Braid catching on tip guide...

[David Sharples]

I have a couple of rods where this is a problem and a couple where it isn't. Does anyone know why this happens and what the solution is?

My Zenaq Tuna and HOTS Gipang 83H sometimes get a loop of braid that catches round the tip guide when I cast.

Is it an issue with the type of guide? It doesn't happen on my Smith rods or Caranx Kaibutsu...

If I need to put new guides on does anyone know which one I need to choose?

Cheers guys.

[stuart bradley]

What type of tip are you using? not sure of the code but the ones that have the bind on bit should help the problem somewhat if you dont already have them on.

Im assuming your talking about the tip, not one of the runners underneath

So a loop actually get pushed around it when casting? Might be something to do with leader, though you cant really shorten it so it doesnt go through the tip runner. Maybe choking the loops down a bit more further down the rod might help, this may be fixed with a bigger ring size on the tip. Are you running different reels on the rods that it doesnt happen with? Do the guides go down a size smaller down the rod?

[David Sharples]

Not sure what type of guides they are.. The standard ones that come with the rod. What happens is the bit of line between the tip guide and the first one down loops over the tip top constricting the flow of line on the cast.

I think I can stop it by feathering the line immediately on release of the cast but kind of feel I shouldn't have to with a top of the range rod..

Does anyone think it might be caused by tip bounce? Maybe the shock waves through the rod cause it to wobble and create loose loops of line at the end...

[Brandon Khoo]

I can't say I have ever had a rod where this doesn't happen

[David Sharples]

Is there any way to minimise it? Do you feather the line just after you release the cast?

Its very irritating when you're approaching a point or a big eddy where you know the right cast will be rewarded, you let fly and the popper goes about fifteen meters and slaps the water in front of you! 

[Brandon Khoo]

For me, I find that if I set up properly for a cast and release at my usual height (I cast the popper pretty high), it rarely gets caught. It happens far more frequently when I am trying some fancy cast by trying to keep it low or something like that.

[stuart bradley]

Probably hitting it late in the cast too, although its pretty hard on this sort of gear not to if you want that bit more.

Maybe try running mono instead

Do you know what size your guides go down to? Sounds like it could do with 1 size smaller to control the loops a lot, though with the leaders needed etc it makes it a bit hard. Normally the loops arnt making it all the way through to there, but sounds like in this case they are. Most of the rods I have these sorts of problems on are longer spin rods with a lot lighter line.

[Hon-Su Chin]

I think its not so much the tip and guides setup but more so your casting action can do that as well. Dunno how but it can as it has happened to me before.

[Luke Wyrsta]

I have never experienced this before, however, it would definitely seem that it is to do with your casting stroke.

You mention that your popper sometimes crashes 15m in front of you - perhaps you have not checked your tip before you have begun the cast? If it is wrapped prior to casting then I can definitely see this as being a cause.

[Luke Wyrsta]

Is there any way to minimise it? Do you feather the line just after you release the cast?

Its very irritating when you're approaching a point or a big eddy where you know the right cast will be rewarded, you let fly and the popper goes about fifteen meters and slaps the water in front of you! 

You shouldn't have to feather the cast - any resistance will reduce casting distance.

Just prior to the lure hitting the water, you should be closing the bail and feeling the line come to tension. This tension should pull the line nice and taught in front of you in order to start the popping technique - which leads me to believe that it has to be at the front of your stroke (i.e. already tangled tip) which is causing the issue. There can be problems at the end of the stroke but they don't seem consistent with the problem you describe.

[Jon Li]

Possibly caused by less than streamlined knot momentarily caught the tip top guide , it happens to me occasionally too but not too often .

Jon .

[David Sharples]

The casting stroke is OK I think as it doesn't happen with the other rods I have and I use the same leader knot and set-up on them. The only thing I can think is maybe if the release happens too early and loops are generated between the guides before the popper is moving fast enough to take up the slack. I'll try to release slightly later to see if that stops it.

When it hits the water 15m away its cos the line's wrapped around the tip guide not cos I've powered the cast stright down! haha

Did manage to cast my I Cup straight into a cliff on its first swim though. Which was disappointing.

[Jack Lai]

It happens when your rod has a tippy action and your drop is not suitable.

Different rods have different casting action thus you need to adjust your drop accordingly.

[David Sharples]

It happens when your rod has a tippy action and your drop is not suitable.

Different rods have different casting action thus you need to adjust your drop accordingly.

That's an interesting idea.. Do you think you need a shorter drop with a faster action rod? I normally have the drop to around the reel seat...

[Jack Lai]

yes. As you have a limited arc and finishing quick in an overhead cast. When the rod is tippy, it loads the tip much faster and there can be slack line which catches the tip. If you use a longer drop you will need to go slower which doesn't suit well in an overhead cast, shorter drop for quick overhead cast. I personally use half of the the rod length for the drop.

I have pendulum casted with 8ft on the beach using popping outfit on 100g and it goes beyond the 100m mark easily and the drop is to the reel seat. Not recommending to execute this cast as it takes a lot of practice to get it right.