Well I completed my first rod build over the weekend - a 7' ML spinning rod.

Out of ignorance I think I put too many running guides on it - but I CAN FIX THAT LATER IF NEEDED.

SO PLEASED WITH MY EFFORT - I'D GIVE IT A 7 OUT OF 10 I THINK.

Anyway took it to the lake across the road and picked off 4 Large Mouth Bass - one about 2 pounds.

The rod didn't break ( :) ) and behaved pretty well.

Looking forward to my next build - a M 7' spinning rod.

Great - but expensive - hobby.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/04/2017 06:23PM by David Springett.

Wahoo and congratulations! Casting to, hooking up, and landing 2 pound bass is by definition a good thing so enjoy the rod.

Thank you.

I'm thrilled.

Taking it out on my bass boat tomorrow - real (reel?) work out. Thanks

The first step in developing the confidence to trust a rod you built is to catch a fish on it. Once that has been accomplished, you begin each subsequent build with more confidence that you can indeed build a better rod that you can buy.

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

Hooah Great feeling isn't it nothing like building it and using it for the first time and hooking a fish to fight really something to be proud of that is something few people ever experience from the fruit of their labor and will last a life time as you will always remember that first strike. the rod building hobby is no more expensive than a ticket to a sporting event with all the little extras you purchase but will last a lot longer and you will enjoy it time and time again

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.

Thats awesome! Im hoping I can get out there this weekend to do the same for my first rod. I am learning that the hobby is as expensive as you want to make it. For me, its been pretty expensive :) Should be receiving my next shipment of supplies in the next couple of days.

Excellent David. It's awesome isn't it? And like Mathew said, the reward you get out of a fishing rod you built is one that keeps on giving.

As far as you thinking you may have too many running guides ........ unless you went hog wild and really have wayyyyyy too many, it is IMO better to have too many, than too few.

Looks like you found out our little secret, a rod built by you has twice the Mojo of a store bought rod.

Well it's a 7' rod and I have 10 guides. I think thtS 2 too many.

Thoughts?

Well the conditions were far fro. Ideal today - the canal where I was fishing was flowing pretty fast.

Managed to find a quiet cove and boated 5 bass on the new rod (using one of my store bought ones got another 6 using different technique.

Well satisfied.

Now when does that FEDEX truck get here for the next build?

David,

10 guides perhaps would not be too many depending on the action/power of a 7' rod. I would recommend you read the the article in the library on "Static Loading" of a blank. It will show you where and how many guides a blank needs to perform the best.

I use elastic thread from Walmart to temporarily wrap on the number of guides and where i think they will need to be. Some guys use dental elastics for braces or whatever works for you. Then install the reel and thread the line through the guides. You are looking for a smooth parabolic line path through the guides. The elastic thread make it easy to shift the guide location and add a guide if necessary.

Congratulations on the first build. I still fish my first build, a St. Croix Senko rod, and love it!

Don Campbell
don@sensorfishingrods.com

Thanks Don.

I'll read that at article.
I've ordered some rubber tubing from Mud Hole for the guides.

Once you have your guide placement where you want them, then you could use the guide foot adhesive to ensure the foot won't move during wrapping. Just be careful if you do use the adhesive as you wont be able to shift it under the wrap after you are completed.

David, I have 9 guides plus the tip top on on two 6'6" medium light powered, extra fast action spinning rods that I built, so I personally wouldn't think that 10 guides on a 7' rod would be too many.

If you were thinking you may have too many guides because you're comparing the rod you built to a factory rod, I'd say don't. Now I may put on more guides than other builders do, but I've tested most of the factory rods I still own with the staic load test, and every one could use at least one extra guide. And in some cases 2.

As Donald mentioned, once you get passed the reduction train and choke point on a spinning rod, using static loading to place your running guides is going to show you where the remaining running guides will need to be placed. I like the line to follow the natural bend of the blank fairly closely. If that means an extra guide or two, I'm ok with it.

If you're like me, after a while you'll start looking at the guide trains on most factory rods and wonder why the heck did they use that size guide or place them where they did, when if they would have used different sized guides placed in different locations, the rod would perform better.

I'm still pretty new to building, but one thing I've learned is the effect the guide train has on a rods performance. The guide train can make a world of difference.