Has anyone used the Don Morton method for setting up a fly rod? I have my tip guides laid out, but after setting it up per Don's instructions in RM the stipper guide set-up sure looks funny. If anyone has any pics of their flyrod set-up please email me or post them on Momentoffame. I just want to see if what I'm doing is right. Cause like I said it sure looks funny how those strippers are spaced apart to the rest of the tip guides.

Thanks,
Steve

Steve,

I can't say whether your guides are positioned correctly without seeing the rod. However, I can tell you that Don has often said that how the spacing looks is not as important as whether or not it is correct. If it looks a bit odd, but is correct, then you are better than okay.

Did you see the fly rod he brought to the conclave?

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Yup, do it on every fly rod I build. Does look "Non-traditional" but the performance in beyond traditional. The key is to not get caught up on the exact measurements Don published. Great starting points but not the same for every rod. What I do is place according to what Don published, then start moving the first guide out until I get the line oscillating, then move back a little. Move to the next guide and repeat, continue the process for those first 3-4guides. It is a simple process of eliminating the oscillation. I have found that lighter weight rods allow farther spacing of the "collector" guides. The heavier (5wt up) usually benefit with that first one being right near the 4" mark. Now one thing to consider. As you move that first one out to a point of diminished return, them move back it will effect the next guides. I guess what I am saying is you may be able to move that first collector out 6 or 7 inches and not have bad oscillation, but the next guide is going to be reducing whatever oscillation that first one didn't cure. (Make sense?) So, if you place that first guide at 4 inches and it reduces the oscillation BETTER, then it may allow the next guide to be farther out because it is not having to contain as much oscillation. I don't know if this is making sense, but just play with it. Move the guides out and back, you will find the "sweet spot". You will notice the point where the line starts "shooting" out of the guides rather than "bouncing" out of the guides.
Test, test, test,..................... Once you get the first one done and play with it, your next rods will go much quicker. Spend ALOT of time on this first rod. I can set up rods this way just as quick as a traditional rod.
Hope this helped.
Elrod