Rene,
I am NOT an expert rod-builder, but I'll give my 2-pfennig's worth.
Is there a dependency between the positioning and the number of guides to the stiffness of the finished rod? Or depends the stiffness of the rod from the blank only?
In my humble opinion, it's MAINLY dependent on the blank. However, if you make your guide wraps extra-long, or maybe even double-wrap each guide (wrap the area where your are going to mount the guide, and then over-wrap with another color thread for a decorative wrap), make extra-long reinforcement wraps at the joints, etc., you might be able to increase the stiffness slightly, but not much.
I can imagine that the distance between the guides would modify the finished rod's action a bit.
Again, it will, but not as much as you might expect.
Simplest method of all: Buy the stiffest blank you can find!
BTW: The Rhines level is rising slowly. Hope I can return to fishing the Rhine in some weeks!
And if you do, send us some reports.
Allan --
Allan Fish Greenwood, IN [EMAIL PROTECTED]
