Hello,

I've just finished with the first stage of my first rod - a Lamiglas
B-C528 - both sections of hypalon, the reel seat and the butt cap are all done on this rod. The next question is: now what? I was given some fuji guides and spacing suggestions by the guy that sold me the hypalon, etc. but after placing the guides on the rod, it seems that there are too many of them. The rod is 8' long and he suggested guides at 3 1/4", 3 1/2", 4", 4 1/2", 5", 5 1/2", 6",7", 8" and 9 1/4" (all relative to each other). When I placed the guides, the bottom guide was way to close to the hypalon. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

Jon

You need to determine this for yourself. Put the first guide about 4 inches back past the tip and then put a guide back towards the butt about where it needs to be from the reel. Eyeball the guides in between and put them where they look okay. Now run a line from the reel on out past the tip and anchor it down and put a nice bend in the rod. The line should follow the rod in a nice arc and not touch the blank anywhere. If the line touches the blank anywhere then you adjust the guides as needed to get it up off the blank. If you can't keep it off the blank with some adjustment, you will need to add another guide. You may have to add more than one guide. It all depends.

I hope I have explained this well enough for you to do it. Maybe others will add their own methods or expand on this one.

Pete is correct.

To build a rod for enhanced performance let the rod blank tell you where to place the guides. Formulas or predetermined distances usually do not achieve performance.

Do a static deflection test – or stress distribution test – combined with a casting test will give you a better performing rod. Pay special attention to the guide closest to your reel during the casting tests. Adjustments to that guide will make a big difference in casting performance.

The “New Concept” guide system is another powerful tool. This system has been covered in two articles in RodMaker Magazine. I imagine those back issues are available. There is also excellent guide placement information in “Rod-Building Guide”, a book by Tom Kirkman.

A new method of guide placement will be featured in future RodMaker Magazine articles. The new method is Don Morton’s “Equal Angle Spacing” and his more advanced “Progressive Angle Spacing”.