guides for swimbait rod ..........

[Big Bait Fishing]

was wondering what guides you guys reccomend for a rod that i'm gonna make using a spiral wrap . was leaning towards using micro guides but changed my mind . i now am gonna use smaller double-footed guides .was looking at using American tackle titanium ring locks or h-locks . so what other guides do you guys use ??? i know alot of people will say Fuji , but give me the series of Fuji's you are recommending and why you like them ! thanks in advance !!!! 

[.RM.]

If I were on the west coast again building rods, and looking for info on rods to build for that area and fishing styles, I would be contacting the local custom builders for the info.

Here are some of the guys in your area...

RandMade Rods/Randy Search

Custom Rod Building, Rod Repair

RandMadeRods@AIM.com

Temecula , CA , 92592

Phone: 951-375-8299

www.RandMadeRods.com

Charles Beamer

Custom Rod Building, Rod Repair

cbeamer_1@yahoo.com

San Diego , CA , 92105

Good Luck & Tight Wraps! 

[flechero]

In double foots- I'd be using BLNAG's. (or CLNAG's if you want chrome) Why? Because alconites are the best value in guides, period. They are strong, light, smooth and will hold up to braid as well if that's what you like. If you wanted to dump a bunch of money you could go with titanium SiC's but for a swimbait rod that's a complete waste of money. (IMO)

I'm not a fan of the ringlocks... love the idea but when I had them in stock, they were horribly inconsistent and would bend very easily- not what you want in a big bait rod. Not to mention the prepped feet were awful... they were burned up and differed in lengths and needed more work than unprepped guides. :-?

[rezbass]

I have built a few swimbait rods with the fuji alconite micros and love them.  The weight reduction is a major advantage as far as I am concerned.  BLAG model.  Double foot guides are overkill in my opinion near the tip of a rod and even close to the reel for that matter on a bass rod.  I have built musky rods spiral wrapped with single foot guides that are still in good shape and have landed fish up to 53 inches.  Don't be afraid of using the micro guides...

[I Love BassResource]

I would agree with rez.  The fuji alconites are top notch.  I use the batson micro's as well, they work equally as well and cheap in cost.

  I typically use a single double foot as my butt guide in the 6mm range. Remember the primary job of the butt guide is to keep the line off the blank.  I would use micros for the rest of the guides, especially on the run to the tip as there isn't any need for doubles up there.

  I also do not use the simple(bumper) spiral, in my experience an approach similar to the revolver spiral is preferable for casting rods.  On bass rods I typically use a 6mm double, a 5mm single and 4mm/3mm runs to the tip. 

I've built all types of bass rods using this method and so far all my clients have reported success stories.  I've only had two repairs come back, both broken rings on tip tops of flipping sticks, so they were quick fixes.

[flechero]

I also do not use the simple(bumper) spiral, in my experience an approach similar to the revolver spiral is preferable for casting rods.

With micros, I agree... you can'y keep line off the blank without narrowing the spacing too much. That's one of my few complaints with micros... Even then, with a real small butt guide you can't keep the line north of the blank - unless you move the guide way back. (or just catch small fish )

pgersumky,

Micros are not for everyone or every rod... if you don't enthusiastically want them, don't do it. If you comprimise on "wants" your rod will never be your favorite. I love the idea of micros all the time for weight, balance and reduction of other material but it's not always the right answer.

That's just my opinion- consider the price.   ;D

[I Love BassResource]

We each have our experiences. I find using a simple spiral MUCH easier to use, when using micros. Because of the immediate bumper that comes after the butt, its really easy to keep the line off the blank.

When I eliminate the bumper, I have to fine tune the placement and rotation of the guides to a gradual transition of the line to the bottom axis of the blank. I do it in a manner that keeps the line from touching the blank even while under heavy load.

I don't mean to make it sound like its my idea or my concept, its merely something I've picked up from rodbuilding.org

Pertaining to bass and bass rods, I have never encountered a situation nor have I had a rod request, that I could not use micros and a modified spiral approach. I have clients that use the above techniques (spiral/micros), on shiner sticks in Florida each year. Thus far they've made 4 trips, and I know of several fish over 10lbs that have been brought back. No complaints yet, and I personally don't consider that a small fish ;D

[Big Bait Fishing]

i appreciate all the responses !!! i have decided to go with the micro guides with a spiral wrap . actually , i think all my rods that im gonna have made are gonna have them . i have talked to a rod builder that swimbait fishes and he said that the micros will hold up fine and afford me longer casts and a more stable rod when pressure is applied . btw , im pretty sure im going to go with the alconite micro guides .

[the crab]

dick, I was unaware that c-ville had a custom rodbuilder.  You should start a thread with pics from some of your builds. 

[I Love BassResource]

Hey Crab, I think I fished against you in a K River tournament last year. We fished out of Rod Workman's Triton if I recall.

I've since migrated to Madison, so I need to update my profile.  I've needed to post some pics for quite a while, hopefully I'll get to it in the next few weeks.

[the crab]

i fished one last spring there with the logan county bassin boys and flopped it, and one there in 08 with the same group of guys before forming that club and won it...not sure which one you were at because I'm terrible with matching names with faces. I do know that I ran into you at RD sometime in Feb or Mar last year though.  I fish out of a blue tracker. Sorry to hijack this thread. :-X