I have a Megabass Javelin that just a little tip heavy. Has anyone ever added tungsten putty to the butt cap to improve balance?

I've used tungsten bullet weights with epoxy but not putty.

Serch for some older posts about pros and cons of balancing and ways of doing it.

I dont think I would put putty on the outside of a butt cap (it thats what you mean).

 

1 hour ago, MikeK said:

I've used tungsten bullet weights with epoxy but not putty.

....

 

This is the way. ↑

Remove the butt cap and glue a weight into the end of the blank.

 

Before permanently changing a rod, fish it with the weight you intend to use taped on.  

 

Try a different reel.

I put the Cush It butt covers on some of my longer/heavier flipping rods. These help keep my ribs from bruising after a long day of flipping and hook setting. They also help balance those long rods out. I even put quarters inside them for additional weight if necessary. 

 

On 11/11/2025 at 1:15 PM, fishballer06 said:

They also help balance those long rods out. I even put quarters inside them for additional weight if necessary. 

You can also do this with rubber chair leg covers, at least this way you can test what you like for weight without permanently changing anything

Since the rod was designed for treble baits and you usually fish those in a tip down presentation why would adding weight to the rod be an advantage? Most presentations are tip down so most rods don't need balancing, even so I don't add extra weight to any rod, as rods get longer, basic physics takes over, and they all are going to be tip heavy. Moving baits negate the tip heavy feel in use due to the drag they produce.

I did buy a rubber chair leg. It balances perfectly now. Just doesn’t look good which was the reason for this post. I had also wondered about the comment referenced in the last post about a rod being fished tip down not really mattering. I have always heard that a well balanced rod feels better and reduces fatigue. 

5 hours ago, Rodney Smith said:

Just doesn’t look good

Grab some plastidip, lots of color options that might appeal to your esthetic 

@Rodney Smith- if the chair leg rubber balances it, then you have a good idea how much weight is needed.  if you want to make it permanent, get a new butt cap from mudhole or similar and replace the one you have on the rod.  Add some lead inside the butt cap that approximates the weight of the chair leg.  Epoxy it all together and you've got a clean setup.  Balance is user choice.  I prefer mine to be balanced regardless of what the rod is for.  It just feels better when you pick it up, are casting, and in use.   

I encourage everyone to build rods they believe make them a better fisherman, confidence is a big factor in fishing at your best. I would just say there is no reason to not know for sure if what you are doing with any rod is what is best for you, there is no need to begin building a rod, or finishing it without testing your assumptions, the butt cap in this instance can go on at any time, it doesn't need to be permanently on there to fish the rod. Another option is the Alps DBE balancing system, you just add or subtract discs to get your balance or put none in at all and you only have added the minor weight of the hardware involved to make it work, either way you have a nice, finished result when you're done.

I am back to square one. The rubber chair leg is heavy (1.1 ounces). I have taped on weight and need to add about 3/8 in weight. I looked at the ALS options, but they don’t list how much they weigh. Any ideas?

I do not balance my rods, but know someone who meticulously does.  He will begin by using double face tape and different coins;  if that doesn't suit him, he reverts to steel washers, of various sizes, sometimes stacking them.  When his OCD is satisfied, he uses a stronger double face tape to to hold the weight.  If he changes rods or reels the process repeats.

Fuji also makes a weighted butt cap. I comes with three 3/8 oz weights.

EWBC21.

If you counterweigh your tip down rods, when the tip is down, and the weight is up does that weight act more like a heavier rod and reel or as you intended in balancing it? How about if you kneel and reel? Remember there is no need to guess, you could stand on a chair, your porch or other raised surface to imitate your casting deck and test it.

ALL of my longer rods built for Salmon/Steelhead fishing have a 1/2 ounce to 1 ounce of this putty glued inside the butt section of the blank, works like a champ and you will never want to fish a "factory" long rod again... 

 

13' float rods get 1.5 ounces...

 

That tiny bit of weight in the butt, will make these rods seem like they weigh less than half what they did pre counterbalancing, especially in wind...

 

I have never done it on a rod shorter than 8', but if it's tip heavy, this will remedy that for sure...

On 11/16/2025 at 5:15 AM, Rodney Smith said:

The rubber chair leg is heavy (1.1 ounces).

Be careful with big corrections.  They tend to torque the rod out of the hand on aggressive casting.  Don't ask me how I know.