It is said that rookie builders put too many guides on their fly rod blanks and I'm probably no exception. I know that in the static test, the taut line running through the guides should follow the curvature of the blank and that's where I stumble right off the bat. In between the guides towards the tip section of the blank, there has to be some acceptable amount of straight line underneath an arched portion of the blank. The problem I struggle with is what is acceptable, when are guides too close and when are guides too far away?

I started with Sage's recomendations - 5 7/8", 11 3/4", 18 1/8", 24"
and they look way too far away.
So I brought them in closer to 5", 10 1/2", 16 1/2", 23" and they still look too far away - I just don't know.

I've taken digital pictures of each version and am wondering if I could email them to someone that could tell me if the guides are are ok, too close, or too far apart. And because I want to use Pac Bay titanium coated single foot guides with the eye close to the blank I can't really invert the blank with the guides straight up and space them according to whether they touch the blank or not. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Put a photo up on the photo page and see what everyone thinks.

.........

I tried to post a photo but as you can see, my photo uploading skills are about the same as my rodbuilding skills. I'm going to put the blank back into the bag and go watch football.

tim
do not give up two sponors to the left i know have guide spacing charts on their
sites st.croix and bingham enterprises this may help to get it worked out or get you in the wright direction.
joe.

Tim,
Your guide placement looks pretty good to me. From what I can see on your photograph it appears that you have done a pretty good job. What length and weight rod is it? I would tend to err on the side of too few rather than too many just because of the weight considerations especially on a lighter rod but one guide more or less of the type you are using is not going to make a huge difference. Use light thread, short wraps and minumize the amount of epoxy especially toward the tip and you will be fine.

I also think you're safe with what you have there. Your spacing even sounds pretty good to me. Better than what Sage lists really.

tim
i third that looks good did not now you posted a photo,go for it.
joe.

Tim, I'm with the others ......looks fine . John

Got Fish ?

Tim how does it cast? John

On light fly rods I put the first guide after the tip 4". On heavy I put it 5". The stripper guide, hold the rod as if you are going to grab line and start to cast. Where your hand hits the blank1-2" from there put your first stripper.