This has all been very helpful. Thanks!. I was actually wondering if moving the guides would disrupt the action but it seems like I shouldn’t be too worried. I’m still contemplating making the adjustments to the reel seat itself. I’m thinking about just taking a cut off wheel to create a new groove for the reel foot, and then sanding the blank back down to circular, and putting a new groove in it. The current groove is not very deep at all, and I don’t think it would look that terrible to take it in a touch. Again, thanks for all your help. Remember, ALWAYS check your alignment. This is one mistake I know i’ll never make again. Joe, I’m saving the first fish for my Banty on the LeTort. Now all I have to do is finish that banty…should be another week or so.
Moving the guides on the butt section would seem to be the simplest solution, however if this is a hexagonal cane rod rotating the guides 90 degrees would not be an option.
True, it would have to be either 60 or 120 degrees. So, looks like you’ll definitely have to fiddle with the reelseat (though, it sounds like you’re already planning on doing that for aesthetic reasons anyways). On your reelseat, is there a cap on either end for the foot of the reel? If so, you won’t be able to just cut one new groove, and I’d think it would be a heck of a lot easier to just remove the old reelseat and put on a new one (with epoxy/Rod Bond this time 
).
Regards,
Joe Martin
Salem, OR
I agree with Ducksterman. You’d only need to remove/replace the one or perhaps two guides on the butt section. Easy with a steady hand and a sharp razorblade. Shoot, finding the spline/spine (whatever) on the butt section is ridiculous anyway. And after years on here it doesn’t seem to make any difference anyway. Just one more thing to instill a little procrastination into the soup. JGW
GBurgfisher
I said this on her before so apologize to others. But, just FYI GBurg…the spine does not matter. It is much ado about nothing. I could say a whole lot more but won’t bore everybody. Won’t argue with anyone about it either. THAT subject has been beat to death a few times.
I intentionally took my two piece rod to the stream and turned my tip section of the 9’ rod 90 degrees to the right, and I am a right hand caster. I commenced fishing to see if I could discern a difference, I got into fishing and for two hours “forgot” I had turned the rod tip for testing. How much difference did THAT make. Absolutely none…unless you want to get into making a machine and testing to the nth degree. It was totally un-noticeable to me.
Gemrod
I just wanted to throw an update out there. I did manage to fix the rod, no problem. For some reason I had it stuck in my head that I would have to move all of the guides, which I didn’t want to do since they took me FOREVER (first time with wraps and all). When I looked at it I had this little eureka moment where I realized I could move the bottom guide. Then I realized that?s what you were all suggesting in the first place. It worked out well because that perfect angle was off just enough to give me a flat plane that corresponded with the angle of the reel seat. Glad to have this one behind me now, so that I can work on some others. As always thanks for all the great help and info. Now to get this beauty back on the stream!