I just got a new jig rod and when I attached my spinning reel to it, the balance was just a tad off. I know a lot of people counterbalance their rod by attaching lead to the rod butt, so was wondering how one goes about doing this. Any advice?

I have had my spinning rods counterweighted with lead. Got to be careful or else you can crack up your rod. First take off the butt cap. Then get some pencill lead or some round lead stock about the diameter of you rod. You might have to search for the lead stock. The first way I had it done was with 3/16 " solid core pencil lead cut in 8 " lengths. One lead is the core and it is surrounded by the other pieces of lead and is epoxied and taped towards both ends with masking tape. After it dries then sand to a taper until it starts fitting inside the rod. Don't force it. You will see where you need to sand by the shiney spots on the lead where it touches the sides. Also tape the lead to the end of the rod on the outside of the handle and try to balance the rod on your finger on the cork handle just above where the reel attaches. Then you can figure approximately how much lead you need to trim off. Continue sanding to taper until the lead starts going into the rod. Make sure you score the end so you can pull out the lead with needle nose pliers.The other newer way was to use a lathe to taper the the lead stock instead of using pencil lead. When the lead fits in withour pressure you are done and can glue the butt cap back on.

Last year I bought a counterweighting system of brass weights when I bought my XML 10' rods from Cabelas. It seems to work well because it adds on to the end of the handle so you don't have to add as much lead as described above..

tape quarters to the butt of the pole worked for me then i got a product called dip it to coat it.

There's a commercial style rod balancer available thru Bass pro or Cabela's that works great. I have them on all my float rods.

Go to rodbuilding.org and do a search on rod balancing. Has been quite a bit of discussion about the subject. Have to ask yourself at what point you defeat the purpose of buying or building the lightest rod you can and then start adding weight to it.

get a rubber butt cap from any rod building supply house. next get a bag of 1 oz egg sinkers. they well stand on end on a level cement floor...next give a good solid wack with hammer, beat them till they are the size of a quarter....I use 2....the total cost is about 279 and you got 2 sinkers left over....I use a plug full of lead on my bass flipping stick and my drift rod you well feel more bites