Too many running guides??

[pbadad]

My thoughts too Chris on re lining. All my rods have #10 runners to accommodate tieing the leader first then stringing thru the guides with a clip. 5-6 runners on most 10 &11'. I have an 10' Infinity which is my sand rod w/a150 in which I'm building with RV transition guides and # 8 size runners. So far liking the static load w/6 runners. Test casting will give me more feedback on line control. Haven't decided yet on 20 lbFL or 30lb braid though which may change my runner size.

[ed morini]

I have been thinking about this alot lately and have come to the conclusion that certainly' the number of guides is imortant in the load distribution but at some point no number of guides will prevent blank failure when the blank becomes over stressed.

The Lami GSB series is known for its parobolic loading, particularly the 120 1l and 1m. These blanks will take a beating and in their early stages of production replicated the fiberglass blanks they replaced. They could be built as the glass blanks were, without to much trouble with breaking. Us old guys built them the same way and they performed as expected. After 2005, I think the resins were "improved" and the action changed calling for more guides to help the tip stress. I began noticing more broken tips, which results from high sticking, which was normal for glass rods. I never promoted high sticking because I felt the leverage advantage went to the fish in that case.
Today, I think you do what your experience has led you to believe is the best placement and number. There are no concrete answers because the are so many different blank builds, materials and actions. With the extemely fast tips of today, I think that once the tip reaches the limit of its flex, that's it, beyond yeilds failure. Do the number of guides prevent the break, I don't think so, but they help delay. And for me we are right back where we started. That make this interesting.

[numbskull]

The 10-11 foot rods I have built with rapid choke layouts use 6-7 size 8 runners. They will not pass knots well so I use a low profile FG-knot with a 6-8 foot leader. Even then I notice premature braid wear about 8-10" from the knot which I think reflects guide wrapping (probably at the choke guide or tip). Even size 8's are probably large for ideal runners (if I used a shorter leader outside the guides I'd use DB guides and more of them) and I don't see a point in using 10's.

I doubt that increased numbers of runners does that much to prevent blank failure........which is more a function of taper. The faster action the rod the more likely it is to fail when highsticked since the stress of the sharp bend is focused along a shorter distance.

In my experience, rods built with small guide systems do not cast any significant distance further than traditional builds. I do, however, strongly believe that rods with small, light guide systems are dramatically more responsive and fun to fish.

[ed morini]

I think you can "help a blank" with a fast tip buy using double foot guides as a running system. The LC series can accomplish this with minimal added weight but I think there is a a loss of action due to the double foot scenario, causing a loss of casting distance. The distance, in my mind, would be negliable but the tip would have some measure of protection.

Eeling rods have softer tips and deeper bends so you can use fewer guides without a problem as casting distance is not a consideration,

I like the use of #8 guides when I can but have built some with 10's when weedy or mung areas are fished....it easier to clear them