Where would you put the guides on 6'6'' (light) spinning rod in respect to the spline: on the soft side or on the "harder" - spline side?

Thanks for any help (newbie)!

I would suggest you do a search in the search section of the web site. You will find many pieces of info that will answer your questions and may even change you opinion of splinning a rod.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/2007 08:40AM by Steve Gardner.

I think that is the problem, too much information and I am confused. The rod I am making is a light one (made out of 2 fly fishing blanks), and I intend to fish small size fish. I thought the "soft" side of the blank is ok for placing the guides (more spinning power, smaller sized fish) but I am not so sure anymore about my reasoning. Soft side or spline side? Is there any general purpose side which is used more frequently in case of doubt?

Alessandro,

This has been heavily debated in the last couple of days!! [www.rodbuilding.org] Personally, I would buid on the straightest axix with the "belly" down and tip up and disregard the spine. Just my opinion



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!!

Alessandro,

I just sight down the blank and slowly turn the blank, I stop where the blank looks it straightest, mark that, and put my spinning guides on the OPPISITE (180degrees around) side. It's that easy.

DR

Thank you! This is it!

The spine is referenced the outside of the curve when the blank has been flexed along its softest axis. The stiffest side, however, is not opposite of that position.

I would do what Mike and Duane recommended and build on the straightest axis (stiffest). Forget the spine.

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

I do it like Mike and Duane. Lay the blank in 2 "V" blocks or wrapping stands letting the tip extend way past the 2nd stand. Slowly rotate the blank while watching the tip. When the tip reaches it's highest point, mark the blank on top. Then I put the guides 180 deg from the mark. If it is a 2 piece blank I do the same to each piece. Rotate each piece finding the highest point the tip ends will reach, mark each piece and put the blank together with the marks on the same side. Put the guides 180 deg from the marks. Usually the butt sections are almost perfectly straight on a 2 piece rod.

Forget about the spine. The fish, the rod, nor you will ever notice the difference it would make. Of course that's just my opinion.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/2007 10:36PM by Jay Hunt.

Thank you to all!

It's very simple, easy and well understandable. And sorry again for the redundant question, but the instructions included in the rod kit were only referring to the spline and I was puzzled....

Over and out