Did some spiral guide placement tests tonight on my Seeker IGFA20 Trolling rods, and it seemed the best "straight line" under load was 15, 40, 120, 180 degrees. Distance from stripper to 180 degree guide is 19". Seems a bit different than what I've been reading, but I have to say after trying about a zillion combinations, and different size guides, this one just "looks right". And feels really stable, smooth line, no angles, almost no side pressure on offset guides at all. All guides held on by elastic tubing, and they don't budge when I load the pole, other than the stripper wanting to rotate a bit further to about 40 degrees. Should I be trying something else that I'm missing or does this sound reasonable? Disadvantages to starting out at 15 degrees? Thanks......



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/25/2006 11:26PM by Jim Pizzale.

Since i got turned onto spiral wraps that is all I do on my Halibut rods. My boat captains love them. So I know what you mean Jim. I am waiting for summer to see how they work on the big Halibut out of Valdez.

Big John
Rio Hondo, Texas
Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting

Hey Jim, I would do a search on the bumper guide spiral(Acid) wrap. Much simpler to set up with the same great out come of stability under a load! Since I have tried it, there is no turning back. the only way to wrap spiral (Acid) rods!!
Aloha,
Jim

Hi Jim .I spiral wrap using just about the same degree setup as you .I've tried the "bumper wrap system" and always have trouble keeping the line away from the blank. To date I have no problems from the first guide being offset slightly
Ken Blevins

If there are no side loads on the transition guides, then you really don't need them, now do you? On the Simple Spiral Bumper wrap, only one guide is placed anywhere other than the 0 or 180 axis and it is there soley to prevent line rub against the blank between the butt (0 degree) guide and first 180 degree guide.

Having said that, I also need to say that there are many good spiral wrap systems out and around. If what you've come up with seems to work smoothly, then there's little reason not to go with it.

Offsetting the butt guide is something that a lot of builders do. The only possibly downside is uneven line stacking when retrieving certain lures with levelwind reels. All I can advise you to do in this respect is to go out and do some casting and retrieving of a hard running crankbait or similar and see what happens. If you don't plan to use that sort of tackle when fishing, then it's really a mute point.

...........

"The SIMPLE SPIRAL WRAP: The BUMPER SYSTEM"
Author: William "Bill" Colby [RMM-8(2)], with Tom Kirkman
RodMaker Magazine Volume-8, Issue #2, pages 16-17
Back issues ($7 each) available at www.rodmakermagazine.com

The 2 photographs and the 2 illustrations tell it all, and they clarify much of the confusion of the earlier Posts made before Colby's Article in RMM-8(2) was widely available to most subscribers of RMM. ... -Cliff Hall+++

Thanks to all that responded. Really helps to "talk" to someone about this, as it's my first spiral. Thanks for all the ideas. I have to say the spiral stuff has me pretty excited. It really does make sense, and seeing my mock up last night confirmed the concept and sold me on it. Now to try on a fish!
Poles will be used with non-level winds, and mostly trolling, so casting/uneven line stacking won't be an issue.

I'm starting my first bumper wrap and so far it is working fine for me.
It's on a CGX90H Lamiglas, can't wait to use it on Sturgeon in the Columbia
this spring.
Steve