I thought I'd like to report the results of my initial tests of casting distance performance of the spiral wrap for baitcasters.

I used a low modulus 5'6" graphite rod that I'd just converted into a 3 piece rod based on Ralph's latest article in Rodmaker (excellent piece, it certainly works).

I taped up the guides conventional style and cast it, then re-taped them spiral wrapped as per Don Morton's method. Guides used were hardloy.

Result - no difference in max distances at all! Max average casting distances were to within a foot.

Other things to consider, being a short rod and low modulus (and 3 pieces rod too), with a light spoon of 6gms. The acceleration and speed of the line going out is not as high as a surf rod or longer 7 foot baitcasters. There maybe a possibility that performance maybe reduced in those cases. Or maybe not. I haven't tried that out yet.

Chris,

How many guides were used for the conventional method and how many were used with the spiral wrap? I'm sorry but I can't agree with the results you've found. I have built many spiral wrapped rods and one of the unique characteristics they enjoy is the ease of casting and distance. When a customer test cast these rods, They litteraly sell themselves. Guide placement is paramount with these rods. I use as many as 9 to ten guides on rods 6 to 61/2 foot.

Maybe you need to try using more guides and possibly smaller ones to allow the line to shoot through the guides with little or no line chatter. That is the secret to distance.

Don't give up on the test casting, sounds like you're on the right track.

Bruce young
Landing Gear

I am not sure if every rod built using the spiral wrap method will improve casting difference,what it will do always if done correctly is improve rod stability.

Although I agree the spiral wrapped rod will perform with good casting distance, the objective is more in rod stability as John states.
Other features spin off from the stability, such as better fish handling and enxtending durability by having less tip torque.

Perhaps the differentiation has to be made between performance and just extending or maintaining casting distance compared to conventional guide placement. Overall the spiral wrap is superior in handling and performance, but as Bruce stated that the guide placement is a most important consideration to have the desired casting distance. Might also consider the TYPE of guides you'll be using and also the kind of line matched with the reel.

All these factors go into improving performance. Using suboptimal reels and lines would defeat the purpose to increase rod perfromance, whether spiral, conventional, custom or factory.
I'm a convinced fan of the spiral wrap on most levelwind reel situations, but it can be a difficult visual thing to accept for many anglers.

IMHO

Rich
Solyrich Custom Rods

As I stated some time before, if a blank is wound with the same number of guides and spacing as a guide on top, there will be little appreciable difference in casting(distances). If you spiral wrap the same blank with with more and smaller guides a la the new method, it has to cast farther and better. During my research, I wrapped some of my rods many different ways just to see if the wrap was what it was cracked up to be. My 7 foot popping rod, formerly wrapped with 7 guides with the guide on top method then spiral wrapped with 9 guides, showed a dramatic difference. I am tempted, just for grins, to take the guides off my new rod and wrap it guides on top and chart the differences. I will, however, rewrap it with the spiral. My old 'meat pole', the one with the identity complex, has seen life as a spinning rod, a guide on top conventional and now with the spiral wrap just keeps getting better and better.

If you only get rid of the wrist fatigue caused by rod torque with the wrap, it's worth the money and effort, but there are other benefits to the wrap.

Let me issue a caveat at this time; IMHO! C2

John, you've misconstrued my posting. The tests were done to see if there was a significant difference in casting distance. The issue about rod stability wasn't brought up because by now it was obvious what the advantages of the spiral wrap are.

Bruce - Both guide set ups were almost virtually the same in guide number and sizes. Using the Fuji New Concept system of guide number and sizing, which I've been using for 3 years now. Only difference in guides was the lower part where there were additional guides for the spiral portion. So the spiral wrapped rod had 2 additional guides between the butt guide and the set up guide to spiral around the line. So 8 guides and tip top for conventional, plus 2 more for the spiral. This rod is only 5'6"

So Bruce you say that using spiral is expected (if built properly) to increase casting distance over the conventional set up with the same guide set up(almost)? I'll continue working on the higher end rods and see.

12', 2-piece surf rod used as king mac anchor rod casting 6oz. anchor weight.

Distance was affected. Not as much distance as with exact same setup using same number of guides with standard wrap.

Accuracy suffered greatly. Rod felt like it was uncontrollable similar to casting a heavy weight with a spinning setup that was under-blanked.

The fighting rod spiral wrap has promise.

These were my first spirals so I may try tweaking the setup on the surf/anchor rod.

We know that the casting distance can be as good or better and the accuracy is unaffected so you may need to do more work on your set-ups. Sounds like you didn't get something right. Surf rods are fairly new to this set-up so there is probably going to be some trial and error until you get the results you want. I spend some time dialing mine in and now wouldn't think building another rod with the guides on top. Bass or surf!