I'm building a Rodgeeks C2SW76MHF (7'-6") and I'm using BTRLS guides. Client wanted two features built in to the rod other than color scheme. 1st, a 25mm base guide, so I went with that even though I recommended a 30. 2nd, he wanted the hook keeper installed on the left side of the rod facing upwards. He is casting a Penn 550 SS with 12-20lbs test. My problem is line slap. The line is beating the blank in several areas between the spool and the first guide, regardless of where I place the guide. The other thing I'm having issue with is the line keeps catching on the hook keeper due to the position and line slap. I'm thinking I should go to the 30mm or 40mm base guide. Any comments welcome.

A higher frame guide in the same ring size may be all you need. Otherwise a larger ring might be needed, but there is always the change that it'll create even more line slap. Most likely these are things you'll just have to try.

On spinning rods, the best position for the hook keeper is generally on the bottom of the rod.

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Thanks Tom, I made the suggestion to the client but he was insistent on the hook keeper placement.

As long as he understands that the line may hang on it, the ball is in his court.

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You might want to ask the client why they want this size guide and that keeper location.
When I was selling, sometimes clients had strange or unique requests or concern, that once examined was easily resolved.
People gather scraps of information and bits of datum from, who knows where?.
These things might have been true once, or under certain circumstances, but might not be applicable now, or in this case.
IE. "Real performance cars always have manual transmissions!"



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/25/2015 09:25PM by Garry Thornton.

Mark,
I had precisely that problem with a rod that I built for a client, for exactly the same reason.

After the rod had been in use for 6 months and he asked me to fix the issue.

1. I went from a size 25 standard height guide to a size 30 high frame guide.

2.l I want from the hook keeper facing up, to a hook keeper on the side of the rod angled down about 20 degrees.
Depending on whether the client is right or left handed, I will place the hook keeper on one side of the rod or the other.
If the client is right handed, so that he is casting with his right hand and reeling with his left hand, I will place it on the left side of the rod, with the keeper angled down just a bit. That way, if a loop happens to snag on the hook keeper, the line will fall free as soon as the pressure has been removed from the line.
If the client is left handed such that he holds the rod in his left hand and reels with his right hand, I will place the hook keeper on the right side of the blank facing slightly down.

The reason that I place the hook keeper on the side is that the client can hold the rod in his standard holding hand, swing the bait over to his free hand, and use his free hand to hook the bait or hook into the hook keeper, without having to change his position on his standard rod holding position.

By the way, the client was very happy with the change in the first guide to a high frame size 30 guide in precisely the same position as the first guide was placed. In this case, the rod was either a 6 1/2 foot or 7 foot rod and the guide was placed at 19 inches from the face of the spinning spool.

Good luck

p.s.
You might pass along the reason that I place the hook keepers in the positions that I do. By the way, this is exactly the same position where G Loomis places their hook keepers. However, they place the hook keeper on the right side only on the assumption that the bulk of their users will be right handed users of the rod.

A fisherman can simply turn his wrist to put the hookkeeper into any position desired at the time he wishes to locate the lure or hook.

A hookkeeper that is on the bottom of a spinning rod won't hang line - the line will simply fall off of it.

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I put a drop shot keeper on the left side of one of my builds and it is not unusual for line to tangle in it. Never again. Just haven't taken the time to move it, will do this winter.