Hello all,

New to the forum and love it. Been reading a lot of the posts over the past few weeks. I just got a rod building kit for Christmas and a couple rod kits to get started. One of the rods I got is a 6' rod, rated for 4-8 lb test, 1/16-1/14 oz. lures. I looked up some different spacing guides and most call for 6 guides on a 6' rod, this rod only came with 5. Can anyone help with what the spacing for these guides should probably be?

Also, Its a split grip handle, what should the spacing be between the butt cap and the rear grip behind the reel seat?

Thanks in advance and I look forward to learning a lot more here.

Jake

Spinning?

Jake,
You can put any number of guides on any length rod that you prefer.

It is your rod, they are your guides and it is your blank. Build it how you would like it built.

But, simply put; on a fishing rod there should be enough, but just enough guides on a rod so that the line follows the contour of the blank when it is fully loaded.

i.e. if you flex the rod to 90 degrees - there should be a guide at locations on the rod, so that the line comes off the reel and then goes nicely along the same path that the rod is forming by being bent to its maximum bend.

As the fairy tale about the three bears state -- not too few, not too many, but just right. So to speak.

For commercial rods, it is not at all uncommon to have a guide or less than a typical builder might put on the rod. But, that does not make it a bad rod, it just makes it different, but it will still catch a lot of fish.

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Don't make the mistake that many beginners make and that is putting way too many guides on a rod. Too many guides can detract from the performance of a rod much the same way that too few guides can detract from the performance of a rod.

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Don't make the mistake that some folks do and that is to put the first guide too close to the reel. As stated earlier, if the rod doesn't bend at a particular spot, it is likely that there is no need for a guide at that location.

Best wishes

Spencer,

It is spinning, can't believe I left that out.

Roger,

Thanks for the advice!

7 and a top. Static load for position.

7 and a top. Static load for position.