Guide spacing

Ok guys,

Need some help, and opinions.

Heres the situation;

4 piece, 6 foot 6 inch rod, my first large guide is situated 14 inches from the handle, usually on the longer rods I put them 18 inches from the handle.

Will this effect the way the rod casts?

Due to the placement for the joints, it is the best configuration for looks.

Thanks in advance,
chris

Chris,

Thanks for reminding me! I need to put my 6' 6" 2wt in my Pickup tonight so I can stop at the Park Lake on the way home from work tomorrow.

My stripping guide is exactly 14? from the handle, that?s not the way I normally measure it though. It should be measured from the TipTop. On my rod the stripping guide is 54? from the TipTop.

NOTE however this rod is designed for my casting and me. I am only 5? 4? so my arms are short. This means I designed the stripping guide a bit closer to me for better line handling.

I must say that this rod is my favorite rod. It casts and handles like a dream. I made it from an H&H kit 6? 6? 2wt 2 piece.


On a second thought I?d better edit this. If you happen to be one of those tall gentlemen with long arms this guide spacing could prove too close for your comfort. If the ferrule is at 18 or 19? like your used to, you might think about placing the guide on the ferrule. The guide wrap can do double duty as a ferrule wrap also.


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Let No One Walk Alone
>< ))))'>------<'((((><
Bill



[This message has been edited by PanFisher (edited 08 June 2006).]

Chris, IMHO, the short answer to your question is "no", the stripping guide placed slightly closer to the grip will have little if any effect on casting. I have seen custom fly rods that seem to work quite well with stripping guides only 6 to 7 inches away from the grips.
What I do to place the stripper guide is take the blank, once I've mounted the reel seat and grips, and "lazily" reach up the blank as if I were grabbing the fly line to cast. I then mark the place where my hand reached, and mount my stripping guide 1 to 2 inches up from that point. This method is not scientific, but it has worked well for me.
Hope that info is helpful,
Swamp

Chris,, only if you double-haul the two weight. Actually, I do, so although it will not make the rod cast any differently, it might cramp your DH pull a bit.

panfish,

I just ordered that same blank to build. I have a question about building it but I'm listing the question as a separate topic. Hope you take a look and offer your suggestion

Allan

Thanks for the info guys!

Have a great sunday evening,
chris from canada