Mo's summary of the choices and advantages/disadvantages of titanium versus stainless has swayed me to go with the titanium esp. given the weight factor.

I spoke with Bill Stevens in Charlotte about guide sizes for doing a rod like this with a spiral wrap. His suggestions were a double foot 10, a single foot 8, and the rest (6 of them) single foot flyrod 7's. Given these sizes, should I use a 7mm ring or 6mm ring for the tiptop? I'm thinking I probably will use 10-12 lb test line on it.

With a spiral wrap, am I correct in thinking that I put the first guide at 0 deg, the next at 90 deg, and the remainder at 180 deg.?

Thanks for all the help.

-John

John,

I would use the same size ring for the tip as the running guides. I use 7's on the popping rods I build. For a "bumper" style spiral wrap, the 90-degree guide is placed half way inbetween the two guides closest to the reel.

Bret

double foot 10, a single foot 8, and the rest (6 of them) single foot flyrod 7's.

TLNSG size 10 = .010oz
BLNAG size 10 = .015oz

TUNSG size 7 = .005oz
BUNAG size 7 = .011oz

Does anyone else have the weights of these guides? This is what I got when I used my cheapo digital .001+/- scale in ounces.

John,

Super!

Blessings,
Mo

I am with Bret
Also if you go Titan's, get a fuji top. The Titans don't have a Ti top.
If you do go a 6 top check the knots that have to go thought it. I would go 7

You are right on the guide placement for the spiral, but that placement is the "simple spiral" and you might want to consider a smaller, lower frame guide as the 90 degree bumper guide, so you would have 10, small bumper, 8,7,7 etc.. Most folk suggest a double foot as the bumper, and that's probably correct for heavier salt rods. I have had no problem using a single foot fly guide in 8 or 7 as the bumper on my steelhead and salmon rods.

I've been doing some searchs on how to do a spiral wrap. If I understand it correctly, the first guide (closest to reel) would be my double foot 10, the next guide at 90 deg. would be one of the single foot 7's, and then the third guide would be the single foot 8 bumper guide at 180 deg. Is this correct?

Also, though right-handed, I am using a left-hand reel on this rod. I just don't want to be switching hands back and forth after casting. I'm too used to using my right arm for casting and my left hand for reeling. Given that, should the guide at 90 deg be placed on the right or left side of the blank?

Thanks for all the great advice you guys have given.

-John

John,

Don't count the "bumper" guide in your configuration. Use the number of guides that you normally would and configure them normally. Then flip everything but the butt guide to the bottom of the rod and add a small "bumper" guide at 90 HALFWAY between the butt guide and first guide on the pottom. It's sole function is to hold the line off the blank


Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

To protect the bumper most put it on the reel handle side. Up to you.