Greetings,
My first post. Have been lurking for over a year now and have learned so much from this site. A tremendous resource.

I bought a kit to build a 9' surf rod thinking it would be easier to learn to build because it might have some basic directions for the setup. All I got (which is OK - no complaint) were the raw components - which is fine but has left me with some questions. I figured out how to size/place the grips/reel-seat for my arm length, but am now scratching my head trying to place the guides. It came with (6) guides (40, 30, 20, 16, 12 10) and a 10 tip-top. I did a very basic layout, deflection test, adjusted then went out and did some test casts. Went pretty well - need to learn how to throw a surf rod. Feels great throwing and I really like the blank.

I need to move the collector out. Started at 24" but the line coils were *really* slamming the guide - no line slap - so I moved out to 30" and adjusted the other guides. I still had the line coils slamming into the quide - great thing about this surf caster I can cast then hold the rod off to the side and see how line flows through the guides. Doing research last night looks like I can go anywhere from 36" to 50" out on the collector. With this in mind, and seeing how the line was slamming the ring I could probably go to 40", maybe?

I am just curious what others think on this and what the starting recommendations would be for guide placement. Looking back I should have taken the advice of a rod builder I met in Wilmington, NC, and just ordered my components insead of a kit - 'cuz then I would have order the fuji concept guides that I am use to, and followed Tom's method in his book for locating the choke guide and working back from there.

BTW, I am using a Cabela's Salt Striker 4000 reel.

Thanks,
Eddie

Right, you don't really have the right guides for using the New Guide Concept. Too many large guides.

You also don't want to move past about 30 to 33 inches beyond the face of the reel for your butt guide. But you can make this stuff work enough.

What size reel are you using and what size and type line?

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

All my older surf rod builds for the largest Penn surf spinning reels have large size 50 hardloy guides placed at 32" from the forward edge of the reel seat. I wasn't able to make anything better or worse by moving them up or back from that point. I think with a very large reel and heavy line you are always going to just have some line slap on the guide ring face. The main thing is not to have any against the rod blank if you can help it.

Thanks, guys.

I am using 20 LB saltwater mono. The reel is a spinning Salt Striker 4000 - assume a 40 mm reel face but will measure.

I am really considering going ahead and ordering/using the fuji guides. I finished the top wrap last night for a tiger wrap. Practicing, and my second, that really looks nice so I want to do this rod up right.

Thanks again,
Eddie

I think your problem might be the 20lb mono. That's pretty heavy stuff for that size reel. I'd drop down to 15lb mono, or consider braid. I think this might solve your problem.

Eddie,
Really no problem, except if you are going to use 20 lb mono, increase the size of the first guide from 40 to 50. The increased guide size will really help to eliminate the rod slap. Then, simply place it at about 30 inches, place the others at appropriate spots and you will be good to go. You might find that you actually want to use the 40 sized guide as well to help tame down the line coils up the rod.

Take care
Roger

to learn to chuck have a look at one of my aquaintances barny talking to terry carrol(zziplex terry carrol) watch his little video gives you an adequate casting style for up to about 8 ounzes

[www.totalseamagazine.com]


Allen