pcray1231 wrote:
Of course there's a formula, but it's a function of the length and weight distribution of the rod. Yoiu'd need to measure a lot of things. Length of rod. Length and placement of grip. How far from the hand the reel is placed. etc.
It's a lever. Standard physics applies. Adding a half ounce has a greater effect if it's placed farther from the hand/fulcrum than if it's closer. For the same reasons, a longer rod takes more reel weight to balance, even if it's not heavier. There's just more of that weight farther out. Every rod is different.
Since you have the rod. It's much easier to experiment.
1. Take rod with current reel. Find balance point. Wave the rod a bit with no line out to see how it feels.
2. Get kitchen or, better yet, reloading scale. Take off reel. Weigh reel with backing + line ON (it's really heavier than 3.4 ounces due to backing and line).
Weight of backing + line = measurement minus 3.4 ounces.
3. Take spool off. Re-weigh reel without spool or line.
4. Add play-doh to scale. You want the total weight of the spool-less reel + play-doh to be 2.9 ounces + previously determined weight of the backing and line.
5. Stuff play-doh into spool-less reel. New concoction will be approximate weight of new reel. Find new balance point. Wave the rod a bit to see how it feels. Compare balance point and waving feel to #1.
It's close. The new reel may have a slightly different amount of backing, so there's a little error, but close enough for government work!
Notes:
- If you don't have play-doh (I have kids), can use anything. I've used a sandwich baggie filled with hardware nuts and then taped it to the reel. Play-doh works best, though.
- Stringing the rod will move the balance point forward a small amount, but that's true to an equal degree for both reels, so you can figure it out if you want to get that exact.
- I tend to like my balance point to be right around where the grip meets the rod when the rod is strung. So, unstrung, that's ahead of my hand, but on cork, not graphite. But that's personal preference. For heavy rod/light reel combo's, I have intentionally added weight to the reel. A little lead core line under the backing will do it. Or I've also bought the lead putty used for fly fishing sinkers, worked it on there, and then put a piece of metal tape (used for duct work) around it to make a new spool base.
- as was said, if it's too light for your liking, you can add weight. But if it's too heavy for your liking, you cannot remove weight as easily. So I'd rather error on the light side of things. That said, lighter = more expensive. So only go as far as you need to.
