7-1/2 ft popping rod blank - Page 4

stickbom · 07-14-2007, 11:41 PM

IMHO Gimbals on spinning rods are not completely redundant. Just a little less crucial as opposed to overhead outfits. It take a little more effort to keep overheads positioned on top while fighting a fish. Spinning reels are always positioned below and gravity takes care of that pretty well. Personally, its a lot more challenging to pop a gimbal onto the gimbal pin when there's a big fish hell bent on freeing itself from the lure that's stuck in its mouth. With rubber gimbal caps you can slide it very easily onto the hole in your fighting belt. I've seen a lot of anglers struggling to get their gimbal onto the gimbal pin and as a result allowing for line slack/thrown hooks.

stickbom · 07-15-2007, 01:05 AM

Yup, that's why I'm not totally against the idea of a gimbal

I normally just fit a rubber cap over it. Wouldn't go the extra mile just to get one installed if it's not a factory fitted item though.

STx Fisherman · 07-15-2007, 02:24 AM

With practice....you get pretty quick at putting the gimbal into the belt. You learn to hold the rod tip high as you position the gimbal.....keeping the pressure on the fish is definitely tricky.

MrBill · 07-15-2007, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STx Fisherman

With practice....you get pretty quick at putting the gimbal into the belt.

Look at the picture of this belt plate. It was brand new last year. This is only after about 10 trips.

Thank goodness, it's not a bright dark color. Otherwise it would look like a lifetime of mistakes.

Most of the damage was from two trips. One trip I had a mean blue marlin on a 50W in heavy seas for two hours. The rod must have come out of the plate at least 20 times. Trying to find the gimbal pin with 32#'s of drag in heavy seas will cause some scratches. Without the plate, I would have been bleeding in areas that would have hurt real bad.

Another trip to the floaters in November a cold front arrived and brought 12-14 foot seas with it. We had a strong tuna bite going on and trying to stand up and fight tuna with heavy drag settings tend to make the gimbal come out of the pin.

jeremy airey · 07-16-2007, 05:52 AM

Hi Chaps
Only just caught up with this thread again.
Re. that 'gimble' thing.
My remarks only apply to spinning and 'acid' wrapped rods when fight a fish and my question was asked based on my all too limited experience of heavy drag fishing.
I like the way the lack of a gimble enables the rod the most natural position in accordance with the forces acting upon it - ie if is pulling at (say) a 10% angle then the rod will naturally cant over in that direction. Now it can't do that if it is retrained by a gimble. The whole fight just feels smoother to me that way. This is something my wrist and I presume your's does naturally when using lighter tackle and no belt.
I agree gimbles are great for keeping rods in place in racks and rod holders absolutely no arguement there.
regards
Jeremy

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07-14-2007, 11:41 PM	#31 (permalink)
stickbom Junior member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 19	IMHO Gimbals on spinning rods are not completely redundant. Just a little less crucial as opposed to overhead outfits. It take a little more effort to keep overheads positioned on top while fighting a fish. Spinning reels are always positioned below and gravity takes care of that pretty well. Personally, its a lot more challenging to pop a gimbal onto the gimbal pin when there's a big fish hell bent on freeing itself from the lure that's stuck in its mouth. With rubber gimbal caps you can slide it very easily onto the hole in your fighting belt. I've seen a lot of anglers struggling to get their gimbal onto the gimbal pin and as a result allowing for line slack/thrown hooks.

07-15-2007, 01:05 AM	#32 (permalink)
stickbom Junior member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 19	Yup, that's why I'm not totally against the idea of a gimbal I normally just fit a rubber cap over it. Wouldn't go the extra mile just to get one installed if it's not a factory fitted item though.

07-15-2007, 02:24 AM	#33 (permalink)
STx Fisherman Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 631	With practice....you get pretty quick at putting the gimbal into the belt. You learn to hold the rod tip high as you position the gimbal.....keeping the pressure on the fish is definitely tricky.

07-16-2007, 05:52 AM	#35 (permalink)
jeremy airey Junior member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 7	Hi Chaps Only just caught up with this thread again. Re. that 'gimble' thing. My remarks only apply to spinning and 'acid' wrapped rods when fight a fish and my question was asked based on my all too limited experience of heavy drag fishing. I like the way the lack of a gimble enables the rod the most natural position in accordance with the forces acting upon it - ie if is pulling at (say) a 10% angle then the rod will naturally cant over in that direction. Now it can't do that if it is retrained by a gimble. The whole fight just feels smoother to me that way. This is something my wrist and I presume your's does naturally when using lighter tackle and no belt. I agree gimbles are great for keeping rods in place in racks and rod holders absolutely no arguement there. regards Jeremy

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