Spiral Wrapped Rods

[Bait O' Eggs]

Has anybody ever fished a spiral wrapped "casting" rod?

I have built most of the rods I fish and have been reading up on custom rod building, and ran across this strange spiral concept. I started off looking for some fancy decorative wrapping techniques and now want to make a corkscrew.

I am sure I will get some verbage wrong in explaining this, but for those that have no idea what I am talking about, I believe the concept is where the eyes on the rod spiral 180 degrees around the rod. A rod wants to naturally rotate in your hands so the eyes are on the bottom of the rod when pulling in a fish. But, when a person is fishing a casting rod the eyes are on the top. When pulling in a fish you are resisting the torque in the rod by holding the eyes on the top. For a trout it doesnt make much difference, the torque in the rod is minimal, but when playing a large sturgeon for an hour the torque can generate a lot of fatigue. (My oversized sturgeon rods have gimbal butts and I have a fighting belt that takes all the twist out of your hands preventing the twisting motion in the rod to occur). As I understand a spiral wrapped casting rod, the eyes start off on the top of the rod (same side as the reel), but twist around the rod to end up on the bottom of the rod at the tip. [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

I naturally hold the rod canted off to one side when fishing, as it is not a natural feel to hold the reel straight up on top of the rod. My wrist does not like to rotate far enough to make it a natural feel with the reel on dead center top. Wanting the spine of the rod on the top of the rod to mazimize strength in the rod when fighting a fish, it would make sense to put the spine about 20 degrees off of the reel seat to get the spine on top of the rod when I hold it at my natural position, and then twist the eyes around the rod till they were directly below the spine as to reduce torque in the rod when pulling in the big one. There is debate as to rotate the eyes clock wise or counter clock wise, both having some merit in their choice.

It is an interesting idea, and I want to make a casting rod with the eyes wrapping to the underside of the rod. I dont know how it might affect casting distance, but I am sure I would look like a doughball to those that have never heard of the concept.

Any comments from anybody who may have fished one of these rods? I guess this would be custom rod building at its finest.

[ 02-05-2002, 10:13 AM: Message edited by: Bait O' Eggs ]

[scott98541]

hi boe.one of my recent clients had a spiral casting rod.it was something to look at,almost made me dizzy.as far as casting it seemed to be as good as any other rod.when fighting a fish it did look like it put a lot less stress on the rod.i don't believe i could use one myself.look forward to you netting my fish at f4.see ya then.scott

[Bait O' Eggs]

Scott - I will net your 2 fish as long as you net my 2. :tongue: Lets hope Giz cooks up a good breakfast in the boat so we get some use out of him.

I was reading more on spiral wrapped rods today and one of the biggest advantages wasnt apparent to me at first. A casting rod takes a lot of eyes to keep the line off the rod when it is loaded. By wrapping the eyes to the bottom of the rod, you can use less eyes, making the rod lighter.

The whole concept is interesting. I think I need to make one.

[ZaQ]

I believe that none of the guides are on top of the rod. 3 are in real close to each other and set at like 90, 135, and than 180 for the rest. I actually have one in the works right now. [img]graemlins/lurk.gif[/img]

[WheresMyBobber]

A friend of mine made a couple rods like this. He uses them for boat rods, and I dont' think he does much casting with them, but he's had them for a good 8-10 years and loves them. The first guide or two is on top and they slowly rotate around to the bottom.

If you want to take a look at one I'm sure I can get one of his, or put you in touch with him if you want to talk to him. Let me know.

[ 02-05-2002, 09:15 PM: Message edited by: WheresMyBobber ]

I have a few Berkley Power Rigger downrigger rods that are made this way and like them. The only problem is they stopped making them about 6 years ago. Anybody have one or two of these they'd like to part with?

[fishesfrom tupperware]

In that other state just south of here the "Acid Wrap" (a reference to my, ahhh their misspent youth in that the rod looks like it or you are on acid)is very popular with the Tuna fishers. As I understand it I think it started with bass fisherman. I'm wrapping a sturgeon stick with it now. There's an ongoing discussion at http://www.sport-fish-info.com/dcfor...&conf=mainconf

try searching "acid" on that board you'll get lots of opinions

[Dr Strangelove]

Help - can someone post a pic/website of what a spiral wrapped rod looks like? I can't picture it despite the descriptions. thanks. doc

[Bait O' Eggs]

Doc - the concept is a strange one

I couldnt find a picture on the web but I do have one in a book. I will try and describe it in words. Picture yourself on the river bank with your favorite level wind reel on your favorite casting rod. You have just made a cast and letting the bait drift thru a nice hole. You are holding the rod with the reel on the top of the rod and you are looking down the rod out at the water beyond, waiting for that bite. The closest eye on the pole to the reel is on top of the rod at the 12 o'clock position (same side as the reel) the second eye is mounted at the 2 o'clock position, the third eye is mounted at the 4 o'clock position and all eyes beyond out to the tip are mounted on the bottom of the rod at the 6 o'clock position. Essentially the line wraps 1/2 way around your rod from the reel to the top.

I doubt you have seen a rod built like this in a store. Though an old timer told me he has seen them in the past.

[fishesfrom tupperware]

Here ya go. I forgot where this one came from but the caption says spiral wrapped spinning rod. Now that makes about as much sense as jumbo shrimp.


[ 02-06-2002, 03:45 PM: Message edited by: fishesfromtupperware ]