Factory built rod reel combinations, if well balanced, is just plain luck.  They don't design the rod to balance with a certain reel, they just build to a set of one size fits all prints.

These are just the musings of an old guy...

 

I never really considered balance in a fishing rod from the "state of equilibrium".

It's more like the right reel with the right rod (with the right guides and handle length).

For example: I wouldn't put a Phluegar President 20 on an 8'-foot spinning rod.
(I actually wouldn't put a Phluegar reel on anything anymore since the anti-reverse switch is gone.)

Thinking your rod needs to be balanced, to me is wrong thinking, if this was a priority than make it easy on yourselves and build short rods that balance much better on their own, the longer you go the bigger the problem will always be, you can't overcome physics, you have to remember the more mass involved the more energy involved starting and stopping the motion of casting and the further this weight is away from your hand on both sides the more energy expended. Now let's look at the rod world in general, are people worried about balance on saltwater rods? Salmon/steelhead rods that start at 7 1/2 and go to 13 ft? Musky rods to 9 ft? It goes on and on, what is different about your fishing techniques that require the extra weight and effort that are not found in these other species that use the same general lures? These people are throwing heavier weighted lures all day long too, I can't remember a day bass fishing that made me feel near as fatigued as a day flyfishing salmon, fishing for musky, etc. Walking in a free stone stream in current is far more fatiguing than standing on a boat, so is keeping your footing in seas you'll never see inland for instance. I hear all the time, "Well I'm casting and retrieving, jigging, flipping all day". Well welcome to the rodeo pal!

28 minutes ago, spoonplugger1 said:

Thinking your rod needs to be balanced, to me is wrong thinking, ...

 

I agree, but keep an open mind. My brother once brought me a rod to "fix". Well...seeing nothing inherently wrong with it, I removed the foregrip, split gripped the handle and removed the weight system in the back. This did not go over well...

Took it out in the backyard pond tonight.  Casts great.  Fishes fine even though not “balanced” but the heavier reel did help with that.  My usual approach is to set the handle length based on preference or technique.  Usually I set the rear handle length to be so the butt rests where I like it against my forearm and not extend to the elbow.  Usually about 1.5-2” so shy of the elbow.  Allows it to not get in the way when working a lure.  Heavier rods (musky or swimbait) may be a little longer, light power stuff or shorter rods may be a little shorter handle.