Quick question. How many guides should be on St. Croix 5s66MLF blank. St. Croix recommends 6 however I have seen some with as many as 10 plus TT. I have built about a dozen of these blanks using 6 on some and 9 or 10 on others. The blanks with the more guides do seem to perform better. More accurate casting and longer casts and better sensitivity. The additional guides are size 8 so I didn't notice much of a weight difference. Using Fuji SiC concept guides.

This is probably one of those areas where there is no one answer however I would appreciate your thoughts.

Check the Library Page above right Under New Guide Concept

Bill - willierods.com

Steve this is a loaded question. As a rule of thumb we usually start with one per foot plus one. So in your case we would have a 6foot 6inch blank so rounding up we would have 7 plus 1 for a total of 8. Now we revert to size of guides and guide height along with many other factors. The best method of number of guides and there placement would be to learn the "static line test". It along with test casting will give you the answers to a number of questions and give you the best tool for fishing. In this system you temporary affix guides to the blank and test. add subtract and adjust as needed to get the results you want. A good description of the static line test can be found on Fuji's web sight. I will say size eight guides are large and as long as the connections on your line will pass through guides you may want to go smaller. that allows you to put more guides on without the penalty of more weight.

I am new to the site so not real familiar with it. You have answered my question. Thank you!!

Casting or spinning rod build? Casting rods tend to have more than spinning rods due to the line being above the blank. Even then, the height of the guides you use will often determine who many you need. I'm afraid there is no set answer to how many guides you need based on rod length alone. Once you get the idea of what it is you're trying to do, you can better dial in the number of guides you need.

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I built this rod earlier in the year with Recoil guides (Fuji SiC tip) and used 7 guides+tip down to size 6 for runners. If I was to do it again I would add one guide as there are a coupe flat spots that could be eliminated.

Whenever I tape on a set of guides, I run a line through the guides from the reel to the tip top - and then do a full flex on the blank as if the rod was fighting a big fish.

I carefully look at the line path to be sure that the blank is properly loaded, no flat spots, but not an excessive number of guides.

This is very easy to do, with a tip that is glued in place and guides that have all been taped in place.

Then, if you find that a guide or guides need to be either added or subtracted or moved - it is easy to do, with the guides only taped in position.

Better to spend some extra time at this step than to wrap all of the guides, finish it and then find that you don't have the guide train set up correctly.

Be safe

Whenever I tape on a set of guides, I run a line through the guides from the reel to the tip top - and then do a full flex on the blank as if the rod was fighting a big fish.

I carefully look at the line path to be sure that the blank is properly loaded, no flat spots, but not an excessive number of guides.

This is very easy to do, with a tip that is glued in place and guides that have all been taped in place.

Then, if you find that a guide or guides need to be either added or subtracted or moved - it is easy to do, with the guides only taped in position.

Better to spend some extra time at this step than to wrap all of the guides, finish it and then find that you don't have the guide train set up correctly.

Be safe

X2 roger. I do the same thing. Works great. Mount a pole holder in your shop and place rod in it. Use a weight on a line or tie it off then step back and look at your guide placement. Good luck. MH

Michael,
I just use my bare feet with the line between my toes to hold the line. Then, I simply hold the rod in my hand and flex it as if I were fighting a fish. Simple and works very well.

Be safae

Gee Roger
You don't live in a Cave Do you LOL With all the equipment you hand make and you hold the line in your toes ??? LOL LOL
And builders yell at me for trying to keep things simple

Bill - willierods.com

That's quite a trick Roger. Great way to remove toe jams and sight a rod. Have fun. MH