Looking to balance a couple 4.5 oz, 8 ft 6 rods. One is a phillipson r86 (amazing rod formerly owned by ratfaced mcdougal, RIP) 7 wt and the other is a phillipson mf86b 8 wt. Looking to have them balance just aft of the hook keeper, under my middle finger. Any suggestions as to reasonably priced reels for the task? I just got a medalist 1498 which i am going to use on a phillipspn r90 5 oz 9 ft 8 wt, but i am thinking it will be too heavy for the other rods. Thanks for the help!

I tried a system 1 789 on it to no avail. Also tried a medalist 1595 1/2 rc and it was still somewhat tip heavy. Balanced on the hook keeper without any line out

Agree with bloodhound...system 1 reels are click pawls...system 2s are a stainless disc drag, and there are full frame heavier versions and lighter half frame versions, and they came in 67, 78, 89 etc sizes. IMO they are the best all around reel series to use to balance older heavier glass rods.

Martin 70, the disk drag adds enough weight to balance a long glass rod. There's a Martin for any rod

See, thats the issue, i have a martin 67, a 1494 and even tried an HI 1881. All are a little light, though the HI is close and will stop a tank. I may see about adding weight to it. I a l also have a bead on a nice browning strata, but its a bit more than i want to shell out. Anybody have any luck adding weight to a spool?

JW Young 1525 or 1530, Sage 108M, or 3.5" Edgar Sealy Flylyte. Also, look for a Daiwa-badged Young sold as Osprey series reels. Lots of capacity and with the heft to balance an 8.5' glass rod. These were made in single action and multipliers; narrow and wide drum. You want the 3.5" or larger reel with a wide spool (drum). You can find them often on Ebay UK.