picking a reel to match a rod

"The wand picks the wizard, Mr. Potter."

a number of guys have e-mailed or asked, so i thought i'd repost this. if you need to find the proper line weight, drag setting and reel for a rod, let's say you've already got the rod.  here is the proceedure....

1. place any reel on the rod with any heavy line (it does not matter). run the line through the guides and tie the water jug at the end. place the rod in a holder of some sort so that the rod butt rests at a 45 degree angle. cut a hole in the jug and add weight until the rod bends to the desired flex.

i personally want the rod tip to bend until the tip is even with the butt cap of the rod. you may desire more or less. it depends upon the type of rod and your personal preferences.

2. now measure or total up the weight. let's say that you have a medium weight rod that flexes to a desired amount with only 10 pounds. you have now determined the proper drag setting for your rod.

3. now choose a line weight. different people have different preferences. you may fish as heavy a drag setting as 33% or as light as 25%. anything more risks line breakage. anything less is wasted unless line abrasion resistence is a concern. with a desired 10 pound drag setting at a 25%, you need a 40 pound line.

4. now chose a line capacity. typically people look for 300 of line capacity. in open water, you typically fight a 40 pound fish with only the first 100 yards of 40 pound mono. in moving water or fish up to twice the line rating, that fight might occur in the first 150 yards.  you can add what ever amount of extra mono or spectra you wish.

5. now pick the size of the reel. are you fishing with straight mono or spectra with a mono topshot. what ever the situation, you pick the size of the spool to fit the required amount of line. and make sure it can deliver the required amount of drag and still maintain good free spool.

hope this helps. good luck. alan