I am building a long distance casting surf spinning rod.

I have just purchased a 100% graphite, 2 piece, 12' blank. I intend building it with the yesteryear large SS guides similar to Mildrum guides from years gone by. The blank will have four guides, 70mm, 60mm, 50mm and 40mm.

Can anyone tell me the spacing dimensions for the guides from the butt or reel seat?

Also, any suggestion on the tip guide size to go along with this build?

All and any comments will be appreciated. Thank You....

.Carl, isn,t that too many guides?..Just joking..lol.

If you use those large, heavy guides, you're not building it for long distance casting.

What size reel and line type and size do you plan to use?

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

Carl,

I would start here and then adjust:

[northforkcomposites.com]

Type in "SU" into the search field for Surf.

The handle length will determine your overall guide spacing...and to echo Tom, you may want to re-think the guide sizes if you are making a distance blank.

Best,
Aleks



Carl Hodges Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am building a long distance casting surf
> spinning rod.
>
> I have just purchased a 100% graphite, 2 piece,
> 12' blank. I intend building it with the
> yesteryear large SS guides similar to Mildrum
> guides from years gone by. The blank will have
> four guides, 70mm, 60mm, 50mm and 40mm.
>
> Can anyone tell me the spacing dimensions for the
> guides from the butt or reel seat?
>
> Also, any suggestion on the tip guide size to go
> along with this build?
>
> All and any comments will be appreciated. Thank
> You....

These large guide rods were popular in the 70"s from Long Island to Martha's Vineyard. A favorite was a 12' yellow Lamiglas. The concept I believe was less guides, less line contact and resistance and larger guides, less resistance when line is released. Casting distance changes with the number, size, height, position and weight of guides. At the fishing store, I had a chat with a gentleman who had a yesteryear rod that was a four large guide set up like I am speaking about. I stopped to see it and it is a 12' "Powell" rod. I was able to get the guide distances from his rod. Thanks for those who commented.....

Is that rod just for casting competition?

A lot has been learned about guide systems and casting distance since the 1970's. Quick line control via higher and smaller ringed guides is proven to increase distance. Not to mention the lighter weight of such systems which relieves the rod of weight so that more of the caster's input will translate into the cast and less into starting and stopping the rod motion.

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

Out of curiosity, does anyone use spiral wraps used for long distance surf casting?

Will you be casting chunk bait, live bait, plugs, jigs . . . or what?

Yes, I do remember this set up being used for competition many years ago, however, I use the setup for surf casting, plugs, bait and jigs and have found them to be superior for surf casting spinning rods. These wire guide set ups can be purchased at the rodroom.com. My go to long distance conventional set up is an Akios 666 shuttle on another 100% 12' graphite.

Carl,
Have you ever built a rod before? I am not picking on you but there is a lot of experience here that can put you on the right path to making a distance cast spinning rod. If you are just building a reproduction of an antique surf rod or something that will not perform to its best with the correct components then I would say try to get the largest tip top you can find that will fit the tip of the blank you have. What size is the tip of the blank and I will find one for you.
Best Regards,
Lance

Yes, I have built (9) rods to date. I have recently found the rod tip needed for the build from a fellow that builds locally. I am ending any further comments/replies to this post.

Moral of the story , make absolutely certain the rod builder you choose is up to date on the latest advancements , methods and tech or you could end up with a rod that performs like a rod from the 1970's .

I am sorry if I may have offended you Carl, that was not my intent. I was only trying to figure out your level of experience and I was not thinking of what it sounded like. Please feel free to ask for any advice or help and I promise you I will try not to sound like an idiot.

"Please feel free to ask for any advice or help and I promise you I will try not to sound like an idiot"


Carl did ask specific questions and advice Lance . You can see them below .


I have just purchased a 100% graphite, 2 piece, 12' blank. I intend building it with the yesteryear large SS guides similar to Mildrum guides from years gone by. The blank will have four guides, 70mm, 60mm, 50mm and 40mm.

Can anyone tell me the spacing dimensions for the guides from the butt or reel seat?

Also, any suggestion on the tip guide size to go along with this build?

I suggest workouts in the gym. The bait/weight you cast can go no faster you can pull it with your rod, and rod speed = distance cast. Fish poles do not generate energy. If they did they would run turbines and power your car. The physical laws governing the distance covered by thrown, shot, or casted objects were formulated more than two thousand years ago and they still hold true.

they were true before the laws were formulated..lol.

The anti-science mob, led by advertisers, stubbornly proclaims that buying stuff, particularly expensive stuff, will make you a better caster and a better angler. Some anglers Buy into this silly theory.

I build alot of surf rods each year. I used the larger gathering guides as that was all I had ever been taught. The guys from Fuji at the ICRBE finally got me to tape on "New Concept" guides and spacing. Who said you couldn't teach an old dog new tricks. Tape on some guides, head out to the a field and see for yourself. That is alot of the fun of building custom rods. Learning something new all the time. If you ever get the chance attend a ICRBE and you can talk with and learn from the BEST in the world. Tight Lines and Fresh Bait

I am convinced that "mocking up" guide trains with guides and reel reel taped to the blank and test-casting various configurations will yield more credible results than claims made in rod blank or rod component advertisements - "DIY"!!