The biggest Guide I've ever put on a fixed spool rod is a size 40, most of the time I would use size 30 stripper. as long as its far enough away from the face of the fixed spool reel to let the line flow and choke.
I like enough guides on a fixed spool rod..6 + Tip is about right for most lengths between 11ft and above IMO. Multiplier rods I like to see 7 sometimes 9 even, as long as it looks and feels right. Terry Carroll once told me "99/100 times if the guides look right, they are right" but rod design changes like everything else, your right about the new concept that Fuji are promoting....I like the shape of the Low Riders, I've even got used to the stripper being so high and around back to front, I've just never had or wanted a blank that I could use them on..that may change soon
I think the Fuji BMNAG are the best guides ever made, value for money and the look and perform great!
The next 2 rods I plan to make (one for me and one for my son) are a couple of Up-Tide rods. They will be around the 10'6" (7'6" tip with 3' butt) these are two rods that I will convert from a couple of sample 15ft multiplier rods I had made in Korea.
If more people built their own rods I'm sure components would improve even more than they have done.
Tom.
