Gimbals
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Heavy Metal - Jig fishing
Forum Description: Anything related to jig fishing here
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53151
Printed Date: 20 Jun 2026 at 6:43pm
Topic: Gimbals
Posted By: ancient mariner
Subject: Gimbals
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2010 at 4:39am
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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 |
Replies:
Posted By: Kezza
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2010 at 6:38am
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I've found that ARMPIT is the best brand by far....cheap as well! ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: biggear
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2010 at 7:06am
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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. ------------- Dont let the grey hair fool you! |
Posted By: SAL72
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2010 at 7:07am
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Excerpt of an article from a mag, written by Josh Morrison
Gimbal belts
There are basically two types of gimbal belts suitable for jigging: high-mounted and low-slung belts. High-mounted belts: High-mounted belts are best suited to trailerboat jiggers, where we often back the boat up and fight the fish straight up and down. In this instance, having a belt that’s high-mounted allows a flatter and safer rod angle of between 45° or less when fighting fish.
Try fighting a fish straight up and down with a low-slung belt; it almost forces you to high stick the rod, as the butt section sits so low down that – even after extending your arm out as far out as possible – you can’t get the rod down flat enough, so risk point-loading it. Low-slung belts |
Posted By: Falco
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2010 at 7:56am
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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.
Armpit,guts,Dynatec are cheap options...JM,seven seas are nice options.
------------- as dead as dead is |
Posted By: ginga
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2010 at 8:54am
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Try not to get too hung up on gimbals, use what suits your boat. This can be tested whilst still at the ramp, put the gimbal on and then load up a rod through it and see how it feels.
Never i repeat never be in a rush to put your rod in a gimbal, i see so many fish lost when guys are going for the gimbal and it is frustrating, take your time and only go for the gimbal when there is some load on the rod. NO SLACKLINE please ------------- www.extremesportfishing.co.nz. Agent for Carpenter, Orion and ASWB products |
Posted By: Kezza
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2010 at 9:04am
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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. ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2010 at 11:14am
Personally I like the old "Grim-balls" that you clip onto your rod-butt. They are not too much of a pain to leave on there while using the rod jigging (or whatever), andprovide all the padding you need for cushioning and holding the rod firmly. ...well, I like them anyhow.... |
Posted By: ChrisW
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2010 at 1:09pm
If you still want options, then go for the JM gimbal plate which has a high and low mount for your gimbal.
CaptA - I originally used the SOKIT which is the original rod butt gimbal and found that the big fish we were encountering still put too much pressure on a tender body part! At times the Sokit would come off the gimbal while jigging and fighting which is exactly what you don't want to see happen.
It did not take long before I found a proper gimbal belt was much more comfortable and reliable.
But that is just my opinion. ------------- give it death! |
SAL72 wrote:Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2010 at 3:04pm
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Possibly so Chris, possibly so... although in my case, of course, there is so much padding around the Grim-ball (yes, I remember the sokits too) and my "contact point" that it seems pretty much fixed and immovable on me. I suppose for skinny types like you, there may be more room for play :-). On more Reubenesque types like me, the grimball forms itself into a perfect little round divot in the general region of "down there", and needs a Jimmy-bar to pop it out some times :-) |
Posted By: laidbackdood
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2010 at 3:28pm
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. ------------- Once the idiots turn up..Im outta here...No time for Drama Queens. |
Posted By: marx
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2010 at 3:33pm
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My cheap plastic ($20) gimbal has never let me down, its comfortable and small. I like running big drags so fighting underarm for duration not really an option, rod gos into gimbal once I know for sure the fished is hooked up solid. Find those sokit things pretty unco and definitely not ideal if you are jigging all day. ------------- Science for the mind and Art for the soul. |
Posted By: Titahi
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2010 at 3:35pm
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I think personnal preference , disposable income and body shape all play a part in getting a gimble belt that works for you. I have a preference for a low slung belt, my disposable income alowed me to get a Dynatech gimble which proved difficult for me to use owing to the height at which it sat. I took an old gun sling belt and doctored it to suit, including some stainless snap connectors for easy removal or addition of the Gimble. It has suited me fine, even being used to subdue very stupid marlin. My abillity to spawn remains intact!!  ------------- "I love standing by the ocean and just knowing what its for" |
Posted By: Raging Bull
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2010 at 6:27pm
Just cut the line if it gets too hard!
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Posted By: bush billy
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2010 at 9:02pm
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Posted By: Sea Draggin
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2010 at 10:41am
I have been having my rods built with these rubber gimbals from batson. The best of both worlds and no belt needed. |
Posted By: green guy
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2010 at 6:32pm
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wouldn't think that gimble would be much diff than having a ally one with a rubber butt cap over it would it???? ------------- http://www.facebook.com/hauraki.hillbillys |
Posted By: mozz
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2010 at 7:12pm
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Ive got no gimbal knocks on jig rods under 300g just round alps butts. you will always gain more line off the king at the start of the fight by shortpumping with the rod under your arm than you will by having it in the gimbal IMHO Have a look at smitty's belts on the american websites. great design and wouldnt be hard to make one up yourself. we use them for everything up to 80lb then bring out the aftco or bm gimbals
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Posted By: grant34882
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2010 at 11:04pm
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depends on how tall you are too i reckon.
On enchanter a few weeks ago every one had a different gimbal belt.
One of the blokes had a black magic equaliser and spent the whole trip high sticking kings with me standing beside him waiting to get a graphite shower. Would be a good belt if your about 6'3, tall enough to clear the gunwales.
i use an old topgun gimbal belt. Fits around at waist height and suits me perfectly.
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Posted By: ancient mariner
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2010 at 2:17pm
So what you are saying is it is a height thing also? I am 6'4 so does this mean the equalizer would be suitable? |
Posted By: grant34882
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2010 at 2:42pm
| yeah mate, tall blokes with long arms would find the BM equaliser far easier than blokes my height, being 5'10 |
Posted By: Falco
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2010 at 3:13pm
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Isnt it all relative? a low gimble is still a low gimble creating higher rod angles when pulled toward the angler regardless of the anglers height? ------------- as dead as dead is |
Posted By: Kezza
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2010 at 3:30pm
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now you're just being Smart Andrew - ya like that mate? ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: ancient mariner
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2010 at 4:52pm
Thats what I was thinking Falco. Ok, will leave the equalizer for the "real" fishing. 
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Posted By: grant34882
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2010 at 5:20pm
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the short bloke i was referring to had to high stick the rod all the time to clear the rod over the gunwales of the boat. If your 6'4 your got about a 7 or 8 inch height advantage over him and will clear the gunwales easy. |
Posted By: mozz
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2010 at 5:34pm
| I still think Jimi's gimbal made out of a flymo cover was the best I have seen |
Posted By: stellajigger
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2010 at 5:46pm
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yip team that Mozz ------------- Live Bait , the Lance Armstrong of catching KINGFISH |
Posted By: JTF
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2010 at 7:46pm
From this  To this  |
Posted By: mozz
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2010 at 8:02pm
| you look like you have just done a 15 beer funnel in that pic bro! |
Posted By: Nepptune
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2010 at 8:04pm
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You look truly awake and in tune with the world in that pic Jimi.... ------------- TO RIDE, SHOOT STRAIGHT AND SPEAK THE TRUTH. 
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Posted By: stellajigger
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2010 at 8:24pm
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classic case of to much smack,thats why there is a smacking law ------------- Live Bait , the Lance Armstrong of catching KINGFISH |