I've settled on a Seeker CLB 708B for my first custom trolling rod and first spiral wrap. I've searched previous posts but can't find the exact answers I'm looking for. They are:

1) How do you tell where the first 180 degree guide should be?

2) Should the first guide be at 0 degrees or should it start the transition? Has anyone built this rod in a spiral wrap that has any guidance?

Many thanks.

For a strictly trolling rod I personally would put my butt guide at 60 degrees, next guide at 120 degrees, then 180s the rest of the way. You can generally put your butt guide where it would normally go (as far as distance from the reel) & should have the transition complete in another 15 inches or so. Does this sound logical to everyone else? Should be a pretty straightforward setup I think.

Jay

On that rod, I think I'd put the first 180 guide at the lock up point. The first guide should go where the reel, line and foregrip tell it to go. The line shouldn't touch the foregrip or blank when the rod is stressed. Your first guide will always start the transition, even if it's at 0 degrees. Mine will always be slightly off 0 degrees toward the spiral side.

That was my other question: What is the lock-up point and how do you determine it? Thanks

Make sure you don't put too much line on the reels if you put the first guide at 60 degrees or more. Even with a levelwind reel you will end up with line stacked more heavily on the offset side. I've seen it happen with three different kinds of level-wind reels, and it happens every time. It's not a problem at all as long as you use the proper amount of line on the reel to begin with.

When the rod is flexed to the maximum, past 90 degrees, but not at the "oh , my God, it's gonna break" point, you are at the lock up. With that blank, you should have room to make the transition in the space between the foregrip and the first 180 guide placed at the point of maximum bend.