Rod balancing tips/tricks??

[Andy Lippert]

Well I recently picked up a "Zombie" rod and a Shimano Cumulus, and can't say that I've ever felt anything as balanced and amazing as either of them. The Zombie Rods rod was absolutely insane, in regards to sensitivity, weight and balance, and the cumulus trailed closely behind (imho).

My question is this...until I'm able to afford to sell all my Loomis' and purchase one of the aformentioned rods I want to properly balance all of my rods, what's the easiest way to do so? Do you just cut the butt cap off, and secure lead inside the bottom of the blank? I want to balance all of my rods, but don't want to learn the hard way by ruining one of them.

Any help is much appreciated! Thank you...


Andy

[Riplip]

BPS sells a kit that includes a cap that fits over the rod butt. You can add weight until you like it, then one wrap of tape to secure.

[Brian D.]

BPS sells a kit that includes a cap that fits over the rod butt. You can add weight until you like it, then one wrap of tape to secure.

+1

[B Becker]

++1 to the BPS slip-on balance kit. I did have trouble balancing smaller diameter butt-ends, so I went to Lowes and used the caps for table legs or chairs (metal chairs). They worked great, and I just added quarters as the weights. I wouldn't go drilling or cutting.

[fish_food]

For something a little more stock looking than the BPS version check out Fuji's EWBC weighted butt cap. I have one on an old style Loomis 904X flip stick--those telescopic flippers always felt clunky and unbalanced to me.

http://www.mudhole.com/Shop-Our-Catalog ... d-Butt-Cap
http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/butt-caps/

[bassenvy]

lots of good suggestions....you can also use shrink tubing and quarters

[Andy Lippert]

I'll be checking out that kit from BPS, and also the one from Fuji. I appreciate the suggestions, and I'll definitely be trying these out before I do any drilling/cutting.

Thanks for the feedback


Andy

[GregD]

I've found one negative to the BPS version if you are a non-boater. The black plastic cap has a large diameter which results in the butt end of the rod not fitting into the slots that are in place on some boats for the non-boaters rods.

I'm going to try to find some of those chair leg caps, or any other smaller diameter cap, that B Becker mentioned.

[fish_food]

I've found one negative to the BPS version if you are a non-boater. The black plastic cap has a large diameter which results in the butt end of the rod not fitting into the slots that are in place on some boats for the non-boaters rods.

I'm going to try to find some of those chair leg caps, or any other smaller diameter cap, that B Becker mentioned.

Just spend the $3-4 for the Fuji weighted butt cap and have a smoother, slimmer, OEM looking install. It's less bulky than a chair cap.

[GregD]

I've found one negative to the BPS version if you are a non-boater. The black plastic cap has a large diameter which results in the butt end of the rod not fitting into the slots that are in place on some boats for the non-boaters rods.

I'm going to try to find some of those chair leg caps, or any other smaller diameter cap, that B Becker mentioned.

Just spend the $3-4 for the Fuji weighted butt cap and have a smoother, slimmer, OEM looking install. It's less bulky than a chair cap.

Good idea!

Thanks, Greg