I am setting up my new rod and going to use the New Guide Concept. I have read the article in the library which is pretty much the same in Vol 7 issue #1 of RodMaker. I do not have the detailed article in Vol 3 issue #4.

Setting my rod up, I attached the primary reel that I am going to use and marked the intersection point. So far so good. After thinking about this I have a couple of questions.

1. What happens to the rod performance if I change reels? Say go to a larger one?
2. If my interestion point is off 1-2 inches does that matter?
3. Since my this rod is going to used as a saltwater rod, do you think #8 single foot Hardy will work the from the interestion point to the tip? Or should I good smaller. I will probably be using 8-12 pound test on the reel.

Thanks,

Doug

Unless you move to a substantially larger reel (and I wouldn't think you would do that) it won't make much difference. Some, but not much. The bigger problem if you move to a greatly different size reel will not be so much with the intersect point, but rather with the size and location of the butt guide.

If the intersection point is off an inch or so is of no real importance.

What you want to shoot for is a straight line path between the butt guide and the intersect guide. As mentioned in the article, sight down through the butt guide and frame the rest of the guides from there to the intersect guide. Each one should perfectly frame the preceeding one. None of the rings should appear high or low.

I would use the smallest running guides that I could. What would be the smallest possible in your case can only be determined by test casting with a similar set up to what you plan on eventually using. The difference between 8's and 7's would be nil, but I'd try the 8's and then maybe the 10's if you encounter any problems. Unless you plan on using a shock leader/knot, I suspect the 8's will be fine.

...............



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/19/2005 12:39PM by Tom Kirkman.

I'll answer just question 3: It's always good to use the smallest guides near the tip that don't cause problems. With 8-12# line you can go as small as size 6 guides, unless you use a shock leader with a bulky connection knot. I built and use a 10.5' surf rod for bluefish with size 7 guides, and it works flawlessly even with 10# line and a 20# leader, joined with a well-tied "no name" knot.

I guess the other thing is that I do not want to order a bunch of guides and never use them. So I am trying to norrow this down the guide sizes and chooses before I order them. Easier if you where following a guide placement. I know the Fuji Hardloys are not that expensive.

Doug

Do you plan to build a few more rods at some point in the future? Buying a full set or a few extra guides really isn't that expensive. Even if you never use them, you could consider it just part of the cost to have the best possible rod casting performance. I doubt we're talking about more than $20. A couple or three fishing trips worth of snacks.

..............

I know I sound cheap. Just trying to stay within my promised budget. Off I go to place the order!

Doug