I hope this does not get too confusing - I need a logical answer for a local bass tournament fisherman who has used only conventional casting rods. He has seen a few spiral wraps and is interested in getting a spiral flippin stick set up to try. All his conversations deal in weight and sensitivity. He wants the lightest thing he can get out of a relatively heavy blank - Rainshadow IMB 843.

If I use the Alconite guides, would minimizing the number of guides make much difference. The "bumper" concept describes locating guides in a conventional manner and then rotating all of them to the bottom. This normally requires a total of eight guides and then you would add a bumper for a total of nine. If I mixed and matched the guide placement thought process and followed the new concept process for the last four or five guides I would end up using one guide less. Since the spiral wrap is basically a spinning set up on the end of the rod I see no problem. The spacing of the last four or five guides is quite different on the rods that I have built when comparing spirals to conventional. Keeping the line off the blank for conventional forces more guides. Am I overlooking something?

I am going to use a split cork grip - no foregrip - alconites - no butt wrap - three wraps of thread off foot and two security wraps on single foot guides.

He does want a hook keeper - with no butt wrap can the blank be damaged with bait banging and hooks? Would a layer of finish in the area of the hook keeper be advised?

Your comments will be appreciated!

Gon Fishn

What you propose will probably work just fine. And the place you want to reduce weight the most, is near the tip of the rod. Dropping one guide won't make much difference, but whatever difference it makes it will make the most of it in that area.

A weighted jig could possibly damage the rod if it hit it hard enough or often enough. If the jig will be kept close to the rod and near the butt where the walls are heavier, the chance of serious damage is far less.

Also keep in mind the hookkeeper that Rich Forhan uses - drill a small hole in the tirgger of the reel seat and insert the hook there.

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"He wants the lightest thing he can get out of a relatively heavy blank"

If that is true, he should pony up the money for Titanium framed guides, you can use as many guides as you like, and he'll be much happpier, you'll be much richer. If he doesn't want to buck up, tell him he doesn't really want eth lightest rod possible, and you're gonna use 9 guides.

Hay Billy - really want "eth" lightest rod possible - Got ya

Like Billy said or try to use Un Plated guides they will be lighter, like a polished frame

I would say upgrade to a Loomis GLX, titanium concept guides, a guide for the tip top, and you have one of the lightest rods around! Just an opinion.

Randy

In fact, the Loomis GLX blanks will once again be offered to custom rod builders as of August. Loomis has been under a great of strain with regards to rod and blank counterfeitting in the past few years. This was, in fact, the major reason they pulled the GLX from their blank program. They have some new safeguards in place and will announce the re-introduction of the GLX blanks at the upcomming ICast show.

But I also understand what this customer is wanting - he's selected the blank he wants and now wants to keep the weight to the minimum he can for that particular rod.


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Bill, I would say 'don't fret' over your guide placement. The simple spiral article you read was written to be just that...simple. Most rodbuilders already know how to space guides when placed on top but seem to get very confused when talking about a spiral wrap. The simple spiral method is a good way to get people to try the spiral wrap. They can set up their rods in the normal fassion and just flip them to the bottom. Since you already are comfortable with setting up a spiral wrap I would say go ahead and cut out a guide or two...we already understand that's no problem. Use the bumper and set up your guides according to how you want them to be.

If your guy wants to spend the $, then surely go with the titanium guides. If not, then I would say the Alconites will work fine. Best of luck with everything.

Jay

Like Jay says, don't fret. There are several ways people do it. I just think the line and the blank and of course the guides used tell you where to place them
I usually put the reel on, put a top on, run a line though the top and add a little weight, then place guides in a streaght line path as posible and adjust with and without pressure on the blank, then go out and cast it.