I need some suggestions for guide spacing (and sizes) for a Hook &/Hackle (Xi series) 4 piece, 2 wt. flyrod. Problem is standard guide charts
don't take into account putting 4th guide (from top) exactly on the female end of the tip section of the rod. So trying to figure better guide placement
(particularly on the end of the tip section) and all other guides. Would appreciate some help.

Put the wrap as close to the end of the female ferrule as practical and it will provide the female ferrule reinforcement that most like to have. Check performance before final wrap. Keep in mind also that charts are approximations, so don't hesitate to change them if performance tells you there is better spacing.

Nothing wrong with putting the guide on the female end of a sections. Done all the time!

Sam,
You might use this.
7 guides
Distance from tip

4.4 ; 9.7 ; 15.9 ; 23.3 ; 32.2 ; 42.7 ; 55.2

Placing a guide on the ferrule wrap is normally considered a good thing. It's already a stiff section of the blank and the ferrule wrap is necessary

Gene

Gene... Thanks... but the problem still is that the 4th guide from tiptop would be on beginning of next section rather then moved up towards the tip yet still on the
ferrule wrap area. The rod company's chart has it on the very end of the tiptop section at 21 inches. Should I move that wrap up 1/2 or 1 inches so it would
clear the end of the ferrule? But then how much do I need to change the guide spacing between all the other guides?

Do a 1/4 to 3/8 ferrule wrap then start the wrap on the guide foot

Ron Weber

Sam

I've been an outwrapper for many years for a few different companies and I have put guides right on the end of a ferrule many times. A lot of the spey rods I wrap have the stripper guide on the end of a ferrule and there have been no problems.

Thomas: Thanks for the tip... but do I need to change the other distances between other guides to account for some changes on this end of ferrule wrap?
And would you do as Ron Weber suggests and wrap 1/4 to 3/8 from end of ferrule before wrap the snake guide foot? Sam Slack

Sam,
Assemble the blank and provide the required location distance from the tip to the offending guide.
I'll then adjust the progression to place a guide at that location.
All guides will then be adjusted based on the position of the priority guide.

Gene

A guide spacing chart is not the end Static Test the rod when you get the guides in place - And the ferules wrapped this way you can give the guides a final placement
O ya test cast also

Bill - willierods.com

Sam,
See if this is more to your liking

7 Guides, 4 guides on tip section, 4th guide at 19.5 inches from tip

4.0 ; 8.5 ; 13.6 ; 19.5 ; 28.5 ; 40.1 ; 55.2

My original proposal would have reduced the number of guides on tip section to 3 for quicker rod response. It did not place a guide at the ferrule, which I now believe to be where you want it.

Hope this works better for your application.
You may shift the entire progression or just a single guide if required.

Gene

Thanks Gene: I''ll check it out and see how that works for me. Sam