… or at least the issues of concern. I would think placing the stripper farther up the blank would decrease the line angle coming from the angler’s hand but, on the other hand (so to speak), would reduce the number of guides on the lower section to help evenly distribute stress to the blank (especially when battling that trophy-of-a-lifetime which has the rod maxed-out) = a two-sided sword. I wouldn’t think the blank length would make much of a difference but maybe? Does the length of the angler’s arms or personal preference / style factor into the equation? Is there simply a magic number (distance from the reel) as I have found with the butt guide (19-21in) for my UL - light spinning rods?
Please speak, all Gurus; I am here to learn.

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

I'm not going to go into all the details. Sometimes, something develops over decades and ends up right where it needs to be. Put any fly rod stripping guide at 31 to 32 inches from the rod butt and it'll be about as good as it can get. If you don't believe it, do your own tests, forwards, backwards and upside down. You'll arrive at the same number but do the work for yourself just to convince your own mind.

..............

You will adjust your hand placement to the position of the stripper. A large man with long arms that fly fishes, has got to adjust if he is buying fly rods off the rack. The same goes for a short armed person. I have tried different stripper placement on the same blank type and there is definitely a difference to the way the rod cast and feels. The stripper distance may also have an affect on what line will work best with the finished rod. There are so many variables though, it is hard to attribute the castability to just that distance from the reel. With a four piece rod you are somewhat limited to where you can actually put the stripper. Pretty much what Tom says is where they are going to go, and it will work.

i prefer a foreward stripper for a little better casting and distance..like Mark said, it cuts down the line to butt guide angle..

During a cast the fly line will not come from the caster's hand but from his casting basket - or from the area of his feet. Some casters recommend passing the line through a "loop" made by the thumb and forefinger. I have not found this to be beneficial to my double-haul casts.

IMO -
1. No reason to consider caster's arm length. If cast flubbed - just move casting hand back to reach line.
2. reason to form "O" with line hand - or just let line slide over open palm - because you eliminate line bunching-up and over-riding stripper.
3. I really see no difference in distance with stripper at 28" or 32". But - you can eliminate a guide since you are starting at a point closer to tip.

One of my CTS customers actually puts 2 guides on the butt seactin of a 4 piece fly rod - and claims he gets great distance.
Soooo, do your own thing.
herb
CTS

your customer may be using a basket..if it,s off the ground he has really long arms and reach..lol..

Tom's answer is spot on 32" works fine ! Traditional theory was to be sure the stripper is just beyond the reach of the casters "off" hand, so that one could easily grab the line below the guide, 32" achieves this in most cases.

Tom, Lance, ben, Phil Ew., Herb, Phil Er.,
Thank you for the replies. The general consensus is basically the same and has been used for many years. Although a (understandably) different value / distance than a spinning rod butt guide, the placement of a fly rod stripper guide is apparently just as easy = 32in from the reel = boy, that is easy. Now let me overthink it and find a much more difficult way to obtain the same 32in lol. Joking aside, I appreciate all of you taking the time to respond.

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

Mark, that’s 32” from the rod butt, not the reel.
Norm

Thanks, Norman. That is what I meant.

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

I use a formula for guide placement, but I set the stripper guide placement (butt to guide) based on another similar rod that I own and already like.

I set all mine at 30" from the butt, not counting a fighting butt. If you have a 2" fighting butt then it end up at 32" from the very back. This is what I teach all my students and inquirerers and have never experienced a single complaint. I will also state that I see nothing wrong with 28 29 31 or 32.