Has anyone built a NGC rod using this reel? I'm having a really tough time laying this one out because of the size of the reel.
The spool face diameter is 2 15/16". That puts the choke guide 79.3" down the rod. That seems excessively long to me. I'm building on a Lamiglas GSB120-1L so that basically leaves a little over a foot for running guides. Also, it puts a size 30 KWAG stripping guide about 36" from the reel. That, too, seems excessive.
I appreciate in advance any help a fellow board member can provide. I'm sure I'll figure it all out once I do the static and casting tests, but still... it just looks odd to me.

Sounds like you are using 27X. Try the Table Edge Method. Penn's are notorious for having almost no angle but it may move the stripper in enough to create a good set up.

Thank you, Jim. i'll give that a shot.
It's funny... there DOES seem to be a nice angle on this reel. It just has a taller spool. The spool is also much thinner than any other spool I own. It's more she shape of a tuna can than a coke can.

What size line are you using?

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30# braid

Braid is pretty supple so you have some leeway in regards to how close you place the choker guide. However, don't go by "how it looks," go by how it works.

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I know. It's just that it's SO far away from the reel. And so is the stripping guide. I was thinking of using a size 40 as a stripper, but I think that ring size is going to give me the opposite problem.

and thank you for all of your responses/advice.

With braid you can pull the choker guide closer, which also serves to reduce the required size/height of the butt guide. Move it up several inches, reset, and go cast it.

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Does the precise 79.3" guide placement apply for any pound-test line, and for gelf-spun braid, nylon monofilament of all stiffness and fluorocarbon too, or only to rods with spool diameters of two and fifteen sixteenths inches?

The 27X factor will give you a rod that will work exceptionally well with any line, reel, etc. That was the whole point of developing it. It works very, very well with about anything, regardless.

If you know going in that you're going to be using only a specific line type and size, you may be able to tweak the choker location to get a little more distance. Of course, if you do that your rod is now going to be a bit less versatile in regard to reel and line changes. But some know they're only going to be using one outfit with it.

Generally, the lighter and more supple the line, the closer the choker guide can be. The heavier and/or less supple the line, the choker guide needs to be a little further out.

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What about changing the Reel ????

Bill - willierods.com

The 706Z is an outstanding reel. I don't plan on changing it.
The interesting thing about the 27X method is that it is an estimate (a good one) for where the line should cross the blank. It doesn't, however, take into account the actual angle of the spool's spindle. It assumes that all reels are approximately within a few degrees angle from each other. The 706Z, though, has a particularly large spool face which I think means I shouldn't use the 27X method.

I have done it both ways several times and either 27X or taking the spool off and lining up the spindle with a straight edge and they came out the same ??
Try taking the spool off and see if you get the same maybe cause of the large spool face it will be different

Bill - willierods.com

The angle of the spool's spindle doesn't matter - spool upsweep turns out to be a non-issue. That's why I developed 27X - it's based on spool diameter, which does play a major role in casting.

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When I built a surf sur1266 with the 704z I used a 40mm but was using 17lbs running with 30lbs shock leader I can get you the lay out if you need it.

When I built a surf sur1266 with the 704z I used a 40mm but was using 17lbs running with 30lbs shock leader I can get you the lay out if you need it.