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[Fillibert]

How do you determine if your reel is balanced or not. By feel? Or at the reel seat?
Reason I'm asking is that I got a longer rod so my reel is now too small. I'm wondering if it's possible to add weight to it as I'm happy with the size.

[Dogbreath]

Cabela's used to sell weights that were more or less the size of quarters (but thicker like loonies) to add to the butt end of the rod for just what you're asking about-no idea if they worked though.

You could always try a rubber butt cap like this Fuji unit I have a number of them on my rods bought them @ Berry's.Also bought some other kind over the net that I didn't like as much be sure to buy real Fuji gear-they come in two sizes.

[Fillibert]

So where is the balance point for everybody?

[firstlight]

What kind of rod is this?fly rod? drift?

I never worry about balance.
Its fishing not nuclear science.

If its matched for size then who cares if it is a little off.
The only way i would be concernbed at all is if a centerpin rod that you have to hold high all day.
Thats precisely why i got rid of my pin rods and strictly fish a level wind.
I get twice as many casts and my arm/shoulder can do it all day long and not be any worse for wear.

[Fillibert]

Spinning rod. It does matter. I noticed that when the reel is too light the rod feels heavy and less comfortable

[rootbeer]

I never thought much about this until now. 

Basspro sells a cap like a previous poster mentioned.  There were actually quite a few hits when I googled "balancing a fishing rod"

http://www.basspro.com/The-Balancer-Rod-Balancing-System/product/16515/?hvarTarget=search&storeId=10151&partNumber=16515&cmCat=2222206&langId=-1&catalogId=10051

[Every Day]

I like to have my rod balanced where my hand would normally sit (top end of the cork above the reel).
Before buying a set up I do the one finger test. I see if the rod lays flat in the air with the reel on when I have 1 finger half way up the top cork.

If it isn't balanced I'll normally up the reel size.
I have also heard of guys (especially with spey rods where balance is more difficult) using lead wrap that you can get at gold stores.
I make sure all my spinning rods and fly rod are like this. Not sure how crucial it is, but I have a wrecked shoulder and it makes a full day of fishing way more comfortable.

Cheers,
Dan

[Ken D]

Hello, folks. I weighted the butt section of a gear rod, for the sport I built the rod for, with a piece of pencil lead probably close to 3 ounces. I epoxied it inside the rod at the back of the bus. The extra weight was no problem to deal with as far as casting went, but it meant all the difference in the world for the rodster. He holds high, and with that extra weight, the rod is balanced at the 45° point, no longer "tip heavy". His wrist and other arm parts no longer get trashed over a weekend of casts, as was the case with storebought rods.