Quote:
Originally Posted by jskinner
Thought I'd clarify some of this. My first guide is a 40mm, and it's the only double-foot guide on the rod. From there it's 30, 20, 16, 16 tip, but all of those guides are single foot bsvlg. The total finished weight of the rod is only 9.5 ounces. I use a VS200 with 30-pound braid on it.
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Obviously you like the outfit and it works well for you and your accomplishments as a fisherman adds weight to your opinion, but for the sake of discussion (and to help others considering such an outfit) let me differ.
I'd suggest that anything more than a VS150 and a guide layout going KLH20-KLH10-KLM8-KT8 runners-8tip (or starting with a 25 for KW guides or 16M for LC guides) is overkill on a 1201L blank, adds unnecessary weight, and detracts from rod performance.
With braid ( fireline or mono is a different story) there is no advantage (other than weed clearance and knot passage) and several disadvantages to guides 16mm anywhere near a rod's tip. Your rod is reasonably light because you use so few guides, but this comes at the cost of guide looping and power loss (because of corner cutting between guides) and diminished rod sensitivity. Obviously you don't notice the latter two (likely since you've nothing to compare it to) and apparently guide looping does not plague you (probably because a cut 1201L doesn't generate the line speed to cause a problem). Still, as much as you like your rod there is a good chance you would like it much more with smaller, lighter guides and more of them to tame the braid faster and keep it closer to the rod. You don't know until you try.
Likewise, I'd suggest a full-sized reel like a VS200 is too much for the blank. The spool size and reel height forces you into larger guides than you need, the reel weight is about 5oz more than a 150 or 5000 reel, the line capacity is not needed for 30-40 thin braid, and the drag power is unnecessary since the GSB 120 already maxes out under 5-6lbs of drag (if you doubt this try lifting 5lbs off the floor with the rod under locked drag). Reducing your reel size reduces your total outfit weight by nearly 20% and improves your feel for what you are fishing accordingly. Doing so gives up nothing in return on this blank.
Again, the opinion of any good fisherman such as yourself is to be respected and considered. Obviously the outfit you advocate performs well and has earned your loyalty. Still, I think people are well advised to understand how guide systems set for braid and high quality medium sized reels can accomplish the same job much heavier tackle was needed for in the past. This is particularly important when using slow action GSB blanks.
PS. The GSB 1321M is another blank that comes alive and excels with lighter guide systems.