Ok, I'm working on my first musky rod - it is on an 8' Allstar blank (thanks Andy!), action will be good for bucktails and lighter jerkbaits. I am planning on doing a simple spiral and going with Forecast Zerconium guides. What do you musky experts think of this configuration:

16/12/10/8/8/8/8/8 (plus the bumper)- the 16 is a double foot guide, the rest are single foot. Bumper will likely be a 12 or 10 double foot. I am thinking a DF will be good here simply for the added durability over a SF - it might be kind of vulnerable hanging off the side of the rod like that??

Any drawbacks with going to single foot guides vs. double foot? I'm a bit leery of the SF's, very tempted to just go with DF's...

I may keep this rod, or I might try to sell it to help finance this incredible addiction. I'm worried that I have planned too many "gimmicks" for this rod. I understand the performance benefits of the split handle, spiral wrap, and single foot guides, but Joe Consumer will look at it like it's a 3 dollar bill :-)
thoughts??

Oh yeah, for winding checks on the split grip area, I had a hard time finding anything big enough. I ended up at Ace Hardware and bought some simple rubber O rings to use - it actually looks really, really good - very sleek and simple, the way I think a musky rod should look :-)

Thanks!!

Hi Rich,

Sounds pretty good. I just did one and I did pretty much the same except I used a #8 fly guide for the bumper (all that it does is prevent the line from eventually rubbing the finish off of the blank) and ceramic fly guides for the last for to the tip!

I have used small single foots on every musky rod that I have built and have had no problems.

Mike

thanks Mike - I might go with this;

16 DF
8 fly bumper
12 SF
10SF
8 fly to the tip (4-5 guides)

How does that sound???? I'm thinking of the Forecast black framed guides with blue zirconia rings. Only thing I can't figure out is why they are substantially cheaper than the same guide, with a silver or TICH frame (same blue zirconia ring). Seems odd, are the frame finishes that different??

I don't understand why anyone would step down guide sizes like that? If you're gonna go 16 with an 8 bumper, go out to the tip with all 8's. Is there a problem with this?

If you are comfy with double foots, go that route. If you think there will be a problem sith the single footers, don' t use them. It took me a test rod to be comfortable with them, but I know there are certain apps which I can get away with them, and others I cannot. to each his own - but you gotta do what is comfortable to you.

Hi Rich, I have built many musky rods and have one suggestion. Check the diameter of your reel, you may want to use a 20 as no. 1 guide. The line may rub on the 16. Good luck, Gene

Thanks Gene - reel of choice will likely be a 5500C3 or 6500C3, possibly a Shimano Corsair 400.... Maybe I'll pick up a 20 butt guide so I can play with it.

Billy - I've been wondering the same thing - it doesn't make sense to put a tiny little bumper in there, then jump your guide size back up - esp. if you give some thought to the path the line will take. Is it ok to go 16/8/8/8/8/8/8/8 ? Anybody have any input on this??

All my rods that I build go like this (I do not use a Bumper, I use my own method which is a variation of everything) 20-12-all 10's. 20-all 12's. 16-10-all 7's. 12-all 7's.

For me, nothing is ever set in stone. At first I tried several different guide set ups, so now I know based on the reel, what the rod is going to be used for - I can quickly determine what guide sizes will probably work off the bat. I still static deflect to make sure the line flow works for me, if there is something I don't like I change things - different guide size, move this guide up, that one down, add a guide, maybe take a guide away & re-adjust.

I also suggest, if it is important for the rod you are building - to test cast it. 90% of my rods casting distance is not important, so I build them basically with an extra guide or 2 so they do not break when I high stick or swing fish up over the rail (party boat fishing). However, all my rods do cast well (I did test cast teh first bunch, so the stripper guide is basically in teh same place on them all), and imo every rod if built halfway decently will cast well with braid. BUT, if you need or want to maximize casting distance you should definately test cast several set ups/arrangements to see which one works best for you.