Hello, I'm new here and still new at rod building. I have built a few and am still learning. Thanks in advance for any help.
I recently bought the Clouser 8'9" 8weight blank made by St. Croix. I emailed them for a guide space chart and this is what they gave.
41/2" 9" 14" 191/2" 261/2" 351/2" 461/2" 60" 76"

When I measured these off they just didn't look right to me. Any one out there build one of these? If so does this sound right? If not any help would be appreciated.


Thank You,
Anthony Pagley

Now that you've got the guides on, read the library article on static guide placement. With that you'll know for sure.

Good luck on the rod.

Anthony:
You might try starting these dementons. Then adjust acordingly with the static system
4-1/2
9-5/8
15-1/2
22
29-1/8
37
45-1/2
54-5/8
64-1/2
75

I've built this rod. I have since sold it too, and didn't record the guide spacing I used. I can tell you I put my stripping guide about 29" from the front of my fly reel almost all the time. I rarely use a factory guide placement chart, or if I do it's for reference only. Try a stripper guide 29" from the front of your reel, place the other guides as you like, cast the rod and make adjustments. Do a static deflection test too and then go cast it again. I've almost always found that if I move the stripper an inch or so, up or down (rarely down) the blank from the 29" point I can fine tune it. I used Fuji LNSG, LSG guides, 16 stripper, 12 stripper, 10, 8, and 7's. The rod was very nice to cast with a nice medium-fast action. It is indeed a nice bass rod. I hope this helps you.

Thank You all for the advice.
I am going to try everything suggested. Including The Stripper guide adjustment suggested by John. I did tape the guides on with the factory settings and it casted pretty well. I want to get the best out of this rod because, It is for my own use.

The factory uses only nine guides. Should I be using ten?

I Am using H&H Low Rider Bridged Strippers #16 and #12, and REC Saltwater Single Foot #4 and #5 Guides. Also an XLarge Loop REC Tip. How does that combo sound to any one?

Thanks again for the advice.
Anthony Pagley

Anthony -
The H&H guides are great and so are the REC guides. You might try some 3's too along with a large tip top, no need to go overly large on the guides if you don't have to. I would not use 10 guides on that rod. It's under 9 feet long and getting 10 guides on it starts to get things crowded. I used 9 guides myself and it was fine. Good luck.