I have a request to build a raven im8 - 13 1/2ft. float rod to be used with a bait casting reel. Would the rod twist too much at the tip section when the rod is loaded up if all the guides are place on the top of the rod? Should i use an acid wrap on the guides to prevent the twisting, and if I use an acid wrap how many guides should be used to offset around the rod? Or is building such a rod not a very good idea? Any suggestions would be a great help.

I have a light popping rod done in the Roberts / Spiral / Acid style.
I love that rod. Had it 15 years, and fish with it every excuse I get.
The one I did was 0, 60, 120, 180, then normal spinning setup.
Other methods may work as well, never tried any other way.

Since I adopted Micro guides, I build all my casting rods Spiral.
I would definitely do a 13' 6" rod with the smallest guides that will pass any required knots.
I would do a spiral if I wanted it to be a casting rod. Lets face it, its a preference thing.
I personally would use the Minima 4 M series #5 for the stripper guide, with #4 or 4L for the spiral.

I personally think the rod would be a great tool.
Lets face it, a spinning rod might be more practical, but a good quality baitcaster can throw some light lures today.
And I carry a closed face real (don't tell anyone) :) when it gets really windy.

Hope this helps.

Doug

I just finished a 12' rod in this configuration and it turned out great. I used the dale clemens style of spiral wrap. The only thing that I changed was to add one more middle casting guide. 16, 12, 12, and then a single foot 10, after that all single foot 8's. I added the extra double foot casting guide in size 12 because I use heavier lines and the pressure was quite severe on the middle guide, I feel the 2nd middle guide helps to even out the pressure better. If you were running 10lb or lighter you could get away with single foots earlier on . This only my personal opinion, there are many ways to go abou this. I use #14lb test mono at all times.

If this rod is to be used in the great lakes region during the winter months then forget micro guides. My rod has all single foot size 8's after the casting guides. Smaller guides freeze up way too easily, another popular option is to use a regular single fooot guide in place of the tip top, this helps to reduce freeze up and build up of ice on the tip.

If this rod is for more milder climates then micro guides are a real possiblilty. I have never used them as I fish primarily in the winter months. Yes, I am that crazy.

It might be helpful to use some rubber tubing to temporarily hold the guides and get a mock up going of various guide configurations and then do some test casting and stress tests and decide for yourself.

Lastly, I use a left handed reel and I put my guides spiraling to the right and it seemed to help alot. My previous baitcaster was sprialed to the left with a left hand reel, it felt a bit awkward like that. Hard to explain. I picked that tip up from this site in a previous post.