The guide spacing CD has tons of great info on all rod types for guide spacing. But just as I was getting everything finished up I read the enclosed bonus article from Rich Forhan and started to wonder if any of this is necessary? I do not think Rich's way will give better casting distance or performance but he makes a solid point about how most freshwater bass rods do not need to be cast a hundred feet. Almost any spacing and selection will get you a rod that will cast fifty. How much effort really needs to be spent on getting your casts out to a hundred feet when you target fish that are thirty to forty feet away?

Another point to consider. When searching for bass one usually wishes to cover as much water as efficiently as possible. Best way to do this is to make as long a cast as is practical with a fast moving search bait. Longer casts keeps the bait in the water longer than short casts do and one will cover a lot more water at the end of the day.

There is also the issue of spooking the fish which at times necessitates longer casts. A hundred and fifty foot cast is desired under these circumstances and sometimes others.

To add to that, being able to reach schooling fish busting bait is not only a good tactic but a necessity on many lakes. A long cast gets there faster than a trolling motor or running back to crank the big motor. This also plays into to spooking fish.

I set rods up to cast as far as possible while balancing other needs (presentation ability, fish fighting, etc). I can always cast shorter.

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I was out for a few hours this morning. The water here now is gin clear. If I got within 30' of the pencil reeds I could see bass scooting out of there. I was casting a swim jig 30 or 40 yards easy on 15# flouro. Biggest bass (18.5") hit the second the jig hit the water about 30 yards from me.

Like anything else ........ Long casts are only valued when you need them ............. too bad if you need them and you didn't build for them ........

Last year I was just out of casting range on 2 schools .......... 1 was a school of Spanish and 1 Striper ........... they would sound as soon as you did get close enough to reach them ......... I would have killed for the rod Bill Stevens let me cast at the Expo ..........



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/15/2009 02:10PM by Richard Hahn.

Bobby F. does not have an entry permit for the State of Louisiana. He can stay on his Tejas side of the line and chunk the DD22 far enough to Crank Er Down and hijack Louisiana Hawgs! Rich was probably talking specific technique requirements - he will throw a large swim bait as far as he can and smile. Be careful when you literally intrepret the written word. Be prepared to Do What You Gotta Do!

I like to set up for long casts that way shorter casts take less effort. I find as I become more "experienced" less effort is better!

Like the Boy Scouts say, it's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. You can always shorten the cast but a spooky school of fish will make you throw your shoulder out for a few more feet.

I agree with Bill S. plus I agree with Fuji's own tests of their NGC (which I use in a round about way). Read their test data closely and see what you come up with. I also agree with those that liked Bill's test rod at the show. Is Bill a Cajun - cagey or both? I was impressed with the rod/guide set up - but the rest of the story was the reel he used and how it was set up and the line/lure he used. He must be a lawyer as he knew the answer to the question " how do you think this combo will cast?" - before you made any casts in the parking lot.


For those that have a particular blank they like for a technique specific presentation - and are looking for more distance - any modern guide set up will cast well - usually within 3% of each other. First change to a better reel (set up for distance) and use a high tech oil on it. If that doesn't give you the distance you want - change the line to a longer casting type and use a line spray if appropriate. Still not enough? Change the lure weight and/or type of lure for the technique.

The rest of the story - interesting observations! Considering all of the factors - guides, reel, oil, line, weight and type of lure - I wonder which offers the best payback for casting distance and efficiency for the money?

If you were to place a guide at every 5 inch interval along your rod, you'd find that it casts okay. Your distance would likely be more than enough for what is required in many types of fishing and you'd certainly have adequate stress distribution for the rod blank.

Beyond that point, additional time and effort tweaking your guides will increase your casting distance and overall rod performance. But you will reach a point of diminishing returns somewhere along the line where you spend hours to gain mere inches.

I included Rich's article because it offered a slightly different perspective on guide placement and requirements. It presents a somewhat alternative view to the various guide placement systems that often confuse and perplex many new rod builders. It's on the CD to give people something to think about.

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