To Spiral Or Not to Spiral... what is your preference?

[DrTrevorkian]

I think they work for everything, but that’s just me.

Ok, so theoretically I may (or not) see increased casting distance on a trap rod when bombing open water on a search and destroy mission and on a shorter squarebill rod I may see better accuracy when pinpointing precise targets ?

Potentially, sure! I think it lets your blank work to its full potential. Might even get away with less guides, which never hurts!

[uljersey]

One last question - is the fact that I use left hand retrieve reels have any bearing ; in other words does the layout of the guides matter in that respect ?

[DrTrevorkian]

I prefer to spiral toward my reel handle, but that only makes a difference on my salmon/steelhead float rods that see slow pay-out and semi slack line (bobber floating down the river). I can’t see it making a difference for much anything else.

[Hogsticker2]

One last question - is the fact that I use left hand retrieve reels have any bearing ; in other words does the layout of the guides matter in that respect ?

I would suggest spiral to the left.

[Cal]

The decision of spiraling to one side or the other on a fishing rod is done to match which side the handle of your reel will be. This is done simply so when you lay your rods down on the deck, presuming fishing reel handle side up, your first few guides will follow suit and not be buried in the deck. There is no other practical reason.

[hoohoorjoo]

The decision of spiraling to one side or the other on a fishing rod is done to match which side the handle of your reel will be. This is done simply so when you lay your rods down on the deck, presuming fishing reel handle side up, your first few guides will follow suit and not be buried in the deck. There is no other practical reason.

That's only if you allow the reel to lay that way. Mine sit on the trigger and reel handle only.

[Cal]

That's only if you allow the reel to lay that way. Mine sit on the trigger and reel handle only.

That's why i said presuming... regardless of how you lay your rods down, the reasoning behind spiraling one direction versus the other remains the same. Otherwise, there's no difference.

[Hogsticker2]

I also prefer to spiral in the direction of my retrieve, which is in my case to the left. Aside from what Cal mentioned, at times you probably hold the rod with your right wrist slightly bent to the left, and likely never to the right. Unless you enjoy wrist pain of course.

[uljersey]

I’m sold, I’ll be owning one soon.

[LowRange]

I own 4 spiral wrapped megabass rods. They just came that way and it adds to the exotic nature of these particular sticks. Can't say I noticed anything about them while under load. They less prone to tip wrap when using lighter and softer braids. That's nice. 3 of the 4 are telescopic which I appreciate the most.

[Smalleyez]

This is a spiral-wrapped 48" power noodle ice rod that I asked a local custom rod builder to make last month. I was originally going to pair it with my Daiwa Alphas Airstream Custom and the rod was balanced with that reel. I then decided to not subject that little gem to the often hostile ice fishing conditions, so I found a cheap Piscifun Phantom which is 0.1 oz lighter than the Daiwa and remarkably it has that same green as my rod's wrapping. Plenty good enough for the hardwater.

The spiral-wrap is a perfect application for a small spoon rod.

[dragon1]

Given the choice, I would select spiral wrapped always, and now with the advent and use of rod sleeves, the guides tangling in rod boxes is nowhere near as common either.

[Kieranw92]

I have spiral wrap rods for all vertical jigging. I do have some jigging rods which I also use for trolling (not trawling as some people call it) which have straight guides. I have one custom built palmarius rod which has the guides go to the right. I still haven’t seen another rod with them going to the right. I do fish with a left handle reel.

[jvelth74]

Strange spriral wrapping in a Crystar 55 BF-master; first one guide is in aligned different than usual. It point's to reel, not to te tip of rod:

[DrTrevorkian]

That specific guide seems pretty high to me, too.

I don’t believe I could live with the aesthetics of that, unless there is some sort of unrealized, unworldly casting performance difference.