Soon I will build my first 2 handed overhead fly rod. The blank is a T&T Horizon 11' #7, 3 piece. I seek suggestions on grip lengths, guidelines for guide selection and placement, etc. This rod will be strictly for overhead use.

Hi Steve,

I presume from your note that you will not be using spey casts with this rod, only overhead casting? I'm now curious why you would build an 11' rod for overhead use. My arm gets tired thinking of casting an 11' rod all day with one hand.

Foregrips on most 2-handed rods are around 14". This is less critical as you can put your non-dominant hand anywhere on the foregrip that is comfortable. The rear grip length determines the where the reel seat goes and also the pivot point for 2-handed casters. This varies with rod length and falls in the 4" to 6" range. Since you will only be overhead casting I would think that this length would be shorter, 3" to 4". I would use the rod balance measurement methodes described in RodMaker to determine the best point to mount your reel seat. If I were building this rod for 2-handed use, the foregrip would be around 13" and rear grip about 4 1/2".

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Terry

Steve,
Try R.B. Meiser to the left for some good info on your blank, he has about used them all in the search for two handed nirvana.

Spencer

Steve,

I suggest that you follow T&Ts guide placement lay-out for this rod.

Guide placement or guide size will not matter regardless if it is used as a classic change-of-direction spey delivery rod, or a two handed overhead rod.

I am sure that T&T would have guide sizes as well....I suggest that you call them....Good folks.

....The lines that you use however for these two very different deliveries will definitly be an issue.

Do some research....Check out "Dana's Spey Pages" and ask this question in an open format...Or call Rio lines.

Bob Meiser

Bob

I have talked to T&T quite a bit. T&T did not build this discontinued blank (HS1107) as a two hander, but Trevor considers it an appropriate use. The bottom stripper will need to be moved up, which affects other guides, so I can't use their spacing, etc.

I have done a fair bit of research so far, gathering info on CND overheads, Loomis 11'6" 8/9, T&T 1212, TFO1212, and some info your rods as well. SSPey on speypages, I posted my question there 2 weeks ago. Sean was helpful, as usual, but that's it.

I can easily "copy" any maker's design, but what I am looking for is WHY some configurations are preferable. The different makers all have somewhat different designs. I was hoping that a forum like this could provide functional reasons for design preferences. I'm a hobbiest at best, not a pro rod builder.

I've got a guide spacing to start with, and can figure out the rest for myself.

thanks