Maybe I'm just not typing the right thing, but I couldn't find anything on this. So, sorry if it's redundant.

I'm building a telescoping flippin stick. It's a Rainshadow FS905T blank, so it's pretty heavy. I know that normally on a casting set up you put the spline on top for better casting and more power on the hookset. I'm thinking as I build this one that I'd like the spline on the bottom to help with the flipping and pitching that will be done with this rod. The rod is already pretty heavy, so I don't think I'd lose too much power for setting the hook.

Does that logic seem good or flawed. I'd appreciate the input. Thanks.

AC
FishinFreaks
Rogers, MN

No, you don't put the spine on top for better casting and more power on the hookset. It doesn't work like that.

There is very little difference to be made by spine position. And, keep in mind that the stiffest axis and softest axis aren't 180 degrees apart. A lot of what you've heard is pure myth.

I'd build the rod on the straightest axis, with butt and tip up, belly down (which would be the stiffest axis anyway).

..........

I love finding out I've been operating off myth. Grrr... I wish I remember where I picked that up in the first place.

Tom, thanks for steering me straight. I love this forum!

AC
FishinFreaks
Rogers, MN

There's nothing wrong with what you've been doing, but it probably isn't giving you the benefits that might have thought.

..............

Aaron - I'm a recent convert to ignoring the rod spine and aligning along the straightest axis of the blank. Tom is right - you will maximize the rods power with the belly down, and honestly end up with a better looking finished product - as you sight down the blank, you will be looking at the straightest possible line. You'd be surprised how many (most) people do that when they pick up a rod :-) On some blanks, you will have a tough time finding a pronounced belly, and on some, well, it jumps out at you like a bad beer gut :-)

I've been placing guides by using a vertical spine finder (or marble, etc.), and pressing straight down with my finger on the tip of the blank. The blank will flex in one favored direction, no matter how it it pivoted on the base, and I place the guides either on the inside or outside of this curve depending on the type of rod. Is this the same an the above mentioned "belly"? Just wondered if we're talking about the same thing here, Thanks.

Mike, what you have been doing is finding the "spine" of the rod and building off of that. Nothing wrong with doing it that way, alot of builders do it that way, and I still do when I can't find a clear "straightest axis" for the blank. What Tom and I are referring to is to actually sight down the rod blank, and rotate it slowly, watching the tip. On many (most) blanks, you will find that there is clearly a straightest axis. Now, if you orient your guides so that for example on a spinning rod, the guides are placed underneath the blank at the point where the tip is "highest" from your rotation test, you are placing the guides "belly down" on the blank, which will maximize power/stiffness in the blank.

Thanks Rich, holy cow - time to switch the brain back on, it's embarrassing that I actually forgot what that tool was for! I'll do some "sight testing" and see how they compare. Appreciated, Mike

This is a cool tip :) i was looking at 2 All star titanium ex-light exact blanks a couple of weeks ago, and this is exacty what i discovered. On one i couln't find the straight axis u where talking about, but the other one on the other hand..had a slight bend...unnoticable if u felt it , and just looked at it.......i-ll keep that in mind next time.
I have a question regarding the spine of a rod...Lets take for example a spinning rod: lets say i did the bending test, found the spine of the rod....does it make a big difference if i place the guides above or under the spine....what i am curious about is how much of a difference can there be?




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/27/2007 06:33PM by Andrei Sava.

It seems that finding a spine can go on forever and ever....try it this way.... use a spine finder and find the correct spine..then sight it for the straightest axis and if they are on the same line you have the best of both worlds. If they are not the same go with the sight system and if you must tell the customer of your findings do so. I use both methods and it works fine with me...I come from the old school when Dale Clemens called it "SPLINE". Dale was right then but that was with Fiberglass blanks,todays world is Graphite. What will we do when the Veggie juices are made into blanks ? Do we use PAM ?

Tight Lines
Tight Wraps
Fishin'Stix by Fred

I doubt that it will make any difference in performance whereever you place the guides. The main purpose of putting them on the straightest axis is mostly because most people pick up a rod and sight down a rod to see if it's straight.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!