I noticed in some of the photo archives that hook keeper wraps go right against the winding check, did I see that correctly? Also, should the wraps be the same width as the guide wraps?

A wrap generally goes up against the winding check for looks, particularly if it is plastic check. I sometimes put a metal check over the wrap so that it is not glued to the blank. A longer wrap will serve to butt up against the check and secure the hook keep. Length to taste, but you want the hook keep far enough from the grip to be functional. I often leave the hook keep off.

I usualy place "hook keepers"opposite the "crank side" on top or below on the rod shaft, I do this so as not to catch your hand on a hook or multi hooks of a lure, when you reach for the crank on the reel. On boat rods I put 2 keepers, 2"---4" apart, as most boat rods are used for two hook bottom fishing. On two piece surf rods I have been known to mount a keeper just below the ferule on the opposite side of the guides, so when the rod is "at rest"in the spike, the hook is now at arm height or so , making acess safer and easier.
Larry

Bruce, the few times I put on hook keeper, I put it as close to the foregrip as possible to help keep it out of the way, so a wrap naturally ends up at the grip or check. No rule saying it has to be so, but even if I don't put on a keeper, I like a small wrap right in front of the grip, a space for inscriptions/decals/blank viewing and then the butt wrap.

As far as the width, I try to get it to flow with the whole look of the rod. It may be smaller or larger than the first guide wrap, but that depends on the butt wrap if any, the taper of the blank, and what just looks good. I've rewrapped many a "foregrip" wrap when the entire rod was wrapped to get it to flow how I liked it.

Beauty.. eye.. beholder... blah blah blah.. No rules dude!