I have gone over to wrapping all my saltwater rods using the simple spiral with the bumper guide. I don't really feel these rods are casting as well as the ones I had with conventional guide set up. Has anyone noticed this also or am I just crazy?

Mike,
Are you setting up the rod as per the article? If not that seems to be the biggest problem noted.

When you set the guides up Static Test have the line on the first guides lay on the bottom of the guide -- UNDER PRESSURE -- Transition guides Try to keep as STRAIGHT a line as possible

Bill - willierods.com

Make sure you didn't add a transition guide. Otherwise there is no reason it shouldn't cast as well as any other rod.

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Mike,
I believe what you are seeing is the norm for a spiral wrapped rod. I just speculate that most folks who do casting do not require extreme distances.

Good luck

Since the line doesn't know where the rod is and the line path is just as straight, there is no reason that the Simple Spiral wrapped rod wouldn't case just as far as if all the guides were on top of the rod. There are no corners to turn, no transitions to make.

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I am a newbie builder, so take that into consideration, but I just built 2 spiral wrapped rods. Both cast extremely well. One of them is a heavier rod, so it does not really count. The other is a tarpon sized rod, and casts like a rocket. I am a solid convert to spiral wrapped rods.

I am looking through the archives here and it seems that I keep running into 2 things

1) some people are saying a 0-60-120-180 method works better for casting
2) it seems some people are using larger size ring bumper guides than running guides

I usually use a 16 stripper guide and all 8 including the bumper

That is usually what I do But I then static test to see how the line runs and lays on the rings Having extra guides helps Trying a different size may tell you it will work better

Bill - willierods.com

The line path on a 0-60-120-180 will never be straight as it is on the Simple Spiral, so I can't see how it would possibly be better for casting.

Back to the 0-60-120-180 system, if you spread out those transition guides, of course, the corners that much be turned become more shallow and should allow better casting that if you stacked them close together, say all within a few inches. Although, one proponent of that system with closely spaced transition guides made good use of it on what he called "high leverage" trolling rods.Obviously his priority in that type rod wasn't casting ability.

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What I do is to put the guides on from a spinning rod spects At the 180 Then just have the first three with a slight turn Run on top line - static test and adjust guides Then if needed I will put in a bumper

Bill - willierods.com

Ok so I think I'm starting to get a clearer picture here. I normally use 16-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8. Would I benefit going to 16-10-10-8-8-8-8-8-8 or 16-12-10-8-8-8-8-8-8?

Mike,
The only way to know for sure would be to tie up each of the potential configurations and do some fishing with the pole.

You don't have to put thread coating on the rod, just wrap up the guides in each of the desired configurations. Don't just tape on the guides wrap the guides so that the guide is secure. Especially when fishing with no guide coating on the guides and thread, you might consider using a locking wrap on each of the guides to be sure.

Be safe

Or just tape the guides up and test cast the rod -- Out side in the yard

Bill - willierods.com

To get the best results from a test, one needs to fish with the rod. Tape can work for a short term use, but not for a day on the water. A person is only talking about wrapping 3 or 4 guides, so it is not a big deal to wrap on the guides in question. but without coating.

Be safe