I recently ran across this rod [proanglertackle.com] whereby it is stated that the rod is a hybrid and can be used as a spinning or casting rod. I'm a little perplexed since it is my understanding that the guides should be placed on the "belly" of the spine of a spinning rod and on the "back" of the spine for a bait casting rod. How can a rod serve two masters? The only thing I can think of is if the reel seat can be adjusted to allow the reel to be placed on either side of the rod. Is that what is happening or am I missing something?

Spine doesn't matter. If it did, then any rod built otherwise to your understanding either wouldn't work or behave in some sort of unusual fashion.

...............

Spine doesn't matter...now I am really confused. Maybe when my "Rod-Building Guide: Fly, Spinning, Casting, Trolling" book arrives I will have a clearer understanding. My "understanding" was based on the following: [www.youtube.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/2016 10:17AM by Frank Matthews.

Frank

I think there is more issue than the spine question. Excluding any rare exceptions, using a bait casting reel on a spinning rod would be cumbersome, without a trigger grip, casting and retrieving would in my opinion be difficult and not very efficient.
The only reason I can think of calling it a hybrid is the long handle which would allow one to cast the rod with both hands.
May be proangler can comment on this issue.

John

After the above reply I did a search and found the following:

"There has never been any practical evidence that building on the spine does anything for you. Conversely, there has been quite a bit of actual data and facts that reveal that building on the spine simply isn't important and can actually result in a less than optimum final product." (Posted by Tom Kirkman)

I am now anxiously awaiting on the arrival of his book. The first place I will turn.......... Chapter 4. :-)

Frank,
1. Don't be anxious.
2. Remember that building a rod is based on common sense.
3. In a word, it if looks right to you - it is right.

Basically put a handle on a blank that you want to use for a rod. Put the handle and the guides on the side of the blank that is straight. When you put guides on a rod, start with big guides near the grip and make them smaller as you near the tip.
Put a tip top on the rod, coat the rods, let the coating dry and go fishing.

Basically in a couple of sentences, that is what rod building is all about.

There are 10s, hundreds, or thousands of variations on the above statements, but essentially that is the bulk of the necessary information to build a rod.

Good building, don't be anxious and go with the flow of what makes sense.

Be safe

Frank

I am not too concerned with the spine per say. When I prepare to align the guides I sight down the blank and find the "straightest" axis, In most cases that axis is the spine.
I decide what kind of rod I am building and I place the guides along the axis I located on the preferred side of the blank.
The only time I (ME) would use a spinning rod with a bait caster reel is if I was fishing and my bait caster rod broke and I only had a spinning rod handy.

John

This is the way I look at it Frank, when I cast a rod with a small casting reel, I naturally roll my hand into a palm down position to give my wrist maximum flexibility and control, what good is the spine doing me then? When I do a side arm cast?
To answer Johns question, when you use a big round reel like on a saltwater rod where more line capacity or heavier line is used, you'll notice none of those casting rods have triggers. They all have pipe style reel seats just like a spinning rod
If it's still up check out the hybrid rods built by the Worried Shrimp here in Oregon, he uses spinning, casting, and fly reels on the same rods with good success.
Hope I helped some.

The only time it really comes into play regards deadlift capacity. And, you have to remember the spine is not a "thing" but rather an effect created by various manufacturing anomalies which results in a variation of wall thickness along the blank, and even then, not necessarily in a straight line.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

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Hello Frank.

The only time I worry about spine is when I am building a heavy (60#+) rod for big fish where there is little to no casting so it's just fish fighting.

When you get a big fish on and he is bending your rod into more than just an r the spine does help somewhat in keeping the big sea reels from twisting in your hand especially if the spine is pronounced.

Just my 2 cents.

Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

Bob
When you do it on heavy stuff where do you put the spine up or down

Thanks

Bill - willierods.com

If the guides are located on top of the rod, the rod is going to twist. The lever arm effect of the guides, particularly on heavy rods used on big fish, will always trump the minor spine effect. The only way to keep a rod from twisting while fighting fish is to use a spiral wrap or put a gimbal/nock on the butt of the rod (the tip-most area may still twist).

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Thank you Tom
I was thinking that also Just thought he had some thing ???

Bill - willierods.com

Frank,

You will find more information if you do a google search on dual rung.

Hybrid usually refers to materials such as:
A hybrid blank made of graphite and kevlar
or a hybrid bearing with ceramic balls and stainless steel races.

I did help an acquaintance set up a dual rung rod. After it was built, both him and his friend achieved their longest casting distances. Dual rung rods do work. However, it does require an extra guide or two over building a bait caster.

Don Becker

Hello Bill.

No Bill like Tom said it will still twist with the guides on top, I was talking heavy spin gear (sorry about that), for the conventional gear I do as Tom said and Spiral wrap with one exception, I sometimes get someone who will not accept a spiral rod, so I tell them use in chairs only, if they don't have a chair I won't build it for them.

All stand-up gear I build is either spin or spiral.

Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

I just thought you had some kind of trick That is why I asked
Other wise I know all that

Bill - willierods.com

Frank Matthews Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm a little
> perplexed since it is my understanding that the
> guides should be placed on the "belly" of the
> spine of a spinning rod and on the "back" of the
> spine for a bait casting rod. How can a rod serve
> two masters? ..........


Just read Tom Kirkman's piece on "What About Rod Spine?" Good read and very informative. I have a new understanding now. Thanks Tom.......



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/26/2016 09:36PM by Frank Matthews.

Frank Matthews Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I recently ran across this rod
> [proanglertackle.com] whereby
> it is stated that the rod is a hybrid and can be
> used as a spinning or casting rod. I'm a little
> perplexed since it is my understanding that the
> guides should be placed on the "belly" of the
> spine of a spinning rod and on the "back" of the
> spine for a bait casting rod. How can a rod serve
> two masters? The only thing I can think of is if
> the reel seat can be adjusted to allow the reel to
> be placed on either side of the rod. Is that what
> is happening or am I missing something?

In answer to the original question. The statement calling the rod a 'hybrid' simply means the blank may be built as a spinning rod OR a casting rod. Build it as a casting rod... USE it as a casting rod. Build it as a spinning rod... USE it as a casting rod. It has nothing to do with the built rod being built as one or the other and used both ways.

All that being said, it is just sales people making the blank sound special. ANY rod, whether casting or spinning, may be built either way. Nothing unusual about the rod at all.

The secondary spine topic that cropped up is never ending and there are good answers and references given in the thread.

I hope this helps.

John Allgood

Their numerous ads make it look like they are selling rods, not blanks.

10 Foot Rod

11 stainless steel eyelets
19.5 inch handle
Two piece rod
Hybrid Rod use Baitcast or Spinning Reel
Weighs only 6.8 ounces
4X Backbone

Don Becker

Build Two (2 ) rods A casting and a spinning IMHO you will get better performance from each because you will be able to Dial In The Guides on each rod

Bill - willierods.com