I'm thinking about building a ultra-ultralight spinning rod on a 6.5 ft 2 wt fly blank. It would be used more for spinning than for fly fishing. How many guides should I use, and how should they be placed?

I have only built fly rods before. Typically, I use the length of the rod plus 1 to determine the number of guides. The charts I have seen for spinning rods suggest that you typically use the length of the rod minus 1. Is this correct?

reed this New Guide Concept: [www.rodbuilding.org]

Bill - willierods.com

You need to use as many as needed. How many will depend on the length of the rod, the handle length and the action and power of the rod. Generally, if you were to use say, 7 guides plus a tiptop on that blank, you'd have enough for good stress distribution without having so many that you undermine the blank's response to any great degree. You can always try it with 1 less, or 1 more, just to see the difference.

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Hi Curtis
On a 6 1/2 ft. rod I used 8+ tip top I think you will really like your selection for ultra lite . What blank are you using?

Have fun
Mike

Mikes Custom Fly Rods

For a great ultra-light spin rod, you might consider 7 1/2 feet length. I used to hate ultralights until I did my 7 1/2 foot on a 3 weight fly blank. The extra length will cast and set the hook better than a 6 1/2 footer.

I set it up with concept system with 8 guides + tiptop, the last 4 guides being micros. If you want to pass knots through the guides I would not recommend micros. The concept guide system will tell you where to put your first running guide based on the reel you are designing around, and the stress testing of the rod will determine how many you use. The lower guides will be sized and placed by the concept system. I had to use tow different designs of lower guides to get the right height on the third guide.

It has proven to be a terrific rod, casts 1/8 Deep Tiny N's like a bullet, has handled fish up to 22 " walleye. No problem on hook sets at all.

For a 6'6" 2 weight / ul spinning
6 guides total
Top two guides Recoil #2 single foot titanium distance from tip 3.7 ; 9.6
Next two guides Recoil #3 single foot titanium distance from tip 16.9 ; 26.0
Next guide #8 double foot Pac Bay Minima distance from tip 37.3
Next guide #12 double foot Pac Bay Minima distance from tip 51.3
Recoil std fly tip top, optional Tip top H&H std fly loop

Eugene,
I am just curious as to why you would recommend a double foot guide for an ultra light spinning rod. I have never found a good reason to use a double footed guide on any of the lighter action spinning guides and I would like to understand your logic.

Take care
Roger

Curtis, There was a great article in Rodmaker not too long ago about building spin-fly rods.

If it were me, I would most definitely set up my guides via the NGC as outlined on the online library page here. Great article and that set up will work perfectly for either spinning or for your fly needs on the same rod. Wonderful and helps the rod to balance a little better as well.

Rodger,
I prefer double foot guides on the butt half of the rod for durability.
The inertia in the butt half is low. The stress on the guide is much higher due to the stiffer butt on the rod and when hauling on a fly rod torsional loads can be quite high even on a 2 weight. When backcast room is at a premium an aggressive forward haul can double the casting distance without a long backcast. That haul can put a lot of torsion on the stripper guide.

Eugene Moore

Eugene,
I read and understand your reason.

However, have you fished much with single footed spinning guides, and have found them lacking in durability?
I do agree that double footed guides are more durable, but I have simply never found single footed guides to actually lack any durability.

Take care
Roger

Peter:

What back issue is that on the spin/fly rods

Thanks

Bill - willierods.com

Issue 12 #3 Ive had it sitting on my bench for a while now, i want to try bulding one of these as a backpack rod. Lots of good info

I have built one using scrap female sections in the handle and a male added to the blank butt. Wanted to see what the artical has in it

Just ordered it

Thanks

Bill - willierods.com