Quote:
Originally Posted by rphud
Is reversing the first guide still done with the new K series design?
Is the first guide or the choke guide at the 47" mark?
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No, the K guide tilts forward to shed loops. They all face the same way.
The low rider uses the reversed long legs facing forward on the collector to do the same thing. Sometimes guys reverse the second guide as well (apparently it helps if throwing big knots through the guides).
On a standard low rider set up (for rods over 11.5 feet) the collector is at 47" or further. It doesn't work too well on 11 foot rods that way, however. The guides end up too far out the blank.
The choke guide you refer to (for others that don't know) is the first small runner guide in a NGS or "new" concept setup. It is supposed to be at the intersection point of the spool spindle (which is commonly angled 4 degrees towards the rod) and the rod blank. Most guys, however, use a formula (I think it is 27.5 x spool diameter in inches....but forget) to place the choke guide (which will be the size of your running guides to the tip). You then space standard or K guides (usually two or three) of appropriate height working backwards so the top of the guide touches a line from the choke guide to the spool spindle. You then use the small guides the same size as the choke guide every 5-7" to run the line to the tip (which should be a ring size one up from the runner size). If you do it right, when you sight down them you will get a concentric set of rings from your spool to the choke/running guides.
The beauty of it is not only does it cast well, handle braid well, but it also results in smaller and lighter guides towards the tip and a more responsive rod. The guides also "place themselves", if you want your collector closer to your reel you just use a higher guide.
For the # test line and line velocities most of us generate, either system (a NGS or Lowrider) will cast about the same distance. The lowrider guides are much harder to set up on a short rod, however.
At very high line speeds and with very thin braid, lowriders are supposedly better since guide looping can occur anywhere out the rod, including the tip. Likewise, on big long rods 12-14 feet, I think lowriders are preferred because you can use many fewer guides....but I have no experience with rods of this size ( I mention it because these new CTS and Century blanks make 12 foot rods an option for what we do).