G'day All,

Further to my post a little while back, I have now set up the rod with guides taped on. It seems to cast well. I am using a Daiwa Caldia 3000, 20lb braid and 20lb fluoro leader. Blank is a Matrix 8-14lb, 1/4-5/8 cast weight. Butt guide is a 20, then an 8 then the size 6 KB choker and size 6 guides to the tip. I can cast a 1/2 jig head about 45 metres (about 145 feet). From that point of view i think it seems OK but I am just a bit worried about only having one guide between the butt guide and choker. Is this what you guys normally end up with? It seems that because the reduction train between butt guide and choker is short and the KR guides quite high, that I can only get one guide in there. It works OK on this blank with a static test because this blank is pretty solid in the butt and doesn't flex much there. I would be more concerned if the rod was a slower action and had less power in the butt. Then I think the guides in the reduction train may be too far apart.

I have posted a couple of pictures, sorry about the quality, they are just off my phone. What do you reckon? Does it seem OK to you?

Cheers

Jason

It's probably okay, but if you could shift the butt guide back an inch or so, and perhaps get another guide in there it might be even better. Maybe. Only way to know is to try it. Remember, you can shift the choker guide up, or back, an inch or so as well and not really upset anything. Just give yourself a bit more room to experiment in-between.

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The "normal"recommendation for a reduction train using KR would be the 16H, 8H, 5.5M to the first KB runner (choke). However, there are some builders in Louisiana who are very successful with a two guide reduction train using the KR Concept. Many times, the distance from the reel to the stripper is very close to the distance from the stripper to the choke. It happens often enough that if I am caught with a "whacky" reel I will match those measurement to begin my testing. Surprising how often it works out just right.

Have you checked this out Very simple
[www.rodbuilding.org]

Bill - willierods.com

I have done a number of rods with a 2 guide reduction train, both in KR and in Y guides. I cannot see so far a penalty for doing this, at least not in designing for the 4000 size Shimano reel. I think the steeper angled reels tend to lead you there, and it works fine on them.
Don't worry about deviating from the norm as long as it works. Remember, all you have to worry about is stress distribution and casting performance. If it handles both OK, it's OK.

G'day Guys,

Thanks for your input.

Michael, I think you are right, on a reel with a fair bit of upsweep where the angle is steeper, it just doesn't seem to work to put another guide in there.

I reckon it looks OK and the static test seems pretty good. The size 20 butt guide is right on 17 inches from the reel face. I think I might go back to the 16 (which I did test cast with initially) which gives me about 19 inches. I couldn't tell any real difference between the two anyway.

Jim, thanks for that rule of thumb (distance reel to butt guide and then butt guide to choke), that is a good check I will do.

Cheers

Jason

Jason,
Just a though, if you go down to a size 16, do a test tape up with the butt guide at 25-28 inches. By going the extra distance, the line will have tamed down a bit by the time that it gets to the butt guide.

If it doesn't work, you can always move it closer.

Be safe

Agreed Michael. Some interesting experimentation to be done along these lines.