Rod Building Supplies, Lure Making Supplies, Fishing Hooks, Fishing Tackle and Fly Tying Supplies

Almost all fishing rod blanks manufactured today are produced by wrapping graphite or fiberglass cloth around a steel mandrel. This process causes a slight unevenness in the blank resulting in a soft and stiff side of the rod blank commonly referred to as the spine. Rod builders have determined that placing guides along the rod blank spine provides the best rod performance.       You should find the spine of your rod blank and locate your guides and reel seat either on or opposite the spine. When building a casting rod, most rod builders place the guides on the outside of the spine curve. Spinning and fly rod guides are typically placed on the inside curve of the spine. Use a small piece of  masking tape or a felt pen on the rod blank butt to mark the side of the spine you want to place the guides on.

     To locate the spine, place the tip of the blank on a solid hard surface (kitchen floor) with the butt end up. Place your index finger on the butt of the blank and apply enough pressure to slightly bend the blank. The blank will roll around to the soft side of the spine. This will be the natural bend of the blank every time. It is really that simple!

     How about finding the spine on multiple piece rod blanks? We always locate the spine on each individual rod blank section. As you get closer to the butt section of the rod, you may notice that the spine becomes less obvious. It can be virtually impossible to locate the spine on rod butt sections so the effects of the spine are negligible.