I'm in a bit of a time jam -- I'm not going to be able to get my Penn Senator spooled before I have to finish a trolling rod, and there's one piece of information I'm hoping someone here can help me out with.

I don't know anything about boat rods, and I know less than nothing about wire line. I don't even know how you connect the backing to the wire: there was something in Salt Water Sportsman last month that said something about a bimini twist, but someone else told me there's another, better method.

I'm not worried about the connection -- I'm going to let a pro spool the reel -- but I do need to know what size running guides I need, and I can't figure that out without a spooled reel. On your wire line rigs, what size running guides worked for you? Are 8s large enough to pass the backing-to-wire connection? Or would 10s, or even 12s be better? I realize that ideally I'd have a connection in front of me to test, but I'm not going to have time to do that -- I gotta finish the rod first, and get the reel spooled second. I'm not worried about passing any terminal knots -- they'll all stay outside the tip -- but I am concerned about the backing knot, and don't want to use guides that are too small. I have a hunch that 8s will be big enough, but again, I don't know anything about wire line.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

The traditional setup was dacron backing with monel wire. If that is what you are using the normal connections were loop to loop or albright. The loop on the monel is a haywire and in the dacron, a back splice. I would not count on the leader being outside the guides. In fact I'd count on the guides needing to be large enough to pass a ball bearing swivel.

My knowledge is dated and things may be done differently now. I know some use stainless .....even braid and lead core.

I build lots of Great Lakes wire line rods. An albright knot is the most widely used knot for splicing wire to mono leaders or backing material. Most do not use a backing material any more, just fill the reel with wire and be done. Duct tape or aggressive two sided tape will keep the wire from slipping. Usually a small 6-8' mono leader is used to the terminal end if any. Many times the wire is terminated with a ball bearing snap swivel and just hooked to a dipsy diver or flasher and run clean. I use an 8mm tip and running guides and have never seen any problems. Cores are another beast altogether, but cause way less issues than wire.

I prefer nothing smaller than a 12 on Rods we build on 50lb wire rods used for Bunker Spoons and Parachute jigs

Chris, I been using PAC-BAY BBSG's on a 9ft bunkerspoon rod in these quanitys & sizes:
1#20,1#16,3#12, and 4#10 without failure.
Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ) Ps: include a roller top

Thanks, guys. I've figured out a way to get the rod spooled first, so I'm going to be able to do some testing. I'll post the final setup I use. Cheers.

Chris, I should have also said that I was referring to Carbide guides. Carbide guides seem to have a little smaller ID than the Ceramic size equivalent