A week or so ago I inquired about using snake guides on a spining rod. Thank you to Larry, & Tom for your input, and also to Tom for your book "Rod-Building Guide". This book was recomended by Neal Cissel. He has been a BIG help!
Back to the rod. It's a 6'6" Medium graphite/composite, split grip modified from one of George Roth's rods, with only a 1/4" cork ring in front & rear of the reel seat. I used 5 guides plus the top, with the last 3 guides being snakes. It is lighter & performs as well as my favorite "off the shelf" rod. The only problem I have is the sensitivity is not there. I'm not sure if it is the heavier medium action, or the composite in the rod. Either way, I'm starting the same layout on a 6'6" M/L graphite rod today. I think the medium rod will be fine live bait fishing.

Brian,

I could be wrong, but I would suspect that you have to few guides (at least for me) On a 6'6" rod, I usually end up with 7, sometimes 8, set in the Concept system (Library above) for maximum efficiency and sensitivity,
Try setting one up like that with taped on guides and see if it makes a difference

Mike

Way to go, Brian! The best way to find out whether or not an idea works is to try it, and you're definitely "outside the box" with this one. More guides won't increase your sensitivity; a bare blank is as sensitive as it can be, and anything added only lessens that.You may find that a different guide set-up casts farther for you.. or maybe not. If you used standard stainless guides you'll wanta watch the uppermost ones for grooving if the rod gets a lot of use.Good job.Catch a big one. Barry

Brian

Just as an addendum to what Barry said: You also might want to make sure that you keep an eye on your mono line using snake guides. I would bet that there is more friction on them than on the ceramic guides. That being the case, you could experience excess wear on the line due to the friction. That is one reason I have gone to all ceramic on my fly rods.

In my opinion, going to snake guides is regression in optimum performance on a rod. The greater friction could be one of the reasons for the cause of the lack of sensitivity you are experiencing.

But you have to try these things to see if they work. Keep us informed on your findings/conclusions.