Hi everyone. I've been reading up on the 27x system and experimenting a little on llight 6-7ft spin rods. The intention is to build a rod that achieves max casting distance AND fishes well. So do more guides on a rod equal greater line friction and thus cuts down on casting distance? Cheers!

No.

Yes, but the practical difference would be extremely slight.

There is very little friction between the line and the guides on the cast because there is nothing forcing them against each other. The bigger factor is weight. Any additional weight is something the rod has to carry and it'll make the rod less efficient. But now we're back to practical differences. Modern guides, particularly in the smaller sizes that we'd be talking about for the upper half of a NGC rod, are extremely light. Adding or dropping a guide or two isn't likely to result in any measurable casting distance difference.

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The other part of the equation is "fishes well". As mentioned above weight is the biggie. My research suggests and extra guide or two might make the rod more efficent WRT "fishes well". Not all will agree. It also bears mentioning I'm fishing salt water with light line class in relationship to fish weight.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

Linus,
Bottom line.
Put enough, but just enough guides on a rod so that it casts and fishes well. Don't put on too few, or too many.

Always try to put the smallest number of guides on a rod that is consistent with good performance.

Roger

Yes too many guides reduce casting distance...

BUT if you put very few guides on a rod, others problems appear and will reduce casting distance.
This what appens on carp rod (like medium surf rod) where this theory push the makers to make very very few guides (six bigger guides on a 12'...)
Depends on rods, but I can tell you that on 12' carp rods ten small guides cast farther than 6 bigger.

The key like Roger said is to find the perfect number of guides for a particular combinaison of rod and reel.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/19/2012 08:33PM by Lindsay PELLETIER.

Thanks for the many insightful responses. Certainly a lot of useful information there. My experience seems to reflect the "not-too-many" camp too. I had a seven footer fast action 6-15lb on which I put 3 reduction guides and 6 running guides plus a tip for a total of 9+1. The stripper ended up about 19in from the spool face which was at the lower end of what is usually acceptable. I found on casting that rod that something was choking or slowing down the line as I cast. Can't quite put my finger on it. I've just re-built it with one less guide and moved the stripper further along. We'll see how it goes.

Moderation is usually a good policy. Selecting the best number and size of guides should be guided by this policy unless you intend to use the rod for some extreme or unusual purpose.

usually one guide per foot plus one is a good starting place
Static test Then test cast
take one guide off Static test then test cast again can become a pain But IMHO the only way to Feel how it will cast

Bill - willierods.com

Could someone correct my thinking on this matter? It seems to me that casting distance should be of little concern, or of secondary concern, at best. The primary consideration ought to be the number of guides necessary to keep the angle of the line's deflection, at acceptable limits, when the rod is under load. It seems to me that the minimum number of guides required to accomplish this is the goal. Am I missing something?
Slainte,
Hunter

From ghoulies and ghosties,
and long leggedy beasties,
and things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord deliver us!

You're not missing anything. Rods have to do more than cast and almost anything you do related to guides should be a compromise that provides the best all-around performance. In general, the length of the rod, plus one, plus the tiptop, will put enough guides on the rod to adequately distribute stress. Depending on the guides used and the power of the blank, you may need one or two more, or perhaps one or two less, but this should put you in the ballpark in most cases.

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