Who's using a spiral wrapped rod, and how do you like it?

Been using that guide style for more than 10 years. Yep, works great. My custom built St. Croix S-glass cranking rod is Roberts wrapped.

All of my rods are spiral wrapped, like um just fine..

Tight Lines!

I fish 6-7 spiral wrapped rods.  Started out with Forhan, moved to Roberts, then to a bumper wrap which is the latest (and I think best).  Having the guides on the bottom seems to give me a bit more sensitivity on a worm rod and you typically use one less guide on a spiral rod, which saves a little weight.  There's no difference in casting distance for me.  Standard guides-on-top is better for a jerkbait rod where you hold the rod down on the water, but for any other presentation, a spiral works fine. Day and night difference?  Nope, but every little bit counts.

This might be a silly question, but does the direction of the spiral matter?

I usually spiral towards the crank side to protect the guides if the rod is laid down. Performance wise, it shouldn't matter. There is no consensus as to which spiral wrap method is best. Each builder has  there own opinion. Generally for a bass rod, a simple spiral getting the line to the bottom as quickly as possible saves the most guides and works fine. Static testing always gets me moving them around anyway. 

Good timing Bird Dog!

I'm being forced to retire an older Bud Erhardt rod that I bought back in the mid-1980's when it went from a 6'6" model to a little over 3' one.  Oops.

Snooping through google yesterday, I see that Bud passed away in 2009.  Another company had purchased the business, lost it, and now somebody is supposedly building them.

So now the question period.  Who are you guys buying these rods from?  Quailty?  Cost?

I got two spiral wrap, I like it.  I can use a lighter blank than usual for a heavier fish.  It does not affect the casting distance.  No downside whatsoever.

Got it on the last custom, LOVE IT !

I wish all rods were made that way.

I spiral clockwise for no reason at all.  The only time I think it matters is on a flipping stick, where you want the spiral to go in the direction of your free hand, so you can banjo the line without the line crossing the rod blank.

All of my casting rods are spiral wrapped. The only way to fly. IMHO

Ronnie

i have a few spiral wrapped rods and they are better than my non spiral wrapped rods.