I'm looking for advice regarding the guide set up for a heavy 7 ft spinning rod.

I'm using a "500" size spinning reel with a spool diameter of 2.14 inches. (Not huge, but larger than I usually build for.)

Using the 27 x spool diameter or the "line the reel shaft up with the edge of the table" method results in the same choke guide position.

With this reel I can find no guides with sufficient height and diameter to avoid a large change in line direction as it passes through the stripping guide.

I normally build lighter spinning rods for smaller reels and I can easly find guides that direct the line from the reel to the choke guide without any change of direction or significant "funelling".

It seems that for a reel of "500" size or larger, and the size of guides available, one must either accept a significant change of line direction through the stripping guide (while sticking with the 27x method) or move the choke guide significantly closer than 27 x the diameter of the reel?

My feeling is that high frame guide still aren't high enough. What guide size/positioning method do builders of rods for large spinning reels normally use?

Hi David,
Might be an idea to have a look at the Fugi rapid choke setup as that might suit you better. Higher double footers can be hard to locate but I'm waiting on my supplier to get me some. Even so the largest size they'll make is a 20, 25's and 30's would be geat but unfortunately they will not make them that size as there is a limited?? market.
If the titanium framed guides are suitable you can bend them to get sustantially more height. You need to be careful with the amount of bending you do as the stuff work hardens rapidly and becomes brittle. I managed to get an extra 11mm (nearly 1/2inch) out of a size 20 without any ill effects so far. Hopefully someone else can come up with something better for you.

ESFNEM Col
Port Kembla, NSW
Australia

Just order all the guides that are available tha tyou would use on a spinning rod, build the handle of your rod, and spend a few hours test casting and learning for yourself what set up works best. Take all the charts and other stuff like that and throw them in the trash, and actually learn what happens in real life.

PS, I don't know what a 500 size reel is, I thought you were going to say a 20000 size with 40 pounds of drag as the big spinning set up, lol.

That isn't that big of a reel. Normally I'd use a BYAG 30 for that size reel. Works fine for me. Your butt guide might be a little farther from the reel than you are used to on small spinning outfits.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

take a look at the amtak a frame or batson vs3 guides. they are taller and may work for you. they may come close to the height you need and they hold up well. i try to use the 27x method, but there have been a few occasions that i had a big reel and shorter rod that i just had to play around to get what worked best for that particular rod.

Just wanted to mention that we stock higher frame 2 ft guides, black frame, in sz 40 & sz 50

Best wishes,
Ron Schneider
Schneider's Rod Shop
Mountain Home, Arkansas
[www.schneidersrods.com]
mtnron40@yahoo.com
870-424-3381