Quick question. Building a 136 1M Lami cut 4 inches from the butt. I put it in the spine finder and it has a definitive spine (affect) LOL! In any event, it's obvious the blank wants to be in that spot under load, but when sighting down the blank this side has the worst bend (left). I have built numerous long rods, yet have not had one with this much bend. There is a straight side, but if I put that at 0 degrees, put it in the spine finder, the slightest pressure rolls the blank to the definitive spine I mentioned. My question is, would you build the rod to the straight side, or would you build it the affective spine? This isn't for a customer, which would obviously change the answer assuming the consumer didn't understand the variables in blank construction.

Personally, I'd build it on the straight side.

I am not convinced that spine makes a discernible difference to the action of the rod or the angler.

Now a days finding the spine is more a professional choice. In the old days the lamination process wasnt as good and rods built of f the spine wanted to spin themselves apart. There are some situations where it might hold some weight to spine but it is more personal pref. - Again just my thoughts. I do it all the time but that is just how I was taught.

The load you put on it in your spine finder is not at all the load that will be placed on it when fishing. Flexing a rod by hand does not approximate what happens when a line, strung through guides mounted on the rod, is loaded by a fish. In that instance, the rod will rotate (or try to rotate) so that your guides are on the bottom. This is true regardless of where you position the spine.

Some build on the spine, others use the straightest axis. Neither is right nor wrong and about all you can do is snug up a seat, tape on some guides and go cast it. Load it. See which position you prefer.

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