I have always been told that you do not place a guide right on the Ferrell. I have noticed on other forums that some build with single foot guides, and the guide is right on the Ferrell with ring of the guide actually extending past the female end of the Ferrell. I am now wondering if what I have been doing is wrong? I always move the guides off the Ferrell, and make adjustments in the rest of the guides to compensate.

Mike Bradfrod
R.M.B. Fishing Rods
Nampa, Idaho

I see no reason after making many fly rods that have the guide on the ferrule that combining the reinforcing wrap with a guide wrap is a problem. If it bothers you just move the guide and others slightly to get it off the ferrule. A slight move won't affect anything..

I agree with Michael, no reason not to put them on or near a ferrule, I do it a lot.

Mike,
I am not sure what you mean by "ring of the guide actually extending past the female end of the Ferrell". I will wrap up to where the foot of the guide is near the edge of the female ferrule or at least next to the ferrule reinforcement wrap but I won't hang the ring over that. Also you need to be careful on guide placement near the male end of the ferrule, that is where I will adjust the spacing if I am too close to the female ferrule end when it is put together. Over time the female ferrule will slide down a little bit more over the male and I don't want it to contact any wraps that are too close if that happens.

Mike,
Through a novice’s eye, Placing a guide on a ferrule would save a bit of weight and be a good thing = killing two birds with one stone.

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

I started building on Fenwick glass blanks, and when the first Graphite blanks came out I built on the blanks made by Gary Loomis ( I can't remember the 3 letter name of the company he had back then), Winston, and Sage. I built some lamaglass blanks as well. I just talked to one of the Batson's, and he said the technology in the blanks has come a long way since then, and there is no reason not to put a guide on the Ferrell. He did say that he would be more concerned with having a guide about an inch in front of the Ferrell, or close to the male end of the Ferrell. My information might have been right 30 years ago, but not now. Thanks for the replies to my question.

Mike Bradfrod
R.M.B. Fishing Rods
Nampa, Idaho