I set up a 8.6FT salmon rod on the forhan revolver, my but guide is set at 21 inches from center of reel seat, made the transition in 12 inches, Okay here is my confusion, once the line is on the bottom isnt it now a spinning rod from here to the tip? if so wouldnt you use the new concept system of eyes every 4 to 5 inches, which seems like a lot, or do you go with a standard progressively spacing out to the tip.

spacing the guides every 4/5 inches is just a starting point.

once thats done, a static distribution test will tell you where guides need to be

I would just recommend using a static distribution. It will show you exactly where the guides need to be. As Joshua mentioned the NGC is only a starting point and should never be your end all decision on guide placement.

Scott Sheets
www.smsrods.com

Rich advocated 4 to 5 inches for each guide because it's a safe bet - it works and you're sure to have adequate stress distribution and still have a rod that will cast farther than you can effectively fish it. However, if you want to tweak the spacing and use a more progressive distance between guides, that's fine too.

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okay guys I d id a static distribution test, and placed the guides progessively up the blank from the tip approx 5.5 , 12, 20, 30, 42, to the first choke guide, this looks like it will work fine but I thought the new concept system was supposed to be better,IE guides closer?

There is no choke guide on a casting rod, spiral wrap or not.

Not sure what you've got there.

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Okay tom I saw your post right after I summited mine, but I came up with this question in my mind after I went back and read your suggestions in your book on guide spacing in your rod building book .

Still not sure what you're trying to do. On a spinning rod you have a choke guide at a position that takes the line from the reel and redirects it onto a slightly different path. The location is found based on the spool upsweep or the newer method of using a factor of 27 times the spool diameter.

On a casting reel the line comes off flat along the rod. There is no need to redirect anything and you wouldn't have a choke guide of any sort.

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I used the wrong term, saying choke guide, went out and read your book again and evereybodys help here and re did the guides, got it right this time, I was overthinking the hole process. thanks for the help.

I thought something was off. Anyway, glad you got it figured out. Test cast a bit and see what you think.

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One salmon/ steelhead rods I've seen no reason so far to put the guides so close together. I use the Forhan spacing with good results which is 5-6-7-7-7-7-7 you get the picture.

When I did mine I started with the 4-5 then static testing, then finally used his recommeded sliding a fly tip through the three guides to ensure contact with all three guides. JMHO>

I think Ralph's version is the one that uses the rod blank through the blanks, I don't think Rich worries about guide contact to much in his version.

Scotty - if you would like my reasons why - Volume 5 Issue 3 is the place to find the article. If you just want the numbers - listen to Spencer. For those of you that have that issue - consider reading it again - the article has not changed - but you have - like an old movie - you will read things you never remembered as being there.

I will rich, I ordered every back issue I could find on the subject except for that one, just my luck, To all a merry christmas and a happy new year. Thanks for every thing. Scotty