Since I began building rods recently, I've been intrigued  with the spiral wrap concept and seeing a beautiful rod Alpster put together, I'm ready to attempt one.  I don't need to be sold on the concept behind it. I completely understand the benefits, but I'm reluctant to blindly pull the trigger on $200+ in components. What I would like to know from those of you that have used one of these rods is whether or not there is any noticeable difference in the rod's sensitivity, casting distance, etc.?

Can't say I noticed any difference. I haven't laid out any conventional rods since switching to #4 guides, but I'm sure I am saving a couple guides by wrapping on the bottom.

I will preface my statement with that i dont have first hand experience. but a rod snob friend of mine is switching out some of his g loomis rods for spiral wraps, he says he feels a huge difference. he said casting distance is the biggest perk.

There's no real gain in distance or sensitivity. The gains are in weight savings because you can use less guides, and when the rod is under load you'll get much less blank twist.

This concept is nothing new. The Roberts wrap has been around atleast 30 years that I know of. The real advantage is the line never touches the blank. I have not tested it but I would think it limits the line slap on the rod as well.

This concept is nothing new. The Roberts wrap has been around atleast 30 years that I know of. The real advantage is the line never touches the blank. I have not tested it but I would think it limits the line slap on the rod as well.

Actually the spiral wrap concept has been around since the turn of the last centery about 1902. A gentelman in NJ took the guides off of a metal rod (believed to be a Zebco) of the era, and remounted them to the bottom of the rod. It was scauffed at and ridiculed and placed on the back burner until Richard Roberts of KANSAS CITY started it all over again and re-introduced it in 1924.

I was introduced to the Spiral Wrap in 1994, from a custom builder in Harrison Ark (Bobby Lowe), as a fool I stated it wouldn't fly. Well it wound up they were all I built for 14 yrs.

As stated there is no real distance increase,  just better tip loop control,  it will increase sensetivity (dependant on the build style),  but the biggest plus is rod stability...

My #1 dislike about it is this:  If you lay your rods on the deck of the boat, there is always a guide(guides) facing down into the carpet.  Not a problem unless you step on it.  On conventional rods, the guides are up and the risk of damage is reduced.  Other than that, they are pretty cool!

 

Jeff

My #1 dislike about it is this: If you lay your rods on the deck of the boat, there is always a guide(guides) facing down into the carpet. Not a problem unless you step on it. On conventional rods, the guides are up and the risk of damage is reduced. Other than that, they are pretty cool!

Jeff

I lay mine so that the reel is up on the handle knobs on both my conventional and spiral rods. Keeps the guides good and prevents excess boat rash.

Wrapped guides can be installed around the blank in either direction. If you custom build one, base the wrap direction on which side the reel handle is on. 

 

The biggest benefit of the spiral wrap is eliminatiing the rod torque when under load. With conventional guide placement, under load, the blank twists and results in failure over time.

The line through rod blank without traditional guides eliminates all the guide issues and just doesn't sell to the average angler. Understand the engineering of spiral wrap rods, however never have broken a rod while casting or fighting bass.....never in 60 years.

Tom

The line through rod blank without traditional guides eliminates all the guide issues and just doesn't sell to the average angler. Understand the engineering of spiral wrap rods, however never have broken a rod while casting or fighting bass.....never in 60 years.

Tom

jinx.

jinx.

Pox

Wrapped guides can be installed around the blank in either direction. If you custom build one, base the wrap direction on which side the reel handle is on. 

 

The biggest benefit of the spiral wrap is eliminatiing the rod torque when under load. With conventional guide placement, under load, the blank twists and results in failure over time.

So if I;m building a rod for myself (cranking handle on the right), the guides should  spiral counter clokwise?  I didn't realize left or right hand retrieve made a difference.

Actually the spiral wrap concept has been around since the turn of the last centery about 1902. A gentelman in NJ took the guides off of a metal rod (believed to be a Zebco) of the era, and remounted them to the bottom of the rod. It was scauffed at and ridiculed and placed on the back burner until Richard Roberts of KANSAS CITY started it all over again and re-introduced it in 1924.

I was introduced to the Spiral Wrap in 1994, from a custom builder in Harrison Ark (Bobby Lowe), as a fool I stated it wouldn't fly. Well it wound up they were all I built for 14 yrs.

As stated there is no real distance increase, just better tip loop control, it will increase sensetivity (dependant on the build style), but the biggest plus is rod stability...

ZEBCO or Zero Hour Bomb Co was incorporated in the 30's, True Temper made steel rods and may be the company you are thinking of?

OP,

Torsional torque loading will happen with spiral positioned guides. You might want to look at how the rod blank is laid and if it's scrim or scrimless.

Sounds like a good project and hope all exceeds expectations.

Tom

So if I;m building a rod for myself (cranking handle on the right), the guides should  spiral counter clokwise?  I didn't realize left or right hand retrieve made a difference.

I spiral all my rods the direction of the handle, so clockwise for right handed reels.  It just makes it easier to lie your rods down and keep the guides off the carpet.  

Thanks to all.  This is one project I plan to take a lot of time on. Not only the actual building of it, but more so in planning of the components.  My last build took me a total of about 20hrs. and was a simple spinning with trim bands, but no butt wrap.  This will likely be a split grip with a top quality blank and guides.  I gotta have something to do when I'm not actually fishing. I mean besides getting on any number of fishing forums.

the last 4 casting rods I've built, I didn't use transition guides.  First guide on top, next guide on the bottom.  the line touches the blank for a short distance, but I have seen no ill effects (it just looks goofy).   In test casting, I see no difference in distance from a traditional spiral.

Yes and it can drive you crazy measuring how far around the blank multiple transitional guide(s) should be positioned.  I've tried 3 different spiral schemes and to me, the one where you have one upright guide at 0 degrees, one 90 degree transitional guide, and the rest on the bottom of the blank works as well and any.  I don't notice any difference between 'normal' and spiral wraps as far as casting distance.  I've never experienced any line stacking on a reel.  You can usually use one less guide with a spiral wrap, so you do get a slightly lighter rod tip and a tiny bit more sensitivity.  That makes it worth it, IMO, if you're building a rod for yourself.  If you plan to sell the rod at a later date, spiral might be a hindrance.  I use a mix of spiral and straight factory wrapped rods and frankly, I don't see enough difference to get excited about either scheme.