I’m looking at building two walleye trolling rods and would like some help choosing guides. Both will only be used for flatlining deep diving cranks. I have 7’ and a 7’6” Rainshadow E-glass blanks but now I just need to choose guides. I have a telescoping 7’6” Okuma Dead Eye trolling rod which is set up with 14-12-10-10-8-8-8-10. Not sure the brand and I think they might be a little big for my application. Looking for recommendations. Thank you!

Sounds like a "casting' reel set-up?
If so, we like something like this;
Batson XBLXNLG 16, 06, 06, 06 (2 foot), then XBFLG06 (low frame 1 foot) the rest of the way.
Set up as a "Turnover" style, with the turn being done in the first 2 sz 06 2 foot going up the rod.

Best wishes,
Ron Schneider
Schneider's Rod Shop
Mountain Home, Arkansas
[www.schneidersrods.com]
mtnron40@yahoo.com
870-424-3381

Not sure what a turn is but yes it will be a baitcaster. I just want to do simple guides straight down the blank. It’s an okuma low profile 354 line counter reel. 16 seems kind of big, yes or no?

A "turnover" is also called an "spiral wrap" among other names.
It simply takes the line from the reel on top of the blank, and we do it in 2 guides,
takes the line to the under side of the rod.
It is especially helpful on a trolling rod, since it transfers the torque to the under side of the rod.
We like the sz 16 stripper guide to help the line path.
If you just want to do a conventional guides all on top, then you could downsize the stripper to a sz 12, or even a 10.
Then sz 6 the rest of the way.
Or, sz 6 next, then sz 5 or even sz 4.
But be careful, you may be passing knots thru the guides?
For durability you might want to go all 2 foot guides.
Here is a link to some of the discussions on it;
[www.rodbuilding.org]

Best wishes,
Ron Schneider
Schneider's Rod Shop
Mountain Home, Arkansas
[www.schneidersrods.com]
mtnron40@yahoo.com
870-424-3381

So how about?

7' XBLXNLG 12, 06, 06, 06, XBFLG 06, 06, 06, 06, 06, XPPZT tip top (10 total guides)

7'10" (butt trimmed to 7'6") Add one or two more XBFLG 06's?

Yes, that all sounds good.
But, be sure to tape on the guides after mounting the reel seat and grips,
with the reel and line you will be using and do a stress test under load.

Best wishes,
Ron Schneider
Schneider's Rod Shop
Mountain Home, Arkansas
[www.schneidersrods.com]
mtnron40@yahoo.com
870-424-3381

9 guides plus tip top should be fine on any glass rod build, it's a pretty durable material.

I'm not sure if I should be concerned about the single foot guides or not? Again, I will only be trolling deep diving crankbaits, like reef runner 800 series lures, 100ft back and 20-25ft down. I guess if needed I could do a locking wrap on them. Not sure if that would do anything?

Chris,
Single foot guides are just fine.

After all, you will not likely be using any line heavier than 10 or possibly 15 lb line. I know of no 15 lb line that is strong enough to cause any issues at all with a single foot guide.

Good luck

I use 30lb braid. Are you referring to 15lb mono or flouro?

Chris,
It doesn't matter, the single foot guides will be just fine - especially since you are doing a spiral wrap.

However, for this style rod, I will generally made the first guide a double foot guide simply because it is bigger and if the rod gets stepped on, it is less likely to bend in the process.

Other than the first guide, I don't see much need for a double foot guide for this type of fishing.

Good luck

I'm not doing a spiral wrap but yeah I think I should be okay with the single foot guides. Thanks for all your help!

Chris,
You indicated that this rod will be a trolling rod, but will not be a spiral wrapped rod.

I am not necessarily a big fan of a spiral wrapped rod, if there is a lot of casting to be done with the rod. But, for a trolling rod, with 0 casting - I can't think of a better configuration than a spiral wrapped rod. Since all but the first two or three guides are on the top or sides and the rest on the bottom - you can also use 2-4 fewer guides since the line will be below the rod where the bulk of any bending will occur in the rod. Also, the fact that the line is below the rod, with some arc in it when trolling, the line below the rod will really help to keep the rod from twisting in the hand.

No real difference in guide sizes, just get the line from the top of the rod to the bottom of the rod in the first three guides and wrap the rest of your guides on the underside of the rod.

Take care

One other thing on these two E-Glass blanks I have. Size A or D thread on these large diameter blanks with small guides?

Chris,
Really no reason to ever use D thread on a fresh water blank.