I've fished reel down for years, my favorite rod at the mo is a 14ft Apollo mk 1, and I have the reel 6 inches up from the butt to take advantage of the rods length and power. As already said it soon becomes second nature to jam the butt into your hip, and actually can give you better control if your landing fish from rocks or a pier as you don't need to step over your rod! The other advantage is you have the option of reaching further up the rod with your lead hand, should you need extra power for a longer cast. It's personal preference at the end of the day mate! Tight lines!