balance

I picked up a 6’8″ med action x-fast tip spinning rod from Elk River Rods on my last trip in and around Phillips, WI. I brought her home and put my Phleuger 25 series Supreme XT on it. The tip seemed heavy and I was a little sad. I thought of a larger reel but realized the added weight was not that effective. I finally ended up wrapping the aftmost portion of the butt with solid lead solder and dressed it off with electrical tape…seems kind of red-neck, but balanced out the rod beautifully. anyone have other ideas?

Take the rod in to your local sporting good store and try on reels to see what reel balances it out the best

The problem you mentioned is the exact reason I got into building rods ,I can balance out a rod/reel combo before I make it permanent.

That’s why I liked my last couple reels that were rear drag, seemed to put more of the weight towards the butt end. They started to gear towards more front now which sucks, but they say it has its advantages.

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Take the rod in to your local sporting good store and try on reels to see what reel balances it out the best

The problem you mentioned is the exact reason I got into building rods ,I can balance out a rod/reel combo before I make it permanent.

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I took a reel that was 2 sizes larger and heavier than I would ever put on this rod and the tip was still heavy. The weight added was too close to the fulcrum to be effective. I taped on some jigs to the butt until it balanced out, (balanced desired was to have the rod remain horizontal with only the middle and ring finger supporting the rod and reel with the reel stem in between the two fingers), with the desired reel installed, and then weighed them. I then took the lead solder and cut it to the same weight and wrapped the but end. I ended up only needing 1.75 ounces. To secure it and make it prettier I then wrapped it with tape.

It is rough deal when one buys a “factory built” rod,It is really hard to balance them out the exact way and feel we desire them to be.
They would cost way more if one could say match it to a certain reel.

When I built my rods I knew almost the exact reel I would be using on them for the life of the rod.

I personally will never buy another factory built rod for my finesse fishing.