I have searched and not found any definite answers to this question. When a blank is curved, and the spine is not aligned with the curve, what are the pros and cons of building on either the spine or the curve. I ask this because I have a blank that has a pretty good curve in it. I am building it into a 7 foot medium action spiral wrap casting rod. From what I have gathered by searching, if I build on the spine, and the blank curves to one side, then it may not cast accurately. I want to make sure that I can cast straight with it when completed. I am of the understanding that if I build on the curve of the blank, it will cast straight, and the spine will not matter with the spiral wrap. I thank everyone in advance for their opinions.

Mike,
As you may know there is a lot of controversy about this and you may want to do a search to get a variety of opinions. My feeling is that there is way too much made of spine and the allignment of the guides relative to the spine. In fact, for a rod that will be used to cast with, one can make an argument that for best casting accuracy the spine should be on the plane of the cast or about 90 degrees from the guides. If I were you, paricularly if the rod is going to be spiral wrapped, I would allign the guides that are toward the tip, after the transition guides, on the bottom of the curve in the blank, and not worry about the spine. If you can tell any difference in your casting accuracy then your casting accuracy is one heck of a lot better than mine.

Mike,

If it is a real noticeable curve I build on the curve not the spine.

Hank
On The Rocks Fishing
Wells, ME.

Mike,

Go to the FAQS and read away. There is probably more there than you will care to read.

Later,
Gerald Mc

Just the opinion of a novice rod-builder, but avid bass fisherman. The spine doesn't amount to much on a casting rod. You may achieve a few more feet in distance due to the rod loading more efficiently on occasion. The spine effect is only effective if the spine is in alignment with the casting plane. I doubt I cast on the same plane twice in a day.

I would suggest using the spine to your advantage in guide placement. Much of that is explained in the FAQ as mentioned above.

Factory rods would tend to put guides to compensate any curvature. A customer might be aiming down the rod and choose the one that looks 'straight', even though a better use of spine could help performance better. Whether it makes a whole lot of difference just varies according to blank and expectation for a model, though for the peak 'ideal' that a custom rod builder can present for a had crafted rod, the location and use of spine is what I'de go for.