Hi,

I am building a 9'6" bait drifting trout rod and need some help with guide spacing. The handle is 13" long and my choke guide going off the 27x spool diameter (42.7mm) is a further 45" beyond. I have set up the kl 16h, 8h and 5.5m then the choke is a kb size 5. I have a further 49.5" to the tip and have spaced the first 5 guides 4" apart (size 4.5kt) then the next 6 5" apart. That means I have 15 guides plus tip! Is this too much?

The reason I have done it like this is because between the choke and last reduction guide 5.5m there is only 4.5", then 7" to the 8h, then 11.5" to the 16. I thought it would funny if the running guides are spaced out more than the distance between the choke and 5.5m? All my reading suggests maybe 11 plus tip. If someone could help if really appreciate it.

Thanks

Kris
A static Test will tell you where to place the guides You are correct I would figure 11 guides ( to start ) then a static test
Here is a read on it
[www.rodbuilding.org]

This should also help
[anglersresource.net]

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/27/2014 12:55PM by bill boettcher.

Kris,
I would begin initially with a guide number of 9 and then go from there.

For a rod of this length, I would set my butt guide at about 25 inches in front of the reel seat.
Since this is likely a moderate action rod, I would guess that the first tip guide would be about 6 inches from the tip. Then, with the way that some rods are made today, you might find that the next guide is only 5 inches from the tip guide. Then, the rest of the guides would be more widely spaced. Probably the distance from the butt guide to the 2nd guide on a rod of this nature would be about 15-18 inches.

I am assuming that this is a spinning guide and that the blank is a moderate action rod.

But, at the end of the day, as Bill said, let the static test tell you where you need to have a guide to have the line follow the contour of the loaded blank. You want enough, but just enough guides to maintain the line flow to follow the shape of the loaded blank.


By the way, on a lot of rods with a quick bend, down a bit from the tip, I will have the tip guide further from the tip, than the 2nd tip guide is spaced from the tip guide itself. Although slightly unusual in appearance, no need to place a guide where one is not needed.

I really don't believe that you would have any more than 11 guides at the worst case. More likely one could use 10 guides and be just fine.

Be safe

I agree with Roger but would add the second and third guide behind the tip. Many fast action rods need fairly close spacing in that section and then things start to space themselves further apart as you approach the "power section" of the blank

I agree with Roger but would add the second and third guide behind the tip. Many fast action rods need fairly close spacing in that section and then things start to space themselves further apart as you approach the "power section" of the blank

Ok thanks guys, I will do the static test and see how it goes.