I'mbuilding an 8 ft. e-glass casting rod for casting heavy spoons and other large lures to tarpon. The customer has requested light weight guides. Normaly I would use a lowframe guide for this kind a rig (abu7000) but it this rod is very soft in the top 16". It just takes too many low frame guides in tha area. So the obvious option is to go to a high frame guide. For the thing to look right I want to use the same style guide for the whole length, not just the tip where they are needed. What do you think about bending out the feet of the larger high frame guides to lower them to the right height?

You can certainly do that, to some extent. But you're still putting lot of weight out there. Maybe try single foot guides on that light tip which would allow you to use more, but due to their lower weight wouldn't affect the performance as much.

But what you really need to try is the spiral wrap! That would let you use fewer guides thus preserving the original feel and efficiency of the blank. The rod will cast as well or better, will have perfect stability and weigh as little as possible.

The only downside, is that the look of a casting rod with guides along the bottom is disturbing to many fishermen. Of course, most are quickly won over once they feel how well it works. The Sept/Oct 2000 issue of RodMaker had a full story on one particular style of spiral wrap you may wish to try. There is also lots of info on the wrap on this board. Do a search and see what you come up with. If you try it, you will like it.

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