Spiral wrapping guides

[camA]

what s the point of spiral wrapping guides on casting rods?

[Raymond Adams]

All rods that have the guides pointing downward like spinning rods and fly rods are inherently more stable. The guides (especially high framed ones)
act like little class 2 levers. Under load the line on top wants to go down (under the blank) as it's being tugged that way. This can actually twist the rod tip. The angler is forced to grip the rod and hold it upright or it will flip over and the heavier the rod and greater the load the more pronounced this twisting force is.

By spiraling the guide train and getting the line under the blank that twisting force is negated and done correctly there is little to no effect on casting performance.

[CRD4Liberty]

If you have a 2 piece rod it's easy to see the advantage. Put the rod together the regular way and install a reel. Run line thru the guides and have someone step on it or attach it to something heavy and low. Hold the rod horizontally with the hand on the foregrip with your palm up and the hand on the butt palm down. Pick up on the rod and put tension on the line and bend the rod, now slack your grip on your hands and see what happens. Turn the tip around 180 degrees and see what happens, that lock up under tension is the advantage, now slack the line and the reel should roll to the bottom again, put tension on it and the rod will naturally right itself. Sure makes palming a rod one handed with the butt under your arm, while you net the fish or tail him, a lot easier when the rod isn't fighting you. My salmon rods will naturally roll up to a stable position by themselves with as little as a 5 oz weight on the bottom.

[Raymond Adams]

Actually, the demo is more amazing if you don't install a reel. Although it can be a pain to attach the line to some seats people are surprised to see just how little pull it takes to flip the rod over without the weight of the reel helping pull it down. Then put the reel on and even the weight of a Penn Jigmaster won't hold it down with the guides rotated downward.

[camA]

well then if your making a rod with spiral wrapped guides, then what side soes the spine of the rod go on?

[Raymond Adams]

The same side it always has,. no different, however, I myself do not pay much attention to the spine effect. I build on the straightest axis and that rarely fall on the spine.

[StickFish]

Originally Posted by camA

well then if your making a rod with spiral wrapped guides, then what side soes the spine of the rod go on?

Like Ray and many others I ignore the spine and build on the straighest axis. If you insist on following the spine, than use what you normally would for a spinning rod

[Wintu]

I started my spiral to the right when I make another rod it will be a left hand spiral because thats the side I motor troll in the drift boat.No problem if fishing from the bow in holder left or right spiral, just holding on the left motor trolling.