I , too have to side with Satchel and many others on the spine theory. I won't argue which is right or wrong because quite frankly, I understand both theories. I spoke with Sage, Winston, and Orvis, and what Satchel saw on the video is basically what is done at production rod level.

Too, I took a blank from a well known maker, found the spine and built it. It did cast pretty good, but there was a slight crook between sections 2 and 3, and 3 and 4. Very minute, but still there. I then took the same blank, aligned it so it was perfectly straight (or as nearly so as I could detect with my eye) and I couldn't tell a difference in the casting, and by the way, the chalk marks for the spines were not even close to alignment with each other when I aligned by sight for a straight rod.

Would there have been a difference with a fish on? Maybe, but more than likely it would have been insignificant to my feeling.

On bigger rods for huge fish, Ask Tampa Jim, he builds a ton of that stuff!!