Georgia Hybrid

[Georgia Hybrid]

One more thing, the natural bend on a blank, when building baitcasting rod, should bend face down or up. I believe what I'm refering to is called the spine? Thanks again, Cap'n

[RAMON]

you want to place your guides on top of the arc on the rod when its under pressure for a bait caster and if you were building a spinning rod yuou would place them on the underside of the rod. if that makes sense. just remember that if you are building a 2pc rod to check both pcs to find the spine so that it lines up corectly

Ramon

[Georgia Hybrid]

What would happen if I put casting guides on bottom of arc? Longterm.

[Profish00]

There are three viable options as to where to locate the spine.

1. Spine on top - This option gives a bit more power on the forward cast but a bit less for line lifting (fly) and fish fighting.

2. Spine on bottom - This position puts the spine into strong play (better tracking) on the forward cast and gives you slightly more power for lifting line off the water (fly). Opponents of this method say this position will lead to rod twist when fighting a fish. This is not true, however, as guide position alone determines rod stability. (3. Disregard spine and locate the rod's stiffest axis so that the fish is pulling against it (A blank's softest and stiffest axis are not necessarily 180 degrees opposite each other). This usually locates the blank's natural bend in such a way that the butt and tip are "up" and the belly of the blank is "down". This puts the maximum amount of power into play for fish fighting but may result in slightly less casting accuracy/tracking.

OK CONFUSED YET, MEE TOO
welcome to the world of rod building...have fun

[Redfishr]

I've always put ALL of mine on top , opposite the softest side. 180 apart.
The only time I've ever seen any rod twist is on big factory rods or surf rods that the spine wasnt found before wrapping and guides were put wherever.
Small trout rod types arent stiff enough to twist away from you. Unless your weaker than my wife.

[LongRodMaster]

I agree with you Red about the twist of trout rods vs a heavy blank or surf rod. The only down side to not selecting backbone to guid placment is in the casting action and fighting action. i.e. On casts rod wont load as well on back stroke and while fighting a fish you work harder instead of the rod working for you.