Hello Everyone:

I'm getting ready to build a long distance bait casting rod (for fishing, not tournament) on a Breakaway 12'6" 2pc-1pc lite blank. I wanted to use the new concept system, and in hopes of keeping the rod light was planning on using single foot guides out on the tip. But I just recieved some negative input about using the singles, from someone who builds a lot of these rods. It was second hand info, and all I got out of it was that it had something to do with the power of the blank (I don't see what that would have to do with it). I had gotten the impression that the singles were plenty strong. And am now kinda lost. Can anyone give me some advice about what to do.

Thanks
Dave F.

Dave,
I have built several surf rods using Fuji BLVLG single foot guides for the end guides. It has been a mix of both castins and spin and have not hade one problem with them. No twisting of the guide, no coming out of the thread, none of the problems that the "experts" told me I would have.
I am finishing up a SW1208 Rainshadow and am using BLVLG12's & BLVLG16's for the last sets of guides.
All I can suggest is tape on some singles, cast it and note distance and feel and switch to double foot guides and see what the diifference is.

Good Luck

Bill OConnor
non certified rod builder

Thanks I'm going to give what you suggested a shot.

Have you ever tried one of the Breakaway rods? I have a factory 11"6' 2pc, and using the pendulum cast am able to throw a pully rig with a 5oz. weight, and big chunk of mullet out consistantly over 100 yards, in a pretty good head wind. So you can see why I can't wait to get started on my new rod.

Thanks for the input
Dave F.

Dave am in the process right now of having a 71/2ft spinner built for my son. I do all the work with the exception of actually wrapping and finishing the guides. I have a professional do that because I no longer have the equipment nor the hands,arthritis, to accomplish that part.
Because of the spinning reel to be used(no upsweep in the head) I wound-up using a combination of guide styles; the last 5 were the Fuji alconite fly guides. The line will be 12 lb mono.
This was my 1st attempt and I used Tom Kirkman's description to accomplish the job. It worked like a charm. I have no qualms about using the fly guides simply because they're used on fly rods that are used to catch Pelagics like Tuna, Marlin,Sailfish,etc., so a Striped Bass,Red Drum, Trout or Bluefish won't present a problem as far as I can figure. Warren

most tournie rods uses double footed guides due to the heavy weights they cast. If it aint gonna be used for tournaments and the weights cast are more in line with those normally fished their is no reason why you cant use single footed guides
For a threadline setup have a look at BYVLG not BL the longer feet give you better spool alignent If it is to be used with an overhead reel consider BSVLGs as the distances between guides on a long rod can put a lot of compressional force on the single footed guides.

hope this helps
Allen Glover
Shearwater Custom Rods

If you are worried about the single leg/foot guides from a durability standpoint, you have some valid concerns. But it's not fishing that will damage them - it's rough handling. From that standpoint, you'd want to use the lowest single foot guides you can find. This reduces the chances of bending or deforming a guide from rough handling. This would also tend to cause you to use more guides, but due to the light weight it won't likely hurt.

In the Volume 4 #6 issue of RodMaker we will be featuring the Forhan Locking Wrap for single foot guides which is an even further improvement over the more common security type wrap. It will positively eliminate any chance the guide can escape from the wrap.

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