[david.schotzko]

Hi all,
Just curious - I'm getting in to building both single and 2H rods.

Usual rule of thumb for single handers seems to be that number of guides on the rod should be equal to the length of the rod + 1 (or two at the most). However it seems a lot of 2H rods have fewer - my 11ft TFO DC has 10, for instance. And Steve Godshall's guide spacing rec's for the ARE rods have 10 guides for the 11 and 12 ft models.

Just wondering if anyone knows the reasons behind this, and your thoughts on why 2h rods would have different needs. What are your preferences?

Thanks!

 

[david.schotzko]

I've only built 4 two handers, but I have put the length minus one for my guides on all my rods. I taped on and tried more on each rod, but liked less guides.

I guess that's my basic question: why do my factory SH rods have length + 1 while 2H have length - 1? I know it's all personal preference, but just curious...

 

[david.schotzko]

This is a no brainer.

Two-hand rods have fewer guides than the length of the rod for the simple reason that the rear grip, reel seat, and front spey grip take up a good bit more of the butt section of the blank than the reel seat and grip on a single-hander, including one with a 1.5" built-on fighting butt.

How many guides do you think your 8' rod would have if it had a 4" rear spey grip, 4" reel seat, and 12" front spey grip? Or you 9' rod if it had a 4.5' rear spey grip, 4.5" reel seat, and 13" front spey grip? Or your 10' rod if it had a 5" rear spey grip, 4.5" reel seat, and 14" front spey grip?

Ha! I admit that I never thought of that.
I did send Steve an email, as well. His response was that a 10 guide layout will avoid placing a guide on the ferrules of any rod under 12 ft. Above 12 ft you start to need more.