I am working on the guide placement on a seeker 670-8. I have a few size 10, 2 siize 12, and one of each size up to 24 Pac Bay boat guides. A read all the info in the library about static guide placement and have searched this forum, but still have a question about the size and placement of the butt guide. Tom’s article says I should have an idea where my butt guide goes already, butt I don't. It looks good to me as a novice at about 24" from the center of the reel. If I run the line from the reel to the tip and just place a size 24 guide there,(24 inches from the center of the reel) the line passes straight through without touching the guide. With a size 20, it touches and changes angle just a bit. I don't know why, but all of this seems significant. I think there must be more significant factors in the placement of that thing. Is there a rule of thumb for sizing and placing the butt guide on a casting rod? What do you do? Unfortunately I have only the last three issues or Rodmaker and missed the beginning of the articles dealing with all of this. Guess I should order some back issues. Thanks everyone.

You only need about 3 different guide sizes on your rod. The butt guide should keep the line off your forehand/foregrip under maximum load. To do that, it must be sized/placed properly. Generally, you'd use height to keep the line up off the foregrip, and ring size to address the reel spool width.

I don't have your rod or your reel here in front of me, but I would suspect that a size 20 style casting guide will work for you. It's okay if the line changes angle at the guide when the line is at either side of the reel spool. As long as it's not too drastic.


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