Tom,

For you personally, when doing spiral wraps, do you use a guide at 0, approximately 90 and 180; do you do just 0 and 180; or do you go straight from the reel to 180? I'm trying to envision how the master works.

I've used all the various systems and found them all to work.

For me personally, I put the first guide at 0 degrees and the next one at 180 degrees. Then all the rest at 180 degrees.

If I were casting and retrieving hard running plugs, I might offset the first guide to the opposite side of the rod that the line passes by on, so that the line comes onto the reel from a true 0 degrees. Otherwise it can stack heavy to one side. But this is not always the case. You can tape up a set and try it and see what your reel and plugs require.

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So you just don't worry at all about the line touching the blank as it passes from top to bottom? That has never created problem for a rod as far as you know? Because if there is no point in putting one there I'll start saving myself the fuss and trouble?

It doesn't hurt a thing but over time can dull the finish or paint on the blank there. Most of my rods are natural finish and there is nothing to scuff. But if that bothers you, install a Bumper guide. Just make sure you do not adjust the spacing of the other guides. The Bumper guide is an addition to, not a part of, the regular guide spacing.

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That's good info to know.

Marty,
I generally put the first guide at about 5 degrees, the next at 65 degrees, the next at 130 degrees and the 4th and rest at 180 degrees.
After building lots of spirals, it just seems that this set up works better for me.

Try some variations and use the one that makes the most sense to you for your blank, reel, and spacing.
Roger

Im with Roger with this one. It may be ok for freshwater rods, but having the line touch on larger rods will be a no go for any saltwater rods. At minimum, the spiral should be a 3 guide transition and I use a 4 guide transition from 5 degrees to 180 degrees. 5,90,135 and 180 are the rough estimates on my transition.

Kevin
www.anglersenvy.com

Or the Simple Spiral with with a Bumper guide. I've used that on heavy duty saltwater rods for a decade.

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I use a 3 guide transition on rods I dont own. I do however believe the simple spiral is slightly superior to using a full 0-60-90-180 transition.

There is something to be said for looks at some point. I gave up trying to talk people into the simple spiral a while ago, as that bumper guide just "looks" out of place to most, when in fact its not really a guide in use, just something to keep the line out and away from the blank. Trying to explain that to someone doesnt work very well all the time. Even when the do understand it, most want something that is more along the lines of "normal" looking. At least this has been my experience.