Hello everyone,
This is my first post here all though I have read a ton over the last couple years. As with most things a lot can be answered by searching. However I just finished a build and have a small complaint from a customer and dont know what to do. I built a Spiral wrapped 10'6" steelhead rod on a 3sc106mf2 blank, using american tackle titanium guides. size 16, 12, 10, 8x7. He says he owns the same blank in a factory built rod. He states the one I built is more sensitive, casts further and is overall more than happy with the build. However he has a problem with his bobber stop. When he casts he can feel the bobber stop hit every single guide and he is afraid of it eventually knocking the front section of the pole loose and casting it into the water. He is using Puici bobber stops on Pline Hydroflo 15 lb test which is 8lb test dia. He is open to switching bobber stops if that is the answer. When I convinced him to try the spiral wrap I told him If he was not happy I would rewrap this rod for him at no extra charge. I dont mind doing this, but this is not a reason I want him to give up on this design for before he has even had a chance to fish it. Any advice would be appreciated.

If he can feel the bobber stop hit every single guide, then the spiral wrap is not the culprit. He would feel the same thing whether the guides are on the top or bottom of the rod.

Surf fishermen go through the same thing with their leader knots. The only remedy seems to be to use larger guides all along the rod.

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Have you checked to see what size his other guides are?
Have you cast the original and yours to compare the two?

"He states the one I built is more sensitive"
Maybe this is why he feels it.

I think I would watch him cast both. To watch if you can see the effects on both rods. If it is due to the increased sensitivity you should be able to point that out, if you can visually tell the affects that he is not feeling.

He is going to bring in both rods to me on thursday. I told him I wanted to get some advice before we made any drastic decisions and he was all for that. What Tom said makes sense to me, but I dont like it lol. I am afraid by going with larger guides we are going to lose some distance on casting which was a huge concern of his when we decided to go this way. But we ma have to compromise somewhere. Im just wondering though, how much pressure can this little bobber stop be putting on the top portion of the rod when it is still casting 30' further than the factory rod? I guess I will find out when I cast it for myself with the bobberstop on it.

It may not be doing anything that is going to cause a problem, but in the mind of the fisherman something is amiss. That's what you'll have to satisfy.

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How bout something likethis??

[www.smartstopfishing.com]

Scott Sheets
www.smsrods.com

Shane, I am not familiar with the brand nor type of bobber stop he is using. I use the small nylon string that is factory made into a nail knot and comes on a little split plastic tube. I cut the tag ends off the bobber stop after securing it to the line ( 6 lb mono) and leave about an inch of string on each end of the knot for tightening it. If I don't shorten the tag ends they will hang on the guides as it passes through them.The rod I use has running #6 BLAG''s on a 7' Rainshadow 2 piece Popping Blank. I do not feel the bobber stop when casting if I cut off the tag ends.
For whatever it's worth, I would sure take a look at his bobber stop. Do some test casting with the bobber stop as it came from the factory. Then test cast with the tag ends shortened. When they are left long and get wet they "frazzle out" real bad after a few casts. That's when the tag ends start sticking/grabbing on to the guides as they pass through them.

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

if you can, when he brings it in - reverse the top half of the rod to put the guides on top and let him cast it like that.
Perhaps that will be enough to show him that the spiral is not the issue and you won't have to re-wrap the rod.

I'm not familiar with puici bobber stops and couldn't find any information about them on the internets, but I'd say changing the bobber stop will be the easiset solution

Here's a good tip:

Use the string bobber stops like Jay mentioned, cut the tags very close, and put a tiny dab of Dave's Flexcement all around it with a toothpick. Let it dry for about a minute. It works great for me...and you can slide the stop up and down with no problem. I've not had one come undone after long days throwing float and fly on Dale Hollow.

I carry a small bottle of Dave's in my slip bobber box.

A lot less noisy than the little rubber hotdog type stops, too!

Les

I have a RainShadow IST1143F acid wrapped and use a string type bobber stop trimmed to about an inch or maybe less on the tag ends to fish for steelhead. Love it! So far I have not noticed the issue you describe as the stop passes through the guides. If the tag ends are left to long that can cause the stop to hang up when casting.

After trying a few different types of bobber stops, I settled on a piece of mono, slightly heavier than the running line. Lay it parallel to the running line and twist it around the line three times. Then take the two tag ends and twist them around each other three times. Grab the tag ends and cinch it down. Leave the tag ends about a 1/2" long. I know it doesn't sound right but the longer tag ends apparently help the knot slide through the guides easier. I learned this from some UK float fishing websites.

But I also agree with others that the spiral guide placement is not the culprit.