spiral wrap rods

[mark poulson]

Has anyone tried the spiral wrapped rods, where the guides rotate from the top to the bottom?
If you have, do you see a difference between them and conventional guides on a baitcaster, particularly in terms of casting.
The idea of loading the rod evenly from the bottom side makes sense in terms of distributing the strain equally on the rod, but I've been told the spiral guide system actually increases casting distance, and I'm trying to see if that's actually true.
Also, who makes them?

[Beach Steve Biechman]

If you want I can build it!!! Sieg Taylor and Gary Klein love them.

[Gary Dobyns]

There are a couple of pluses and minuses. Casting distance, not much of a deal really. Less guides and lighter tip weight is the best positve. Tangling with your other rods in the rod locker and hard to sell are the two worst negitives. Functionally they work great. Some guys love the set up, most don't. It is popular with custom builders and I'm sure Steve B. would be glad to help you get one, or three

[tunaman]

They're quite popular with the tuna crowd... I had always planned to wrap a couple, but just haven't done any new rods in a few years (and still have my Calstar Graphiter 760XH butted up and waiting for wraps before I take on a new project).

Roger

[swordfish]

the name Rich Forhan comes to mind with this subject, Quantum made those rods too if I am not mistaken,..... Kleins influence? (Quantum) ?

[BassManDan]

The spiral wrap design originated from the need to eliminate rotational torque on a rod, primarily when trolling or fighting BIG fish.

As a bass angler and a rod builder, personally I don't see a need to use spiral wraps for my rods. I've never said to myself, "Wow, there is alot of rotational torque whilst fighting this fish."

From a physics aspect, for small fish applications (I don't care if you've caught a 15 lbs bass, in the grand scheme of things that's still small ) the spiral wrap is uneccesary.

But to each their own.

[Steve L]

It is a personal choice. All my baitcasting rods are down-wrapped. I wouldn't have it any other other way. The feel is great and your line runs on the guides like it should. In So. Cal. Performance Tackle in Los Alamitos make some fine custom rods and service is outstanding.

[mark poulson]

Thanks for all the info.

[davet.]

I had a Rich Forhan original for years and loved it. If I could afford to replace all my rods with quality spiral wraps, I would.

[LimitedOut]

+2 for Marc's rods at Peformance Tackle

[Greg_Cornish]

I had a Rich Forhan original for years and loved it. If I could afford to replace all my rods with quality spiral wraps, I would.

Have you considered re-doing the eyelets one rofd at a time? $9-$12 and eye usually. 5 or 6 eyes.

[sker13]

I have one custom made on a St Croix 7'11'' blank for throwing DD's and other deep divers. It is awesome. Cast it farther it goes deeper. Now can I outcast Randy McAbee with his signature rod? Maybe not...But it works really well for me and I like it! It is the only application that I will use spiral wraps for.

[crazychuy]

I've got a big +3 for Performance Tackle Rods. Spiral wrapped rods especially make a HUGE difference on a swimbait rod. It eliminates so much torque off of your forearms.

CHUY

[davet.]

I had a Rich Forhan original for years and loved it. If I could afford to replace all my rods with quality spiral wraps, I would.

Have you considered re-doing the eyelets one rofd at a time? $9-$12 and eye usually. 5 or 6 eyes.

Yes, I did my own spiral wrap 8 ft flipping stick on a Loomis blank. It was a great rod, but everytime I broke it (2), they would only take back the blank so I had to remove every eye and retie every time. By the third wrap, the thread job looked like a drunken blind guy did it.
I may still do another in the future.

[mark poulson]

davet,
Where did your rods break?
I thought that one of the main advantages of the spiral wrap was to load the rod evenly on both the cast and the fight, to prevent rod breakage.
From what I was told, by the fourth guide up from the handle, the guides have rotate completely to the underside of the rod, so the stress is spread, at least in the upper half of the rod, where most breakage occurs.

[Beach Steve Biechman]

If you want a spirla wrapped rod I can build you one. They cost the same as regular wrapped rods.