building a 8 1/2 ft spinning rod on a clemens blank 15--25# can somebody help me with spacing I have 78 inches from the tip to the foregrip. i'll be using 5 or 6 guides

Barry,

I know this is not what you want to hear, but you are the only one who can arrive at the proper spacing for that particular blank. It all depends upon the handle length, reel, line and taper of the blank. And the number of guides cannot really be predetermined. That number will be decided upon when you do a static distribution test (or something like the equal-angle system). You have to let the blank tell you how many it needs and where they go.

In a nutshell, you want the fewest, smallest and lightest guides that will do the job. You should space them by eye and then run a line through them while the rod is loaded. Adjust the guides so that the line closely follows the same curvature as the rod does when under a good load. You may need to add an additional guide, or even two. (Personally I'd use the New Guide Concept system as outlined in the July/August 2000 RodMaker, but there isn't room or time to outline it here.)

Again, not meaning to put you off, but the optimum way to do it is in your hands. If you'd rather not bother, or just don't have the time, the best you could do would be to seek out some of the standardized guide placement charts and see if something there would match up with your length rod. It won't give you the best results, but it will be quick and easy. Take a look at some of the manufacturer's websites to see if they list guide spacings for their blanks. Just keep in mind that these are generic spacings and don't take into account your particular blank's action, power or handle length.

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

I too relied on spacing charts for a long time. I think Tom was the one to tell me to do it on my own. It works out better when you do it on your own and you feel the rod is TRULY custom. If you need a spacing chart however, try St Croix's webpage, they have a pretty good one that I USED to use.

Thanks for your help Went back to july/aug.2000 the new concept article tells it all

If you have any questions that the article did not answer please get back with me. It is really so easy to do, but again one of those things that is easier to show in person than to put into words.

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