[SeaWolf]

ok, billy. i was waiting for the trap to be unveiled. but, i don't see how i fell for it.

ok, let's take an example. i have a wire line boat rod w/ a 4/0 on it. glass, graphite, whatever blank material. i have 300' of wire out and a sizable fish on to apply a load on the rod. now, let's take my rod in this example. let's say i just threw the rod together not caring one bit about the spine at all - i just built it and most likely the spine is off somehow. the guides are on top of the blank as a typical conv. now, this rod is under load and i'm holding the rod - gimble in my gut, left hand gripped formly on the foregrip, left forearm supporting the 4/0 left side sideplate. right hand cranking. ok, my forearm is supporting the weight and twisting/torquing of the 4/0 on the rod (remember, this reel weighs 2 pounds). so, can i get this fish in? sure. is the rod torquing? i don't know, my left forearm and left hand in combination w/ my right hand is supporting the reel/rod. plus, i don't care, i have a fish on the other end and this is how i've fished for 20 years. what's the tip of the rod doing? well, it may not be doing too much at all other than being pulled down from my applied force to lift and the fish's applied force to run deep. is the tip of the blank noticably torquing? it may not be, since the rod is pretty strong for this purpose of wire lining. what's happening internally in the rod? the blank is fighting the torquing from the applied forces, but because of how the rod is built and how the forces are being applied, the rod is forced into its built position. am i damaging the rod internally? only time will tell, but i would say yes. am i more fatigued after landing several fish in this manner? sure, but i'm used to it as i just caught a few nice fish.

ok, now a mate comes out of the cabin w/ this drunk rod builder's "idea'. "ok, dude, whatever, just get me more fish." same deal, 300' of wire out, 4/0, same blank material, holding the rod in the same manner, etc. i get a fish one, another good one. i'm not even paying attention to the rod since i got another fish on. but, it's funny how the rod is very comfortable and "happy" in its position once a force is applied down and i start pumping this fish in. i also notice i'm not feeling the reel in my forearm anymore as i don't need to rest the reel there. the fish is in. how do i feel? happy, i landed a 30. am i more tired? did i even notice a difference?

the point i am trying to make in this example is most people would never notice the difference no matter how the rod is built. some may. most are more concerned and focused on fighting the fish and landing it. i'd be surprised how many freshwater anglers w/ their ultra light rods have ever noticed their rod torquing if built typically. ask a giant tuna or billfisherman how they feel after fighting a fish for an hour, 2, 3, 6...would a sprialled rod make their battle easier? i believe so. would the rod benefit? i believe so as it wants to stay w/ the reel up and not torque. that's less energy i need to apply in worrying about the rod torquing and more for this large battle.

so, back to your "trap". if i have a rod spined 90 degrees off and spiral wrapped, a fish on, applied pressure by me to lift the rod and applied pressure by the fish to go deep. how's the rod? well, it wants to torque internally because the spine is 90 degrees off - spiralled or not. will i notice it? maybe, maybe not. now, my left hand my be griping the rod tighter and left forearm may come into play to rest the sideplate against it, as well as my right hand balancing any other forces to keep a balance while i reel. so, what did the spiral wrap do for me in this rod? not much. i'm once again fighting the applied forces both myself and internally in the rod.

so, what i have done is this unproperly spined spiral rod is not take advantage of the qualities of every rod has built internally, a spine.

ok, billy. why is a spine not important? i want your opinion.
why not, saltheart?