Iam building a offshore rod (tuna). Do the guides need to be under wraped? If it matters I going to spiral wrap it.

Lee

They don't need to be, but on rods that heavy it won't hurt anything and it's felt that underwraps can help prevent the guides from twisting or slipping against the blank under severe loads. Of course, if you spiral wrap it, that same type of pressure on the guides will no longer exist. They'll already been in the positions they attempt to go to if they had been wrapped on top.

But again, underwraps won't hurt a thing on a rod that heavy.

.............

Be on the safe side! Underwrap and maybe a good coat of permagloss for a hard coating that is nice to wrap over

I'm predicting 2/3 of the replies will say Yeah, about 1/3 Nay.
I say absolutely. Even if you taper the guide feet well and all that, I just want to know there is something between that guide foot and the blank. Light-duty sticks rarely see 10# of drag. You will probably use AT LEAST 10# of drag, if not 25#+. With a tuna stick, you are not worried about adding a few extra grams of weight to a rod that already weighs one pound built with a reel that pushes 2 pounds or more when loaded with line. I would say, build that rod like you are going to war. I can think of no sane reason NOT to underwrap a heavy-duty salt-water rod, ESPECIALLY a TUNA stick. I also think the underwrap gives a softer surface into which the guide foot can "settle" or sink slightly, and not slide along the rod blank when flexed (which would definitely make the thread finish / epoxy crack.) ... Well, that my 25 cents. -Cliff Hall, Gainesville, Florida-

I say yes, not necessary for performance but gives you many more options for wrap designs.

Hadn't thought about a coat of permagloss Bill. I've generally used a coat of CP. Thanks for the tip!

Regards

Remember if you want the color not to become translucent, put a coat of CP first, then the Permagloss. Unless you are using matalics or NCP thread, they don't need it. The CP that is

I work as a deckhand/cook about four days a month on a boat that "chunks" for big yellowfin (150 # average) at the Midnight Lumps off the Louisiana Coast. The key to winning the battle with these bruisers is to set a drag that will turn the thing and not allow him to keep control very long. We set drags 35 - 40 lbs and now use spirals almost exclusively. I learned long ago the three word phrase that keeps me young and sturdy. When a yellow fin inhales a chunk you say "Here Hold This" to the person standing next to you and quickly hand off the stick! I love to do the gaffing! I do not believe that I have ever seen a tuna stick that was not underwrapped. I think it is a necessity and also I would question the use of CP on the thing as well. I want the strongest thing I can put together when tuna enter the equation.

By the way, just got through redoing a couple of standups. Have you seen the Metallic Gold Outline Graphic of a Yellowfin that Decal Connection has available. They really look awesome on black thread.

Gon Fishn