I have a glass blank that has 2 spines that are 180 from each other, I am guessing that you would put them on the sides with the guides on the soft sides? I don't figure you want them on top and bottom because that would make it act funny (only guessing, no expert). I have only dealt with blanks that have had 1 spine so I am really not sure what to do....... please help! it doesn't seem that one side of the "soft sides" is softer than the other.

Thanks, Mike

No, it won't make it "act funny." It won't really make it do anything at all.

The effective spine is referenced via the outside of the curve when the blank is stressed (flexed) and allowed to roll into its desired position. If you have two such axis, that seem about the same, try locating the spine by sitting the blank butt on a marble and then pressing straight down on the tip. Repeat this several times and the effective spine should come up the same each time.

Read the spine information on the FAQs page. It will give you more information.

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I just experienced the same thing with a Loomis GL3 blank. Being new to flyrod building, I determined the strongest part of the blank, the one that required the most force to bend, was the spine. I placed the guides 180 degrees from this point even though this was the "next most" rigid part of the blank.

Since the soft sides were at 90 degrees either side of the strongest point, maybe I shoud have placed the guides there. I don't have clue.

When I started this project, I thought detirming the spine and placement of guides whould not be this difficult. It is certainly more involved than the pictures in the books display.

That's not the spine - that's the stiffest axis and is usually located along the blank's natural concave bend or curve.

Guide placement is far more important than spine location. Take advantage of the articles in the online library here for more information on good guide placement. Don't worry too much over where to put the guides in relation to the spine, however, it really won't make that much difference.

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Tom ,would it be correct to say that finding the spine on surf rods is secondary to guide placement.It seems to me you once made a differentation between surf and fly rods.

I would think that spine location and orientation is one of the least important things on any rod. There is not particular spine orientation that will keep the rod from functioning well. One way or the other might cause it to feel or perform very slightly differently, but there is no where you can orient it that is going to undermine the performance of your rod.

On the other hand, set up a poor guide system, build a shoddy handle, use guides that are too heavy, etc., and you can make what could have been a great rod a downright poor performing rod.

There are many ways to make a bad fishing rod, but spine orientation isn't going to play a large role in it.

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