Balanced, unbalanced, rod, reel....as long as the gear works, accuracy is ALL about PRACTICE.

 

Did someone say practice?

 

 

 

What he said ... To me it's way more about practice than anything else.  You can have the finest rod and perfectly tuned reel and still suck at hitting a spot.

It's the indian, not the bow or arrow.  Give me an old 80's round abu and the rod of the era and I can still rattle cans at whatever (reasonable) distance you choose...  just as I can with my custom rods and "nice" reels of today. (pitching or casting, it makes no difference to the equipment)

I started out fishing with a 5' rod for trout. I learned to be very accurate in stream fishing. It's the difference between losing tackle or not in making accurate casts.

I like to use the 5'6" to 6'6" spinning rods were I'm very accurate. Switching to the longer rods with the heavier line does take some practice.

with the baitcasters I need a lot more practice. It's a matter of how we hold the rod to cast and when we let the spool go. I finally after 10 practice casts I now moved the landing sight from my left to straight out in front of me. My old educated thumb remembered the old days so I can cast with the magnets off. But I learned on Penn saltwater reels.

I can hit a 6" circle at any distance with a spinning outfit. Now I need to be that good with the baitcaster.

Don't ask me on how good I am with a fly rod yet. I been itching to go bass fly fishing.

Accuracy resides where most in this sport is ----> behind the rod handle.

Sorry, but I think the rod also plays a part in accuracy.  Sure...enough practice can result in good accuracy in spite of the rod. 

 

I have a couple rods (at least) where the tip "bounces", "vibrates" or whatever word you want to attribute to it after the cast.  Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see how these rods can be as accurate as a rod whose tip settles down quickly after the cast.

It´s not only one factor, accuracy is multifactorial and everything in the setup has an effect on it, rod handle style and length, rod length, rod elasticity, line type and diameter, lure weight, size and shape, reel type and in the dude ( how you cast, how you grip the rod n´ so on ), add all the environmental factors that impact how the lure flies which also will add to determine where it will land.

I used 6' spinning gear growing up and picked up baitcasting, using 7' medium rods, within the last couple of years. I'm stiill more accurate with spinning gear, but the more I use baitcasters there's less a difference.