in clemens book, it says (for 20 lb. line) use a 20, than two 12's than what , a ten then 8"s on out to the tip ? Fishing down along the side of the boat with live bait for stripers, so casting is not an issue. Its a 8' foot lami fast action

Hi John,

I don't know about Clemens but I let blank and reel tell me what guides to use. Set up your spiral, static test. I would start with a #20 drop to two #16's and with 12, 10 and poss. 8's. What size is your top?.

On my 6'6" spiral wraped rods using a Diawa LC47 I use 1 #20, 1 #16, 2 #12 & 4 #10 and with my 7'0" I just add another #16. But your reel & static testing will tell you best.

Hank
On The Rocks Fishing
Wells, ME.

the tip is an 8. i am waiting for the reel, i m just out to get a consensus for a good starting point before the test

Hello John,
We use a size 20 or 25 for the butt guide (low , wide frame, Batson Forecast "U" seiries, Pac Bay "T" series for all the guides).
Then use 2 transition guides to move the line under. All the guides other than butt are #8.
On lighter rods, we might use 1 foot after the transition plus 1, either size 8 or size 7.
Our customers feel more comfotable with the 2 leg guides, at least at the lower end.
Also the wider frame appears to protect the guide ring some.
I feel that the size 8 are all we need to transfer the line under, anything larger is a target to get hung up in a rod box or be "bumped".


Best wishes,
Ron Schneider
Schneider's Rod Shop
Mountain Home, Arkansas
[www.schneidersrods.com]
mtnron40@yahoo.com
870-424-3381

Rons right. What I have been doing is putting the seat on the reel on, pull line to a top. Look at the line. It will cross the blank at some point with light tension, and will tell you where to place guides. This point will also get closer to the reel as pressure is put on the blank.
You should be able to go smaller depending on the knots that have to pass though the top.