figure out how much I need then take tin foil form it over the rod butt melt lead using propane torch into form I made then use heat shrink to attach it to the rod.

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Good idea

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Originally Posted by Hanr3

As for my forge, I emptied a can of green beans for dinner. Had my grandkids clean the can, wash it, and peel the label. Pulled out the MAP torch and burnt off the wax coating. Dropped in lead and proceeded to melt it. Used channel lock pliers to handle the can. Worked great.

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Thats a great idea, I'll remember that for the future, the spoon worked but had limited capacity. I may go back and melt the multiple pieces per rod into one solid piece per rod once I try them for awhile to see if I like the way they are balanced.

All good ideas for making the weights so far. I like taking my reel I’m going to use with me when I shop and strap it on to check the balance. I prefer my balance point to be where my index finger lands on the foregrip. No fatigue and great sensitivity.

:hesaid

None of the good rods are around me… almost all mine I bought online. Overall I’m pleased with the majority of mine.

I have not done one for crappie. I need to hand build one to get it exactly how I want it