I am going to build a jigging rod with a Hercules blank., and I want to do a spiral wrap. I have been noticing in chat rooms, etc. that the size of the guides have changed and a couple of smaller guides are placed at the area of the rod just before the final 3 or 4 guides are placed facing down as they do on a spinning rod. The idea is to keep the line as close to the rod blank as possible without letting the line touch the blank. I have done a few spiral wraps in the past and was satisfied with how the rods fished. Any suggestion? I fish East of Chatham, Mass, and this rod will be mainly used for tuna. It is 7' long and is #30-80. Thanks,
Sanford Hochman

Sanford,
Start with the same size guides and placement as if you were doing a conventional rod.
Then, after doing the spiral, tweak the size and or placement or number of guildes to accomodate the spiral.
Good luck
Roger

Sanford; With the simple spiral if the first 180 degree guide is sized as you might for a conventional set up, the line will start by resting in the bottom of the guide. As the rod bends the line must move from the bottom of the guide to the top of the guide. As that transition occurs there is no load on that guide. That increases the stress between the stripper guide and the second 180 degree guide. If you reduce the guide size it will cause the first 180 degree guide to load sooner and by loading as it should reduce that stress.

As you do your stress test, watch how the guides load as additional stress is applied. Try to get them to load sequentially as the line follows the contour of the blank without skipping a guide. You may find that you need to increase your guide size by one in the "bendy" area of the blank and then return to the size of your running guides as you proceed. This explanation is a bit overly simplified so if you would like to talk about it call or E-Mail me.

I've built a lot of GTS 70H's spiral, I use a 20 stripper, and the rest size 10's. most have AMTAK Virtus Heavy Titanium guides, best guides for this rod. I have done a few with MNSG & HNSG BHNNG's as well. 2 transition guides, the rest 180, all that matters is the line staay offthe foregrip and the line toughes all the guides when under full flex.