I've been using a different spiral wrap strategy lately that I really like and would like to lighten up the guide arrangement even more. My first 180 guide is roughly 37"-40" from the reel based on the blank's flex and I've been incorporating low-profile double foot boat guides into a 2 guide "revolver" type setup. They are arranged so that the line touches the bottom centers of the rings perfectly when in a solid fish fighting position. The butt, the next guide, and 1st 180 average 9"-11" in between. These low-profile boat guides are 14mm for the butt and 12mm for the 2nd guide.

The CLAG single foot running guides come as large as 10mm and I was wondering if I could use a 10mm butt and maybe two 8mm CLAGS in a revolver type 3 guide transition to the 1st 180 guide with that same 20" span? The rod will be for back bouncing for Salmon but I'm concerned the sf CLAGs may "flatten out" under load. Once again, fish fighting is my main priority - not casting distance. Thanks.

Wrap one in place and load the rod to the same extent that you expect to do in a real world fishing situation. Note whether or not the guide flattens out.

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Those guides are not very stout. But the only place you might run into trouble would be on the butt guide since its up top. I would either do what Tom suggests or wait for someone that has used them in that same location on an equally powerful blank to confirm if they will hold up or not.

My one other thought is that a double foot guide at the butt guide location is not going to add enough weight that you would ever know the difference. I would probably use the dbl foot and disregard the very teeny tiny weight difference for peace of mind in terms of long term durability.

I was checking my inventory and I do have a SIC titanium frame TLSG10 guide. Aren't the titanium frames stronger than the steel CLAG frames? Thanks.

you will be fine, i built 2 spiral wrapped rods for a trip i took to port hardy BC this past july. Both rods caught many good sized chinook and the only double foot guides on either rod was the butt guide. One rod used blag guides and the other clag. I did manage to slightly bend 1 of the clag, but it wasnt while fishing, it was while putting the rod in a pvc rod tube. Quick push with the thumb and it was right back where it belonged. I used #10 clnag butt guide then #8 clag bumper and then #6 for all the 180 guides. I couldnt have been happier with the performance of the rods. I really think you could probably use a clag as the butt guide also, i just used what i had on hand at the time. Do like tom suggested and string up a rod and feel the vertical tension near the butt guide with our free hand. Its not really that much.