I have the Lamiglas TIMS78ML rod.. Butt size is .600 and tip size is a 5. One of my customers wants the best so I am going to put on Fuji Gold Cermet Guides single foot. Going to use 10" rear grip and 6" forgrip and 5" reel seat. . Since the guides are differant, said to be 35-45% lighter,this is where I could use some help.

I would use 6 guides as a rule on a 6/6 rod. Would I use 7? Or is 6 ok, going to use size 20,16,(2)12 (2) 10and an 8. He is going to use 12# line. Any suggestion on size of guides to be perfect, would help.I don't want to buy more since the are so expensise.

Dick

well the best is yet to be determained right , 1st go to fuji's
web site and look at the concept guide spaceing chart that will tell you a little info but you really will need to start by know what reel he will be useing and start from there along with a static deflection test this will help guide you . to building the best hand crafted rod for your customer. other than that all you have left is a trial and error .in my opinion get the rod ready for epoxying the guides and really make him happy let him test cast his personal imput how ever large or small will in my opinion reap you praise and gratitude with more new customers .
just my 2 cents worth good luck and tight wraps ....john t burford

You are approaching the problem from the wrong end. The rod will tell you how many guides to use and that is better than just choosing a number and making it "fit" onto the rod.

As a starting point I am going to suggest a New Guide Concept set-up with something like the following:

High framed 25 - 16 - 10 and then low frame #7's (fly type) on out to the tip. Might need 3 and might need 4 of them and then a #7 ring top. This is only approximate and your set-up would have to considered based on your handle length and reel to be used.

If this is going to be a casting rod, I'd lean more toward something like 16 - 12 - 10 - 8 and then as many 7's as you need. I'd use the fly type low frame 7 single foots and use as many as need to keep the line off the blank. If you went with a spiral wrap then more power to you. That would be the best way to set up a casting rod if your customer is acceptable to it.

Again, these are only suggestions and you really need to take a little time and play with some different set-ups to get one that is dialed in for your particular rod.

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I have not seen the Gold Cermet guides in the fly guide sizes 7 or 6. Do they make them? Also can anyone explain to me why you would need to use such a large butt guide 16 or 20 for a casting rod? Unless it's for a larger levelwind reel I can't see why you would need to start with anything larger than a 12. Thanks.

This is a spinning rod not a casting rod. AAAAI am not into fly rod making but"Anglers workshop shows a lot in the Tigg series.

Dick,

I am primarily a fisherman, not a rod builder. I cast jigs 99% of the time in saltwater, and needed power, lightness, and most of all, sensitivity. I got into rod building because I wanted the highest performance rod I could get. I decided to go with the new guide concept layout, mainly because my favorite factory rod had it. It has been a great success!

My layout for a 6'6"-7' rod goes as follows:
Single foot, Hi-frame sizes 30, 16 and 10
Single foot, regular frame size 8
THREE single foot fly guides, size 7
Size 7, low profile SIC tip top

There is a lot of technical info on this board about guide placement, but once you do that, I would recommend that you:
1. Do NOT underwrap your guides,
2. Extend your wraps as little as possible after the guide feet, 3. "Flame" your epoxy to thin it a little, for maximum tip lightness.

These three tips have made a big difference in the performance of my rods.

Hope this helps.

TH