I knew I read somewhere before but I couldn't find it in the search. Tom had mentioned that he usually puts the stripping guide at 32". I wasn't sure where that distance. From the end of the butt, or the end of the reel seat? This will be my first fly build so don't want to screw it up before I get started.

You want the stripping guide a little beyond your reach when grabbing the line either to cast or retrieve.

From the rod butt, put it at 32 inches and it'll be just right for about any fly rod from short light line rod to big game blue water rods.

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One of the things I like about this site, everyone tries to use the same values when measuring things. Just the other day someone asked for a 21 inch grip. Took a while for us to get on the same page, he wanted the 2 grips and reel seat to equal 21 inches starting with a 4 inch foregri?p.

Remember, everyone is different. I like Phil's response to just beyond your reach. That way it fits you, not a dimension.

Put it at 32 inches beyond the butt. Guaranteed.

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I put mine between 32-33".
Being able to reach it is not important. If your cast doesn't straighten the line where it's reachable - shorten the amount of line that is off the reel - if that doesn't work for you just move the rod hand back until you can reach the line.
32" makes for the best line flow. Also allows you to place running guides closer together than if you put the stripper closer to the butt.
Herb



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2020 09:25AM by Herb Ladenheim.

Herb, with all due respect of one who is obviously an expert at fly rods, why would you not put them all at 32? Or 33? Or 32 1/2? If there is one dimension that, without exception, is right, why do anything but that dimension. ?
Without having to do anything other than reach up to the guide, if the guide is even close to the right place, I'll find the line. However, I still believe that the right place for that guide, the place that is most natural for a fisherman, can vary with the physical characteristics of the fisherman. It's hard to believe that a person with a 30 inch cuff and a person with a 35 inch cuff would find the optimum to be a single dimension. If that dimension affects the performance of the rod, then it's also hard to believe that a 7 foot fly rod and a 9-6 fly rod would have the same dimension.

And yet they do. Decades of trial and error has proven to me that 32 inches is going to be almost perfect for any rod whether it be a 6 foot or a 10 foot fly rod. Overall rod length has nothing to do with it. (Sort of like the NGC - it the distance from the reel to the butt guide that matters.)

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Michael
If a ferrule makes me adjust the position of guides , I may also move the stripper. BTW - I have built a couple of personal 4 pc fly rods with the stripper close to the female ferrule on the second section. I don't think they cast as well as the rods where the stripper is at the 32-33" mark. Line tends to "jump" up instead of flowing out at the lesser angle.
Also - line flow out of a stripping basket - or boat - or grass - is the same - so the stripper position is pretty much fixed.
Herb

Thanks, Herb.

Thanks for all the replies. I will be setting up the guides in the next few days.