I'm just finding out that the second (smaller) stripper on a fly-rod is referred to as a "tamer" guide; supposedly to reduce the wavy action the line can acquire on a shoot or haul. The most specific info I have found regarding its placement is to take the measurement for the placement of one single stripper, move2.5 inches to the tip, place the tamer, then 2.5 inches toward the butt end and place the stripper; total of 5 inches apart. Would appreciate any and all comments about this.

I just set up the rod as I normally would than place a guide one size smaller than the stripper 4 inches ahead of it. Haven't found that it improved anything on a rod except one IMX 9 1/2 ft 3 piece 7 wt quite a few years ago, but it doesn't seem to hurt either.

the old rodcrafters club and Dale Clemons usesed to talk about it. If I remember you set up a guide layout normally then between the first and second guides you add another guide right in the middle. Its a low fame small guide.

Go with a standard guide layout and take some test casts, then tape on the tamer (same size as the next guide up) 4" ahead of the stripper, and take some more test casts and see if it helps distance. I like a tamer on 4wts and up.

Tom White
Rod & Reel Restoration

What Tom said is right. The origional Rodcrafters article came about as a result of an individual in Britian taking high speed movies of fly rod cast and noticing the sinusoidal wave of the line leaving the stripper guide. He added a guide the same size as the next guide forward of the stripper and put it 100mm (approx 4") forward of the stripper guide.
Kerry

I now use the tamer guide almost automatically. I put it 4" up from the stripper. I test cast and seldom move it based on the test cast.

Hey -- thanks -- I really appreciate the quick response that I have recieved -- this post was my first -- and I am impressed by the feedback that I have recieved in such a short time -- I'm not a pro-builder -- have built/restored -- 20 -25 rods of various venues -- but this project is my first "comission" build.