Hello fellow rod builders. I have been a fly rod builder since late 90's about to tackle my first float rod build. I fish many small rivers so I chose a CTS affinity 11'6" 2 piece 4-8 lb blank. Formerly I have been fishing a clarus 11' 4 and I like the handle length 20" 6 inches of cork in front of the pin. I plan on using the titanium nanolite guides 16 being largest 8mm the smallest. I would love some good advice as far as guide spacing. Thank you

William,
If you can provide the approx. distance from the reel seat to the rod tip I can come up with some quick calculations.
If you have a preference for the number of guides, this will be taken into account. The tip diameter would also be helpful.

Gene

I will try to get it for you when i get home. I built a petsonal rod which is also cts 11.6 but 8-12 line. Handle size sounds the same, guide size same. Rod performs great. I assume you are also using centerpin reel as i do. I built the rod with minima match guides transition to minima fly, but if are planning to use this tod in winter use high frames guides as runners instead. I use mine mostly for fall run salmon in rivers, thats why i went with higher line rating and low frame runners

With a rod of that length, I like to start with the butt guide at 25-28 inches in front of the face of the reel. Then, go to the tip and start with the guides about 4-5 inches apart and continue on down the rod until the rod stiffens up and then increase the spacing to properly load the rod. I would guess that with this blank and handle length, that you would only need about 9 or 10 guides for a nicely balanced and properly loaded rod.

Good luck

Ok guys thank you for responding. Measurement from tip to center of reel foot is 125.5. I will have 7 in fore grip 13 rear. Measurement from tip to ferrule end is 70 5/8. Tip top size will be 8mm like running guides. Size between 4 and 4.5

William,

9-guide distance from tip

4.5 ; 9.8 ; 16.1 ; 23.6 ; 32.6 ; 43.2 ; 55.8 ; 70.9 ; 88.7


10 guide distance from tip

4.1 ; 8.8 ; 14.4 ; 20.8 ; 28.3 ; 37.0 ; 47.2 ; 59.0 ; 72.7 ; 88.7


Gene Moore