Alrighty, this is an interesting project for me, and the first time I'll be building something like this (I usually do mostly fly rods). Anyway, the blank I'm building on will be a Rainshadow DR1024; the rod is going to be used for trolling 10lb mono, targeting brown trout in the 5-20lb. class.

I'm expecting to use a 12" rear grip, trigger style reel seat, and 3" foregrip. Karry Batson forwarded recommended spacings for the guides: 3.75-7.75-12.25-17.25-23.5-30-45-54-63.5

My question is, what type of GUIDES should I use on this type of rod. What sizes would work best with spacing such as Karry's.

My "other" question regards spine; I'm thinking I'd be best to place these guides (and the reel) on the spine of the blank, so that under load the rod naturally wants to bend that way. Any reason to place the guides on the soft side of the blank (i.e. perhaps for more power when fighting a fish)?

Appreciate your thoughts!

MP

Since it is a trolling rod, why don't you do a spiral wrap, then it doesn't make any difference as to which side you put the guides. Also since it is a trolling rod and not a casting rod why are you using a trigger reel seat? As Far as the guide spacing I imagine Karry has given you what the factory rod on the blank has. It is easy enough to figure out your self by fixing the rod with everything installed except the guides in a device to hold the rod at a 45 degree angle by the butt with the tiptop installed. tie a line to the tip top and put the partially finished rod under a load and secure the other end of the line. (BE SURE YOU HAVE WRAPPED YOUR FERRULE) Now mount your reel and thread some guides on the line equal to the number he gave you plus a couple additional and run the line out the tip top and attach a light weight. Now you can tape the guides to the blank or if you had cut some small rubber bands from sergical tubing and rolled them on the blank before you installed your tip top you can use these to hold your guides in place. Now observe the angle the line makes with the guides. if the angle is too great you might find that you can install a few extra since I imagine the factory rods will have the minimum guides necessary.

Kerry

Since it is a trolling rod, why don't you do a spiral wrap, then it doesn't make any difference as to which side you put the guides. Also since it is a trolling rod and not a casting rod why are you using a trigger reel seat? As Far as the guide spacing I imagine Karry has given you what the factory rod on the blank has. It is easy enough to figure out your self by fixing the rod with everything installed except the guides in a device to hold the rod at a 45 degree angle by the butt with the tiptop installed. tie a line to the tip top and put the partially finished rod under a load and secure the other end of the line. (BE SURE YOU HAVE WRAPPED YOUR FERRULE) Now mount your reel and thread some guides on the line equal to the number he gave you plus a couple additional and run the line out the tip top and attach a light weight. Now you can tape the guides to the blank or if you had cut some small rubber bands from sergical tubing and rolled them on the blank before you installed your tip top you can use these to hold your guides in place. Now observe the angle the line makes with the guides. if the angle is too great you might find that you can install a few extra since I imagine the factory rods will have the minimum guides necessary. there are a whole slew of guides you can use. I think I would use a ceramic ring guide equal to a hardaloy or better.

Kerry

Kerry Hansen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Since it is a trolling rod, why don't you do a
> spiral wrap, then it doesn't make any difference
> as to which side you put the guides. Also since it
> is a trolling rod and not a casting rod why are
> you using a trigger reel seat? As Far as the guide
> spacing I imagine Karry has given you what the
> factory rod on the blank has. It is easy enough to
> figure out your self by fixing the rod with
> everything installed except the guides in a
> device to hold the rod at a 45 degree angle by the
> butt with the tiptop installed. tie a line to the
> tip top and put the partially finished rod under a
> load and secure the other end of the line. (BE
> SURE YOU HAVE WRAPPED YOUR FERRULE) Now mount your
> reel and thread some guides on the line equal to
> the number he gave you plus a couple additional
> and run the line out the tip top and attach a
> light weight. Now you can tape the guides to the
> blank or if you had cut some small rubber bands
> from sergical tubing and rolled them on the blank
> before you installed your tip top you can use
> these to hold your guides in place. Now observe
> the angle the line makes with the guides. if the
> angle is too great you might find that you can
> install a few extra since I imagine the factory
> rods will have the minimum guides necessary. there
> are a whole slew of guides you can use. I think I
> would use a ceramic ring guide equal to a hardaloy
> or better.
>
> Kerry

Hey Kerry, let me address some of your comments (BTW, thanks for the RESPONSE!)

While it is "mostly" a rod that will be done for trolling, there are times when the rod is taken out of the holder and used for vertical jigging. I'm also basing some of the specs off of the rods that this particular captain uses and likes - pretty much 12" rears and trigger seats. Placement of the guides isn't so much the issue, it's more the sizing of the guides from tip to butt. Karry forwarded these specs as a starting point - butt to tip:

16-12-10-10-08-08-07-07-07


Thoughts?

MP

I don't see anything wrong with those sizes.

Kerry

You or your customer will be much happier vertical jigging with a spiral wrapped rod. I consider it the only way to go with a convertional level wind reel.

Joe Milligan
Seattle

I would use the following:

12-10-10-08-08-08-06-06-06

Now that I'm thinking about it, yeah the Spiral wrap does kinda make sense on a rod like this. INTERESTING IDEA - I MAY just have to do that (it would look like no other rod on the boat!)

Thanks!

MP