Just curious, trying to set up a 10'6 noodle spinning rod and wondered if the NGC method was best, or if guides should be spaced further apart (thinking less overall weight) due to the whippy, willow-like action of this blank. Reel used has a 41mm dia spool, running guides will be #8 d/t possible ice conditions.

Very Appreciated - Thanks, Mike

Beyond the choker guide, out to the tiptop, you can use any spacing you like. A progressive spacing is fine. Do a standard static distribution on that section to set them correctly.

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Tom Kirkman Wrote:
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> Beyond the choker guide, out to the tiptop, you
> can use any spacing you like. A progressive
> spacing is fine. Do a standard static distribution
> on that section to set them correctly.
>
> .....................


Would you still go with no more than 5" spacing for the runners? Or with this not being a distance casting rod, could they be opened up a touch without affecting performance?

That's what I just said - you can use a progressive spacing from the choker guide to the tiptop. Fewer guides, to a point, generally improves performance.

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Thanks Tom, I use the ngc on shorter rods with good results, but wondered if there might be a point of diminishing returns using ngc on a rod of this type and length (plus the extra weight of larger guides). It's such a "willow stick", was hoping to find a balance using fewer running guides than normal.

Appreciated, Mike

It will still work well for the same reasons - it reduces weight and gets the line under control more quickly than a COF set up. But beyond the choker guide you can use a more progressive spacing if that length would require too many guides at a 5 inch equal-distance spacing.

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Mike,
I set up the guides on a rod like this as I do with any spinning rod.
i.e. I just flex the blank starting at the tip, and just am sure that I put a guide any where it is needed so that the line follows the contour of the flexed blank.

Depending on the blank, you may need to use 5 inch spacing near the tip for the runners, or you may need to go down to 4 1/2, 4 or up to 5 1/2 or 6.

Certainly try to space them as far away as possible to minimize rod tip weight. Also, for a rod like this, I would prefer using the Pac Bay minima guides for the reasons of guide cost, as well as the light weight of these particular guides.

After you tape the guides in place, put on a reel, and run the lines through the guides. Then, pull on the tip, as if a fish were pulling on the rod. With the line under full flex conditions, check each segment of the line and be sure that you have enough guides in the right locations, so that you have relatively equal line to blank spacing for the full length of the rod.


I am guessing that it is quite likely that the first 5 or 6 guides from the tip can be spaced equally, if your tip is whippy down that far. That simply means that you have 3 feet of relatively constant diameter blank.

Good luck

Roger

Thanks Roger, your (and Tom's) method will probably be how I end up spacing the runners past the choke guide. I am using Minima guides also.

Appreciated, Mike

Mike,
Depending on the line test to be used, you may need to space closer.
On noodle blanks the extreme bend can put a lot of stress on the line (as well as the blank) if there are not enough guides.
We learned that when setting up rods for a friend who targeted the Worl Line Class record for Striped Bass, 30# fish on 2# test line.
With those long hard runs, he would shred the line eventually and break off the fish.
That was an extreme example, but we learned a lot about light line guide spacing.

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