OK Folks I admit I am new to building rods but I have a customer that I don't know how to handle his request. By not having fished his style I don't have any real ideas as to what he really needs. This is what he wants:

Fiberglass not more than 6 feet, a reel seat that will hold a level wind Penn reel for wire line, and "guides that wont cut through in a season or two of fishing".

Now I do know from his buddies that he lets out the line and then puts the rod down in the bottom of the boat and holds to the wire line the fights the fish on the rod. Most of his fishing is for lake trout in deep lakes in northern Idaho and Montana. And by the way does not want roller guides.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Jack:
I had a very similar question not long ago. Do a search (on this board) for "Guides and more Guides" there is alot of good information there, particularily on the guides themselves. The rods used around my part of the country are for stripper, and the rod itself is a 5' solid fiberglas IGFA 30lb class rod (I think) . There are some very knowledgeable wireline rod builders in this area that read this board, so I'm sure someone will chime in with more exact details.

Another note. I have seen these rods built using a heavy action composite blank completely wrapped with black D thread.

I have fished wire line (soft monel) here in Florida. The roller guide is the way to go. Have used 20#
in the intercoastal and 45# offshore. The drag of just reeling in the wire (20#) over a normal guide made me give
it up. Have two rods with rollers.and 4/0 reel. It is still so much wor,k even without a fish on, that this is a job
assigned to the rookie onboard. At least until they figure why you are letting them "catch" all the fish. It is however
a very effective way to go deep. A downrigger sure makes the work easier with conventional lines and is just as
effective.

Jack I am also new to rod building but I am not new to wire line fishing for striped bass. The guides we use on wire line rods are Carbide with a carbide or a wide roller tip. Hope this helpfull.

Pac Bay has just what you are looking for as far as guides are concerned. They make a guide set called carmet just for wire line. Page 31 of their new cataloge.

In New England we use carbide (Mildrum, if you can find them, Perfection or even Pac-Bay) or SIC fuji high frame.
The question would be what pound test wire and what is he dragging for lures, flies, spoons or Davis spinner rigs with blades.
There are plenty of solid glass blanks that willl do the job. I like using the Pac Bay/Stuart tuff butt for a rear grip. fuiji HD graphite seat and a 8 to 10" foregrip.
I have seen glass blanks rated for 20-30lb with a size 12 top.

Thanks guys that is a help. I agree that roller guides are the way to go but he won't budge so I will run some of these ideas past him and see if he bites on one of them. Again THANKS