I use the marble and shot glass method for finding the spine and make my marks on the inside of the flexed blank where it wants to come to rest. I don't know if that's the effective spine or what but what would be the advantages of placeing the guides 180° of those marks? This is for a spinning rod. I was just wondering what effects it would have on casting and fish fighting.

None. I've done it both ways and when you actually go out and fish it there just isn't much difference. Doing it the way you do I would put my spinning rod guides opposite the mark you made.

But doing it the way I do I would sight down the blank and find the straightest axis and put my guides on the side with the "belly". I rarely even bother with the spine anymore.

shot glass and marbles? Is that played similarly to quarters?

I normally mark the outside of the curve as the effective spine and on a spinning rod would put my guides ON that mark. The way you do it I would put my guides opposite the mark.

[www.rodbuilding.org] read this it will help

Hi Steve,

Each of us chooses why we design our rods the way we do. Some base it on belief in a system, others base it on I have been doing it this way for years and have no problems and others say Joe Blow told me to do it this way. I am sure there must be many other reasons. And guess what? All the rods probably have caught their share of fish.

This is how I prefer to set up a spin rod. After the blank is chosen I ask the customer is this to be a lure casting or a bait bottom fishing rod? The lure caster will be constantly casting where as the bottom bait fisherman casts out and lets the bait lay there for awhile. The lure caster is usually looking for maximum distance and accuracy. The bait angler looks to get the bait out there but may have to fight a big fish against a strong current. So I give them the option, casting distance/accuracy vs. fish fighting.

I use a roller bearing spine finder, place a turn of masking on the blank about a couple feet down from the tip, push down on the tip till the blank stops, mark the masking tape on the top side of the blank, repeat several times to make sure I have the correct spot marked and proceed. For max casting distance/accuracy I place the spin guides on the top of the curve as this is the way the blank will be loaded just before you swing forward with the cast. For fish fighting, I place the spin guides under the blank as this is the rod position while fighting a fish.

So, does all this mean anything? I believe it does. I believe I build a better rod this way and the customer gets a better tool. I also believe that it eliminates wear and tear on the blank and components in the form of torque and twisting. Some designer/builders go to even greater lengths to develope a better product.

On the other hand a fisherman walks into a tackle shop on the beach, buys a surf blank, 3 wire guides, a tiptop and a roll of black plastic tape. In less than 15 minutes the guides and tiptop are taped in place as well as the reel. Knee deep in the suds and he is into blues and stripers!

Different strokes for different folks!!!

I hope this answers your question.

Capt Neil

Ps, I am a big believer of spiral wrapped rods!