Just wanted to seperate topic a little. Referring the equal angle guide technique. He mentioned not only using a "collector guide" approx 4 inches after the first stripper, but then possible two more, each being 1.2x the distance. The basically ends up being 4 stripper guides within 20 inches. Correct? I know test casting will tell, but are any of you doing this? Makes sense to me, as I always fight the oscillation of fly line throughout the lower section of rods (until it gets into the tip section or smaller guides).
Just wanting additional thoughts and opinions.

There is only one stripping guide on a fly rod, period. It is the first one nearest the reel seat. All the rest are running guides. As was said before, you can call them what you like.

I very much enjoyed Mr. Morton's article on guide placement using the equal angle method over the first 120 deg. of arc for the flexible portion of the rod beginning at the tip end. It is well written and makes good sense.

Three questions came to my mind when reading the method:

1. The first guide from the tip should be no more than 4" by convention. Does this still hold?
2. The number of guides in this section is a judgement call by the builder. He does not want the angle between the guide and the line under maximum load to be too great overloading the blank between guides. What angle is too great an angle?
3. He discusses progressive angle placement as an improvement over equal placement near the tip. What is the mechanics of this as it relates to the guides, line and casting/loading efficiency?

I hadn't given this too much thought but you are correct - there is only one stripping guide on a fly rod, no matter how many or what type guides you have on there. Good point.

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When using a collecter guide some 100cm forward of the first stripping guide, a very strong case can be made for naming this setup a "Double Stripping Guide" That second guide actually becomes a second stripping guide in a very real sense. Remove either of the two and you have a different rod. On light rods, 3 wt, and 4 wt, I have settled on about 3 1/2 inches and one size smaller for the second guide. On 5 wt and heavier, I go for the full 100cm (4"). Its presence definitely modifies the line oscillation. If its not a second stripping guide, then what is it?
Ralph

Ralph,
You just named it. Why not call it a 'Collector Guide' ? or second collector guide? and the ones beyond that simply running guides?

Rich

Solyrich Custom Rods

What we have here is just different terminology for the same thing from different people. A stripping guide is considered the butt-most guide on a fly rod. On a spinnng or casting rod it is a butt guide. How many butt guides can you have? How much of the rod is considered the butt? How far up the rod do you go before you start calling the guides running guides? 1/3rd? Halfway?

In the case of fly rods, I think it quite common to refer to any ceramic double footed guide as a "stripping" guide and any snakes or single foot guides as the running guides. At least this is what most people envision.

But William may be correct - I am not sure who the authority on this terminology might be.

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