I occasionally am dealing with my fly rod and fishing and notice that the line, when idle is not going straight from the last line guide out the tip and hanging down. It is strung through the guides properly...but comes out of the last guide and arches up over the rod, but comes back down and goes out the tip like it should. Sometimes when I am fighting tangles it makes me wonder if it is tangled there and it is not. I don't think I have noticed this on every rod I try. So on those that do....do that.......wWould it be ok to just add another line guide about an inch before the tip top.....to keep the line UNDER the rod? Or would that stress the rod wrong? Or is is just an ok situation and just forget about it?

It is hard to visualize what you describe, but I'll take a stab at the problem.The most likely cause of this is holding the rod vertical while working on your tangles and the weight of the line drops it down. Often this will also pull the leader back into the guides.

Another guide will only add weight and probably effect the tip flex. Better to find the cause than a patch work solution.

I think I know what's happening and adding another guide isn't going to fix anything. If you could duplicate the problem and take a photo I could be sure.

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Jim-it sounds like the line's stiffness is resisting the direction change that occurs as it leaves the tip of the rod-taking a curved path because it is not limp enough to turn sharply.

It is wrapped around the blank or just bowed up at that point? The former indicates a common problem that can occur when line loops the butt (yes, the butt) on the cast and the latter is simply the nature of the beast. The line drops as it leaves the tiptop and because it's not as limp as mono or braid you have a bit of a bow formed just behind the tiptop.

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Chris and Tom,
You both have it right. The line seems to be so stiff at that point that it bows. And Tom that is the latter case in your statement. It is just the nature of the beast so to speak. Just the rub of the green I take it.

Thanks

If I get a chance I will take a pic....but I think you guys have a pretty good picture of it in your mind already....by the way you have described it.

Yep, it is that bowed up look I am talking about.

Putting another guide on there may reduce the bow, but it won't help anything from a performance standpoint. I wouldn't do it.

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Happens to me all the time - Chris is correct. Once line is tensioned it goes away.
Herb

Thanks everyone. End of curiosity.
Question answered very adequately.

Thanks again.

Jim