First guide on a spinning reel

[helm]

I can't find where I seen a write-up talking about the size of the first guide on a spinning reel having an effect on reducing line twist. Could anyone tell me what the current thought is regarding the correct size of the first guide on a one piece 7' Medium Light / Xtra fast action spinning rod would be?
Thanks

[FLATLINER]

Helm,
For a first guide on a 7' spinning rod would be a 30. You want to gather the line, not choke it. Going with anything smaller than that will result in line gathering and slap.

I hope this helps.

Good luck.

Kevin

[gottaflylee]

I've looked at this thread for a couple of days now and here is my "old school" way we use to do it, and I do mean "old"...

Back in my 20s, we made a bunch of spinning rods from Trout to surf rods. Back then, we only used mono.

We would temporarly mount the reel seat, then stick the reel we wanted onto the seat, then dry fit the tip. Back then, the thought, our thought was that the first guide needed to be the same size as the reel spool. With the line running from the reel to the tip, the placement of each guide was placed according to the mono from the reel to the tip. By doing this, line slap on the rods were non-existant and they would cast a mile comapred to a store bought rod.

Today, with most all of us useing braid, it is a hole other ball game and I wouuld not venture to tell you how to set up a braid rod...

[FLATLINER]

I've looked at this thread for a couple of days now and here is my "old school" way we use to do it, and I do mean "old"...

Back in my 20s, we made a bunch of spinning rods from Trout to surf rods. Back then, we only used mono.

We would temporarly mount the reel seat, then stick the reel we wanted onto the seat, then dry fit the tip. Back then, the thought, our thought was that the first guide needed to be the same size as the reel spool. With the line running from the reel to the tip, the placement of each guide was placed according to the mono from the reel to the tip. By doing this, line slap on the rods were non-existant and they would cast a mile comapred to a store bought rod.

Today, with most all of us useing braid, it is a hole other ball game and I wouuld not venture to tell you how to set up a braid rod...

Back in THE 20's? Oh, My fault you said in YOUR 20's

Lee, you are absolutely correct, but it goes a bit further than that. Back in the 80's, the reel spools were wide. Then the reel manufacturers went to the schimano style spool which is taller than wider. That changed up the ballgame because the coil coming off the reel was starting out tighter. By having it tighter off the reel, the first guide could be smaller. Remenber when the first guide on a surf rod looked like a barrel hoop?!?!? So, with todays reel technology, the first guide can be smaller.

Kevin

[paul708]

Now, some say that half the size of the spool is a good starting point for guide size.

on a 7' med light a 30 is a good start.
a 25 may be to small.

i have done both.

[Deep C]

Back in THE 20's? Oh, My fault you said in YOUR 20's

I think its the same thing...

[gottaflylee]

Ok funny boys... my 20s were in the very early 70...I think... Now look what you guys have to look forward to... good thing you keep good notes Kev, you need them soon...

I guess ( see Deep...told ya,growing old ain't for sisies...) what I was trying to get accross is that the reel stem hight along with the reel spool size was what we were baseding on where the first guide went, from there it was a matter of steping down in order of guide size...

How do you guys decide with braid, the size of the first guiide I know that you need to "Neck" it down quicker???

One of the best reasons for custom rods is being able to set the rod up for a certain reel. You guys rock that do this for a living...

[FLATLINER]

Lee,
Just bustin on ya man! I know you can handle it!!

For spinning guides and spacing and sizing, I take the length and add 1. 6'=7, 6 1/2'=7.

For first guide size with a modern reel, I pretty much start at 30. If its a larger reel, I will bump up. I look at the reel that is being used and the size of the spool and then judge from there on the size.

I really don't think that it is necessary to choke the line down any quicker. If I use a 30 on my first guide, the rest will be 25, 20, 16 and down. Once the choke is taken care of, I then will think about leader or line being used and judge the rest of the guides on those answers. On saltwater rods, I will pretty much stay at 8 or larger as leader knots can be an issue when smaller than that. Tip top size will stay at 8 or 10. Mostly 8's.

Kevin

[BYRD]

By moving the first guide away from the reel you can get by with a smaller first guide. On the 6'6" spinners I make for trout and drum I place the first guide 26 inches from the center of the reel seat and use a 25. I then go 16, 10, and run 6's up to the tip. You can go from the 6 to 3 if you want micros. I have done it both ways. Seems to cast farther starting with the 25 a little higher than putting a 30 at 22inches from the reel seats center, which is a more traditional approach.

[paul708]

yeah, theres alot of different setups.
try a few.
the micros are cool