Ok, I notice in photos everybody has different styles of gimbals.
I have a BM Equalizer, is this suitable? If not why, and what is an appropriate one?

Thanks

Agreed Kezza. I also took some fullas out who used those JM belts and the metal gimball seriously scratched up the side of my boat.

Short answer is BM is made to sit low,too low.It is great for stand up but not jigging,because of its low positioning,you need somthing that can be adjusted and worn higher to change rod angles.

correct Ginga - I see heaps of guys trying to awkwardly wrestle their rod butts in to the gimbal knock seconds after the bite before getting any kind of control.....the end result is normally a lost fish...the other thing that gimbals seem to do is encourage 'high sticking'......In my opinion by all means wear one (something like the cheap Shimano or Dyantec belts serve the purpose) and use it when you need some sort of hiatus.

SAL72 wrote: Low-slung belts Low-slung belts come into their own when fishing on any of the big charter boats such as Pursuit, Enchanter, Oracle, Cascade etc, as when drift fishing from these boats side-on, your line angles straight out in front and away from you. This allows you to safely use your rod at angles of up to 75° at times, depending on where your line is.

Have to disagree with Josh on this.  You can still jig from a high belt when line is out wide. Low slung belts are never a good option for any jigging scenario.  When line angle is too wide, then wind up and drop again.

Kezza wrote: correct Ginga - I see heaps of guys trying to awkwardly wrestle their rod butts in to the gimbal knock seconds after the bite before getting any kind of control.....the end result is normally a lost fish...the other thing that gimbals seem to do is encourage 'high sticking'......In my opinion by all means wear one (something like the cheap Shimano or Dyantec belts serve the purpose) and use it when you need some sort of hiatus.

i leave it a fair old while to go for the gimbal  as well but for another reason.....i like to keep it under arm and pointing down as its less strain on your arms/upper body......in other words go for it king and i will just have a rest while you take off! Once they have expelled a lot of their energy and i have been getting some winds on them....then i think about going for the belt...i tend to wear my belt reasonably high too.......I dont like to use the rod much,just to lift the fish and let the reel do what its designed to do....Just my two cents worth.

I think personnal preference , disposable income and body shape all play a part in getting a gimble belt that works for you.

wouldn't think that gimble would be much diff than having a ally one with a rubber butt cap over it

depends on how tall you are too i reckon.