Messed up pretty good. I had guides taped in place for 9'6 surf rod. Went out last week for test casting 2 oz sinker. First cast at 75% of maximum think a knot / tangle came out of the reel and every single guide I had in place popped off the blank . Tip broke at the brace (?if thats whats called), recovered all but 2 guides. Thankfully blank is okay. Now the reel I used didn't have fresh line at all and wasn't the reel I planned on using for the build (was waiting for line to come in for the new reel but couldn't resist the urge to cast) .

Now that this happened I know I can do a few things better starting with trying to ensure there are no tangles and easing into it. My question now becomes how hard are you guys test casting / do you hold back or just let it loose? And how well do you tape the guides. I had single layer masking tape. All previously worked fine on lighter rods.

Thanks, Mark

When test casting heavier rods with heavier weights, you need to make sure you have very secure tape wraps, usually three or even four layers. I have used strapping tape on heavy surf rods, although this requires you to slice the tape off with a razor blade and clean up a little tape residue from the guide feet.

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

Zip ties and tape combo. Start out easy to make sure no knots or tangles then get down on it.

Tom put it best. 3 or 4 on the heavy rods as they bear a greater load. My first cast is about 25%, just to make sure there are no obvious problems like you experienced. My second cast is at 50% and I check the line flow and make any adjustments. Third cast is about 75%, checking for line flow and making adjustments. This normally cures most of the problems. Then I make three full casts with all the accompanying checks. If you can't find it by this point, it's likely you were not going to.

Mark Brown Wrote:
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> Messed up pretty good. I had guides taped in place
> for 9'6 surf rod. Went out last week for test
> casting 2 oz sinker. First cast at 75% of maximum
> think a knot / tangle came out of the reel and
> every single guide I had in place popped off the
> blank . Tip broke at the brace (?if thats whats
> called), recovered all but 2 guides. Thankfully
> blank is okay. Now the reel I used didn't have
> fresh line at all and wasn't the reel I planned on
> using for the build (was waiting for line to come
> in for the new reel but couldn't resist the urge
> to cast) .
>
> Now that this happened I know I can do a few
> things better starting with trying to ensure there
> are no tangles and easing into it. My question now
> becomes how hard are you guys test casting / do
> you hold back or just let it loose? And how well
> do you tape the guides. I had single layer masking
> tape. All previously worked fine on lighter rods.
>
> Thanks, Mark


Was anybody watching ? If you had an audience i hope you told everyone that you meant for that to happen and it went exactly as you had planned , at least thats what i do .
I always wrap guides with masking tape and go 3 to 4 turns on each one . I test at full force from the start and never had a problem .

If double foot i do 3 to 4 turns of tape wrapped tight on each foot on both sides of guide , single foots just get 3 to 4 turns on the foot .

Thanks again for the great advise. All the lessons I learn from experience. Now the harder question. Anyone know if I can pick up the titanium guides with a metal detector / probably better question for another forum. anyway getting one from a friend today. they are fuji TKWAG with alconite inserts. of course no longer being sold. so really hoping I can find.
-Mark

I had the same thing happen and had to use a metal detector also lol. My guides were steel though and I'm not sure if it will work on titanium. I always check for tangles before every cast even though it's only happened once out of hundreds of tests casts.

Tom Kirkman Wrote:
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> When test casting heavier rods with heavier
> weights, you need to make sure you have very
> secure tape wraps, usually three or even four
> layers. I have used strapping tape on heavy surf
> rods, although this requires you to slice the tape
> off with a razor blade and clean up a little tape
> residue from the guide feet.
>
> ............

Hmm, I might have to take note of this for future reference.