Balance your spinning rod and reel for the best combo


Fishing blog for

Thursday, April 4, 2024

Posted By: Chris

Location: Pond (unknown)

Species: Bass

 
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  • A balanced spinning combo
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Posted on 4/4/2024 10:58:19 AM

I just wanted to throw out a tip that I didn't always consider myself when buying a spinning rod, and that is to get a good balanced combination. I feel like it makes a big difference, especially when you're fishing slower baits like shaky heads and other soft-plastic presentations. There are so many rods and reels to choose from it can be tough to figure out the best option, so maybe this can help you narrow things down a bit. A balanced combo is especially nice when you're fishing with the same rod all day long or for multiple days.

What do I mean when I say "balanced" and how do you balance a spinning combo? Right at the spot where I'm normally holding my rod while fishing, it should balance perfectly. If you look at the photo you can see what I mean: I can easily balance this combo on one finger at just the right point. Technically this is the fulcrum point and the weight of the reel will affect where this point is located. When you're throwing a bait hundreds if not thousands of times in a day, that balance makes it much more ergonomic to use. I also believe you get a better feel for bites because of the balance.

There are ways (products) to balance rods by adding weight but I haven't done that myself, what I'm suggesting is that when you're buying a new rod and reel be sure to put the reel on the rod and feel it out. Make sure it balances right where you typically hold the rod and I guarantee you'll enjoy using that combo much more than something mismatched.

If you're wondering, my combo in this photo is a Pflueger Supreme size 35 reel on a 7' St. Croix Premier med-light fast rod.


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