Has anyone built a fly rod with spiral wrapped guides? I wonder how such a fly rod would perform.

What would be the purpose? The point of the spiral wrap is to get the guides on the bottom of the rod. The guides on a fly rod are already on the bottom of the rod.

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X2 Tom. I just don't see the reason for it unless you mount the reel in top.

Reel on top will cause problems, due to the reel being behind your hand.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/29/2016 11:23PM by Phil Erickson.

I wasn't serious about the reel on top. Spiral wrapped fly rod doesn't make any sense.

Among other things I wondered if having the fly line in direct contact with the rod blank would increase the sensitivity of the rod.

Among other things I wondered if having the fly line in direct contact with the rod blank would increase the sensitivity of the rod.

No, it won't. And would only lead to twisting problems per conventional bait casting outfits.

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Sensitivity is not an issue in fly fishing, rarely do you feel a bite is is an observation.

Phil: In 60 years of fly fishing I have felt some pretty strong tugs when a salmon or a yellowfin or a pike or a bass hit a streamer or a surface fly/popper. My interest is how I can improve the sensitivity of my fly rod to feel hits on a slack line.

Those strong hits are beyond "sensitivity!" The feel for hits will not travel up slack! Any sensitivity will come from the tip not from slack laying against the rod. I have also been fly fishing for 60 years.

The foam core, carbon skinned grips will up the sensitivity a bit. They're more rigid than cork and much more efficient transferring energy in both directions. Other than that - build light. Short guide wraps, as few guides as necessary and as light as possible.

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Good point about the grip transferring energy to the angler's hand. Novice fly anglers have trouble feeling that little "tug" when their backcast straightens out. This prevents them from beginning their forecast at the ideal moment and results in short casts and piles of slack line at their feet. More sensitivity makes good sense here.

I find holding the rod in the proper position helps with sensitivity as well. When I fish from a boat or beach I hold the reel high (waist to chest high) and the tip is just above the water surface when stripping line. That reduces the amount of line flopping around in the air and keeps it almost slack free. I'm able to see and feel the fish tap the fly. Plus it's easier to strip set the hook.
I agree with Tom. The carbon grips also make a difference. I just started using them this year and I won't go back to cork for my personal rods. Light, durable, sticky and added sensitivity .