im building a 10 foot fast action steelhead baitcaster. my guides are temporarily placed. but i wanted to know if 30 inches from reel seat to butt guide is too far. i get no line slap even with a serious load on the rod. any help or input would be appreciated.

The only other thing to do is test cast. Does the line hit the blank coming off the reel? I the line stacking? (usually caused by being too close) If test casting proves it to be optimum placement and static testing shows good results, then you are fine. 30 inches doesn't sound out of the ordinary.

Sounds too far to me. When you put the rod under maximum load does the line cut into the foregrip or your hand if you hand is on the foregrip? The higher frame the guide is the farther up the rod you can go. The lower it is the closer it needs to be. Most of my casting rods have the butt guide at about 24" from the reel face and the guide is usually an NSG 16. Just some things for you to think on.

Doesn't sound too far to as long as it complies with what was mentioned above. I have built many 10ft + surf rods and depending on the width on the reel spool and the height and ring size of the 1st guide have as much as 37" inches from the front of the reel spool and the 1st guide. Warren

I make a lot of 10 footers for the Kenai in Alaska and found 28 to 30
inchs is just wright for the rod even under a heavy load.

jeff,soounds okay as long as your first guide is of adequate size and you get no line slap when casting. you will know further when scarback is hunkering down under theboat!