Also, a lighter class trolling rod has a tip that is more prone to internal twisting (wringing like a washcloth) than a heavier class rod.
The gimbal stops the roll-over of the reel, but the gimbal does not stop the internal twisting of the rod blank. If you put a gimbal on a rod and do NOT spiral wrap it, that actually INCREASES the rod blank's exposure to the internal twisting effect. This effect is greatest when a fish runs to the right or to the left of the rod blank.
A Spiral Wrap (any one of them) helps to reduce this internal twist. A Spiral Wrap ESPECIALLY reduces the rod's ROLL-OVER effect, almost entirely eliminating it. You can still use a gimbal - to keep the rod & reel from rocking back and forth in the rod holder while trolling. And, IMO, you should install a nice gimbal on a trolling rod (and provide a protective rubber cover). But you wouldn't need a gimbal on a Spiral Wrap rod any more than you would need one on a trolling spinning rod.
If you have the AUGUST 2005 issue of RodMaker Magazine [RMM-8(4)], there is an excellent article on this subject by Tom Kirkman - "SPIRAL WRAP DEMO DEVICE". Not only does it tell you how to make one. The pictures of the demonstration say it all. Back Issues are available at [
www.rodmakermagazine.com] for $7. Small price to pay for such a persuasive salemanship tool. -Cliff Hall+++
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2006 09:35PM by Cliff Hall.
