I have a rule I made for myself about rodbuilding: do not build a rod to be used for any kind of fishing for which I have no experience. Well, I am about to violate that rule , for a friend, and try my hand at a centerpin rod. Have been doing some research into this. And I have almost enough info proceed. He has picked the blank. We are discussing grips and seat. I think I have a handle on everything he wants except the guides.

The request was for all high frame guides. To keep the line away from the blank due to freezing conditions under which this rod will be used. Other than that, I have no idea what to use. My first thought was KR concept guides. Would this type of rapid reduction system, with taller than normal guides as runners, be appropriate for this application?

Another thought was using a double foot guide for the stripper, and maybe the next guide, due to the size of reels used, and the more pronounced angle the line takes through the stripper.

Next thought. I stumbled on a video of a guy demoing how to cast one of these setups. Looks like it would take a lot of practice. I have not talked to my bud, to find out if he will actually be casting with the new rod. I’m guessing the answer to that question will influence guide selection, at least somewhat.

Any thoughts, and/or advice will be appreciated

You shouldn't need hi frames all the way out. Start with double foot V guides for the first three or four, maybe 25 ,16,10 and out with 8's and 7's. . Being that the guides are on the bottom the line won't be touching the blank much anyway, but you could stick to a high frame V single foot for the runners as well. Just watch the placement of the first guides......get the reel if you can....some of them are pretty big.

Need some pics, Raven Tackle Canada in Bing. Images.

Or check out the blueprints for the IMMC series from Batson. Available on their website under Rainshadow Rod Blanks

What characteristics are desirable for guides on centerpin rods, and how do they differ from the best guides for casting, trolling, or bait-fishing rods?

Thanks, gents, for the help. I had looked at Batson’s recipe for their centerpin rod blanks. All specified spinning guides. I then looked at Mudhole’s recommendations for their centerpin blanks. They listed a guide set, which I could not find anywhere. I did find two of their guide sets with the same name, with only the final number different. They were casting guides. After a long chat with my bud, we nailed down exactly what he wants.

He picked the blank from a list of links I sent him. We got the handle setup, including seat location, ironed out, and picked the guides. MHX blank, Alps Y guides(size 20 down to 7), Alps tip(8 ring size), split grip(burl corks and wood), plate type reel seat.

Phil, it seems the primary characteristic, at least for this gent, is keeping the line off the blank. This is for winter steelhead fishing. Drifting eggs sacks, under a float, with up to one ounce of shot, in freezing conditions, with a lot of line out. The rod is not always laying parallel to the water. Sometimes flat, or pointed up, or off to one side or the other; steering the drift, I assume. The height of the Y guide set was the crucial piece of the puzzle for him. Keep the line off the blank, no matter what position the rod is in.

The only thing I need to do is create some nice wraps and design the cork/wood grips. This will be interesting. I have pics of how he holds the rod. The reels used are very free spooling, with no drag. He holds the rod so can use his pinky and/or ring finger as a drag.

I build mostly centerpin rods and I fish winter steelhead passionately. I don't go smaller than a size 8 guide for my running guides and tip top to reduce ice-up. Still, I treat my last 3 or 4 runners and tip top with Stanley's Ice-Off paste the night before I fish. I still get some ice in the guides but it cleans off easier with the ice-of paste. your choice of a 20 stripper was right on.

I am in the slow process of building one using a MicroWave 18/8 stripper guide, and all #8 Titanium framed Nanolite single foot running guides on a 13 foot blank. I have used the Stanley's ice off paste, and it helps keep ice from building up. I also have used Rain X on the guides too, and oddly enough, it helps too.