I am in the process of designing a 6' 6" IM6 Graphite Robert's Wrap (spiral) rod. It will not be the first one that I have built. However, in my attempt to build it as lite as possible I have designed it using FUJI (BLNAG) concept guides. Sizes 16, 12, 10 and 4 number 8's. My other Robert's Wrap rods have FUJI (BNLG) guides in the same sizes. Comparing the BLNAG concept guides to the BNLG guides. I noticed that the footprint on the BLNAG is much smaller then on the BNLG guides. My concern is that the smaller footprint of the BLNAG concept guides will not be enough to secure them to the blank in the area where they wrap around. The #12 @ 80-85 degrees, the #10@140 degrees and the #8@175 degrees. I believe that the 80 and 140 degree guides would have to be able to take about 5 lbs of pressure under the stress of a hard fighting fish. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

I don't think it should be a problem, have been many spiral wrapped rods using Micro guides whose foot print is about 1/2 or less of the guides you are looking at. To date have not had a single guide or wrap failure.

Tony,
I doubt you will have any problem.
I really have heard of no problems with guides coming loose from any of the Fuji guides, irrespective of model.

I have used the very guides that you are going to use on a similar rod and have never had issues.

Take care
Roger

I can report the same experience...with the exception of I use the simple spiral. No problems.

If weight is a concern...have you played around with using the smallest guides you can use and still get the job done?

I started using a singlefoot BLAG 6mm as my butt guide and it seems to do great! I even tried a rod with ALL 4mm blag = stripper, transition, running guides, and tip top. Wow! It test casts just great. (of course I am not having to pass large knots through these guides)

Good luck,

Les

You really do not need to use guides of that size. First, what reel are you using? If it is a low profile bass reel you could use micro's or even all size 6 guides if you don't feel comfortable trying the micro's yet.

Scott Sheets
www.smsrods.com

i use blnag #10, blnag #7, blag #7, blag#6s the rest of the way down and have no problems (simple spirals). like scott said - if this is a bass or similar gamefish rod, you have plenty of room to downsize. i use a locking wrap on all of my single foot guides as well.

Regards,
-Justin

Scott is right here. I use similar sizing on heavy bottom rods. 16 then 10s all the way out for rods in the 50-80# class.