I'm in the middle of a 7.5' 5wt fly rod build and realize I made a mistake. I just wrapped and epoxied the tip section, it's a 2piece rod and I added 1 too many size 2 guides.
My intended guide progression was: 1-1-1-1-2-2-3-4-12

Instead I did 1-1-1-1-2-2-2

Can anyone give me some advice on what to do with the unwrapped butt section? Should I use a size 3 and then the 12 stripping guide or jump from size 2 to 4? Use a size 3 and then a 10mm stripper?

I really don't want to try and remove the mistaken size 2. Any advice is appreciated.

if this is your rod the fish will never know about it an no one will ever know but you, it is a gift or a sold rod , there again who knows ?
this a a custom rod I think ? correct ? they will look at the wrap, the epoxy , the line up of the guides , in other words don't sweet it no one will ever know if you don't till My 2CTS on it

William Sidney
AK

Go with your original 4 - 12 plan. Many now go 12 all the same size running guides.

Get rid of the larger sizes, the 3, 4 and 12 stripper. Continue with the #2's all the way to the stripper and use a #8 or #10 for that.

You don't need all those different size guides, 3 at the most, object is to create the straightest line path. Having a taper of many different guide sizes does nothing except add unnecessary weight to the blank. Use the smallest guide that will pass your line connections and try to keep as much weight off the blank as possible.

Another question, why such large guides in the first place? # 1/0 or maybe even # 2/0 would have been fine for the tip section. Example 1/0, 1/0, 1/0, 1/0, 1/0, 1/0, 1, 1, 8.

I wouldn't strip it off at this point, but something to keep in mind for your next build.

Right. The progression through all those sizes is for the human eye, not the rod nor the line. If you know that size 1's are sufficient to clear your line and any connections, you could have gone 12 - 4 - and 1's on out.

Even so, your rod will work fine.

................

Your thought about using a 3-10 is fine. Go for it.

John A.

Thanks for the input guys, I'll use the 3-10 solution. In the future smaller guides and less changes.

If this is your rod just brag about the fish you caught with it. you won't do it again.