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reel and rod balance question

3K views 13 replies 9 participants last post by  MJC 
#1 ·
I've heard that Danielsson reel is very reliable and smooth reel with sealed drag system. I have a T&T 1510-3 rod and I am not sure if Danielsson HD 11fourteen (330g=11.6 Oz) will be too heavy for my rod. Any recommendations here? Thanks.
 
#2 ·
I think it will be just right. My Islander FR4 weighs 10.8oz empty and balances my T&T 1510-5 very nicely.
 
#4 ·
Forgive my ignorance. I am a little confused now. If a 10-11 oz reel balances the rod, I would imagine a 15 oz reel will definitely tip off the balance. Unless a heavier reel is in general never a problem for two-handed rod. Is "reel to rod balance" actually referred to individual's comfrortable level or real physical definition? Thanks
 
#5 ·
taking out all the guess work

I have had a lot of emails on this very subject. The best way I have found is to follow the direction on my site; it is cheap and fool proof! Its like someone said earlier - it's personal preference (such as where you grip the cork, rod thickness, taper, end cap, reel seat placement and lock position) for this to be determined by anyone but the spey angler. I like the reel to be a bit heavier because it helps to flex the mid section in the cast, and its not like double hauling -with spey casting your, arm is in the air for a very short time compared to in the resting position. You can't be struggling with the tip all day - this will cause fatigue.
Here is the link to see how to balance your reel to your rod:

http://thespeycompany.blogspot.com/search/label/Balancing Your Salmon/Spey Rod

Tim
 
#6 ·
Speyco has it nailed

A lot of the large reels on the market today are designed, I think, mainly for the single hand salt water fly fisher. Tarpon, Stripers and such. Where excess weight would be thought of as a bad thing. Now, the other thing that enters in here, is just how much weight is being eliminated by drilling all those silly holes in a reel? Aluminum weighs .10 lb per cubic inch. Do the math. You'll be surprised.

With the exception of a few reels being made today for the blue water crowd, I would be inclined to say no such thing as too heavy. :D Especially for a fifteen footer.
 
#7 ·
Although many people here in scandinavia will disagree, a heavier reel helps with your casting(MHO) because it keeps the weight of your combo closer to you and not on the rod tip. This helpes you to keep your hands closer to your body. With 14'+ rods this has really helped me with my casting, with the smaller ones this hasn't been so important.

And yes it has helped me even when using an underhand cast with shootingheads, not only with longer belly lines.:)
 
#8 ·
Too light is the problem IMHO.

I've seen people balance a rod on their finger (single handed or double) where they hold it and if it teeters there then the set up in balanced. Something to consider is that there's no line out. Add the line into the equation and that rod becomes very tip heavy. Tip heavy is bad becasue the tip is usually at least 12' (on a spey) from the reel. That's a whole lot of torque (T = Force * Distance).

The reel on the other hand is very near the cenre of rotaion and therefor imparts almost no torque on the system. So you're kind of euchred

So really, spey turns the weight issue on its head and mandates a heavy reel to counteract the tourque of casting. Your problem now is not with too heavy, but not heavy enough!

Go with the Danielsson man.

CB
 
#9 ·
The HD 11-14 has lots of capacity. Find thin, 1" lead tape and wrap it evenly ( one or two wraps) around the bottom of the spool if more weight is needed
( I don't think so). This way you can add an extra 1.5-2 oz of weight.
Leadcore will do the same but it takes more space.

About 100 yards of # 30 Dacron weight about 0.6 oz, so with 200 y of backing and long belly line or 250+ yards of backing and mid-belly line the reel, the total weight of loaded reel is around 16 oz.
 
#10 ·
looking for load

CB is right ...those of you able to fish with the Salmon 3,Farlow, Cascapedia and others of significant weight know the pleasure of balance...especially on the older rods Sharpes,Hardy Gem,Origin,Elite and Deluxe, Lamiglas and all the others.I think the day will be coming quickly when we will see more personalized and adjustable reel set-ups.Not unlike the Ari T Hart innovation. There have been and I believe a few manufacturers that offer a sliding Reel foot system.A few years ago Hardy had a version of the Angel and I think the Swift.Balanceing the rod is done with the line out to double the rod length,if thats what you like.
And Ari T Hart is coming out with a Spey Version of their new Reel...very space age but very functional!
 
#11 ·
Balanceing the rod is done with the line out to double the rod length, if thats what you like.
Balance should be with whatever amount of line you normally fish, out of the tip top, on the water, current pulling on it. And that is a variable that is constantly changing.

Go with the heavy reel. You can always move your hand back, but there is a limit to how far forward you can hold.
 
#12 ·
Thank you all for sharing your experience and views. What is the concensus here in tems of the dimension of a good spey reel? 4-4.75 inch? I personally feel >5 in reels are not aesthetically pleasing. I am not sure whether it will impede hand/body movement in anyway.
 
#13 ·
aesthetic's

The smallest reel I have on a spey rod is a Bauer M5. I think they are about 4.25 dia. The largest are M7's @ 4.75 dia. To me, small diameter reels just look funny on a big two hand rod.
 
#14 ·
What is the concensus here in tems of the dimension of a good spey reel? 4-4.75 inch? I personally feel >5 in reels are not aesthetically pleasing.
It would seem you have answered your own question, at least in the context of the rod described in the original post.

On a shorter rod and depending on the placement of the reel seat and the depth of the reel spool a 3.75" to 4" might be more pleasing.
 
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