I have built a few fly rods ., the question I have is the number of guides on the rod ??? when I started out building a few years back you took the length in FT an added one more
guide an that was the number you used ? now a friend tells me I use the blank in ft an that is the number of guides you use , I have looked around for info an found no help ,
can some one point me in the direction I need to go for the info ??? THANKS FOR YOUR HELP IF I FORGET TO

William Sidney
AK

You need to use what you need to use to provide adequate stress distribution for the blank. All these formulas are just general guidelines to get you in the ballpark.

Using the number of feet, plus one, is usually enough to do an adequate job fairly easily. Using a number equal to feet in length, but no more, may be enough if you're really careful with spacing.

String up both set-ups, run a line and test flex the rod. See what looks best to you.

...........

thanks Tom, I just wanted to know

William Sidney
AK



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/22/2018 12:48AM by Bill Sidney.

Bill,
You only have to be concerned with 4 things.
1. Supporting the blank properly - which 9 or 10 guides on a 9'0" fly rod will do.
2. Friction.
3. Weight
4. Line wrapping around blank

There is friction between guide and line and there is friction between blank and line. And line wrap creates the worst friction.

Excess component weight kills the responsiveness of the blank.

I built on a fast/ extra fast action Affinity-X #8 CTS blank with 12 guides. But they were all "footed" guides. Besides the #20 Fuji Titanium framed SiC stripper I used all REC Recoil single foot spinning guides (RSPSG). The rod casted as well, if not better, as the same blank built conventionally.

I just built 3 new rods on a Prototype CTS blank that I developed using the #20 Fuji, #16, #12, #10 RSPG's to prevent line wrap where it usually happens and then #4 REC s/f recoils the rest of the way. Total 10 guides.

So far my tests went very well.
Just something to think about
Herb
U.S. Distrib. CTS rod blanks



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/23/2018 07:57AM by Herb Ladenheim.

I have been satisfied with the spacing suggestions in the Mudhole Catalog.

Bill,

I'm in the process of making two fly rods right now and am exactly where you are. My formula is rod length + 1 and then I temporarily place them on the rod. Next i do the load test and make spacing adjustments as need. Following this I do some test casting to see how things flow. Sometimes on the longer rods I have a friend do the casting and I watch for impairments and make any further adjustments as needed. Fly rods have not been a big problem using this method and I have yet to have anyone complain about the casting or fish fighting characteristics. Good luck, I know your fishing season is almost here.

Mark

The Mudhole folks develop the rod blanks, put guides, reel seats and handles on them, test them, and react to the comments and suggestions of many thousands of customers. I trust this source of testing the best guide placements.

Thanks for all the comments on my question

William Sidney
AK

Just edited my post above - corrected size of REC Recoils to #4. Sorry
Herb