Hey everyone! Been out of rod building for a few years and I am trying to get back into. I have done a lot of research the past week on my down time, and I actually took the guides off a spinning rod without damaging the blank!

The rod I took the guides off was the first rod I ever built, so it wasn't my best work. One of the guides was actually popping out due to a loose wrapping job. I built this rod back in '06 so the guides are very much out of date. So I am wondering what type, size, and how many guides I should be putting back on it.

The rod is a 6ft, medium power, fast action. I use a 2500 size reel(6-10lb), and sometimes 20lb braid with a fluoro leader. I will be throwing flukes and senkos mainly. Oh and the blank is what you would get in the old Cabela's starter kit, so it's probably a basic im6 blank.

I am aiming towards Fuji Hardloy guides, but I dont know what style, size, or how many I should put on. I can do a static test to see how many guides, but besides that I am hoping I can get some ideas on the other aspects. Searching the forum has helped a lot but not for a question this specific.

Thanks and I look forward to seeing what everyone has to say!

Miles,

If you have tried them you might consider using American Tackle's MicroWave Guides. All of my customers now request them on their spinning rods.

Don Campbell
don@sensorfishingrods.com

I second the microwave guides, I also really like the nano micro spinning set, and Kigan also makes some nice guides

I looked into the microwave guides and I am up for trying them out. I work at Academy and we just got a house brand rod that has the microwave guides on them, pretty cool!

I saw them on Jannsnetcraft as a kit for $34, no dimensions or anything so I am kinda cautious on buying them.

I might just go with the NGC cause that will still be a huge upgrade from what I had. The rod had starting guide size of 30. With that being said, if I do the standard NGC what size guides should I use? I was thinking starting with 25 cause I don't know If 20 would be too small.

Lastly, where does everyone buy their stuff? I have only used Jannsnetcraft.

Any input would be awesome, I need to figure some of this out before I purchase the supplies I need!