Yesterday I was nymphing with a 10ft rod combined with the lightest reel I own. It makes the whole outfit relatively light but quite obviously tip heavy. I was under the pretence that the lighter the outfit the more comfortable it is to fish with but the fact that it is unbalanced actually makes it quite straining to fish with all day. SO, my question is whether holding a rod with your arm outstretched all day is always going to be a tiring exercise and it's always better to use the lightest rod and reel combo you can get away with OR whether using a heavier reel to balance the outfit will actually improve things despite the added overall weight?

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Fundamentally fishing is a philosophy. A philosophy of earth, and growth, and quiet places. In it there is a rule of life, a recognition of permanences. It makes you notice the little things of nature, wherever you may be. ~Bernard Venables

I find the strain on the wrist and fingers from holding up a 'heavy' tip more uncomfortable than an extra ounce or two supported by the whole arm and shoulder with the rod tip and butt in counterbalance (and thus a rod/outfit that is controllable with a light grip). Easy enough to experiment.

Totally agree, I actually bought a slightly heavier reel to take the tip weight off, and it is much better.
S.

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"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.

Does the lighter the better arguement not apply to casting not nymphing where the rod is held out from the body.

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Mmmm... not really. The "lighter the better", comes from the tendancy to fish ultra light rods, with ultra light reels, thus providing for an ultra light tackle combination. There is something to the "balance" argument, and I agree that for nymphing, especially Czech nymphing, ity is better to have a heavier reel, that can balance the centre of gravity. I normally tuck my elbow in when my arm gets tired, or simply change hands, so it's not an insurmountable problem.
If you are fishing a lake with a relatively heavy rod, it's seems pointless to me, to go with the lightest reel, as I cant really see much advantage or disadvantage to it. For nymphing applications, I prefer to look at a reel with a smooth click and pawl drag. You are fishing with all the line on the reel, so in the event of a fast take and run by a fish, the reel shouldn't overwind, or allow the tippet to be shocked into breaking, especially if you fish as light as I like to do.

Whether casting or fishing, I like the rod and reel to balance at my hand.

So I use the reel that suits.: for the 6'6" rod I like the Daniellson midge. For the 10' 4" I like a Battenkill I - much larger.

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Dave Wiltshire

River Fly Box

Dave, would a DM with a line on balance at the hand with a line on?
I have a Hardy Flyweight 6ft #2 rod, 1.6oz and I can't find a reel with line that will balance at the hand.
I have just bought a Hardy Angel featherwight reel to match, but the reel is heavier than the rod before it's lined.
I think when you get into the 6ft carbon rod range, it's an impossible feat to find a reel so light.
S.

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"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.

Doesn't matter what reel you use with that rod Steven its always going to be heavier than the rod, hold the reel in your palm and put your forefinger along the top of the cork if you want to make it feel balanced.

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Long rods need heavier reels ,ask most salmon fly anglers ,
On my 8 and 9ft #4 rods I use a marquis #5 on the longer #4 rods ( 10 and 11.3 ) i use the biggest Uniquas (1980s model )
Works for me and my elderly arms dont ache !

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Andy Wren
Winter grayling taking a year off !
Claret not just a great dubbing colour!

You try this one looks nice and light

Here

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