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Updated

Fly Rod Guide Spacing Chart
Rod Length Line Weight Rod Pieces Guide Size/Spacing Guide 1 Guide 2 Guide 3 Guide 4 Guide 5 Guide 6 Guide 7 Guide 8 Guide 9 Guide 10 Guide 11
6'6" 2-4 2 Guide Spacing 4 1/2 9 15 21 28 35 1/2 45
Guide Size 1 1 1 2 2 3 8mm
7' 2-4 2 Guide Spacing 5 10 1/4 16 1/2 23 3/16 30 1/4 37 1/2 45 3/4 55 1/2
Guide Size 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 8mm
7'6" 2-4 2 Guide Spacing 4 1/2 9 5/8 15 5/8 21 5/8 28 34 7/8 42 1/2 51 1/4 61 1/4
Guide Size 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 4 10mm
7'9" 2-4 2-3 Guide Spacing 4 5/8 9 5/8 15 3/8 22 29 1/8 38 46 7/8 56 1/4 65 3/4
Guide Size 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 4 10mm
8' 2-5 2-3 Guide Spacing 4 1/2 9 3/8 15 1/2 22 1/4 30 1/4 38 1/2 47 3/4 56 1/2 66
Guide Size 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 4 10mm
8'6" 2-4 2 Guide Spacing 5 10 1/2 17 1/2 25 3/8 33 1/4 41 7/8 51 60 5/8 71
Guide Size 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 4 10mm
8'6" 5-6 2 Guide Spacing 5 10 1/2 17 1/2 25 3/8 33 1/4 41 7/8 51 60 5/8 71
Guide Size 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 5 12mm
8'6" 7-9 3 Guide Spacing 4 1/2 10 3/4 17 1/4 25 5/8 34 42 3/8 51 1/4 60 1/2 71
Guide Size 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 12mm 16mm
8' 9" 3-5 2 Guide Spacing 5 10 1/2 16 22 1/8 28 1/2 35 1/4 43 1/4 52 1/4 62 3/8 73 1/4
Guide Size 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 10mm
8' 9" 3-5 5 Guide Spacing 4 1/2 9 5/8 15 1/8 21 1/8 27 3/4 35 3/8 43 5/8 52 3/4 62 1/2 73
Guide Size 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 10mm
9' 2-4 2 Guide Spacing 5 10 1/4 16 1/4 22 1/2 29 3/4 37 1/8 45 3/8 53 3/4 65 77
Guide Size 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 10mm
9' 5-6 2 Guide Spacing 5 10 1/4 16 1/4 22 1/2 29 3/4 37 1/8 45 3/8 53 3/4 65 77
Guide Size 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 12mm
9' 7-9 2 Guide Spacing 5 10 1/4 16 1/4 22 1/2 29 3/4 37 1/8 45 3/8 53 3/4 65 77
Guide Size 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 12mm 16mm
9' 10-13 2 Guide Spacing 5 10 1/4 16 1/4 22 1/2 29 3/4 37 1/8 45 3/8 53 3/4 65 77
Guide Size 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 16mm* 20mm*
9' 3-4 3 Guide Spacing 4 9 15 21 1/4 28 7/8 36 1/4 44 53 1/2 63 1/2 75 1/4
Guide Size 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 10mm
9' 5-6 3 Guide Spacing 4 9 15 21 1/4 28 7/8 36 1/4 44 53 1/2 63 1/2 75 1/4
Guide Size 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 12mm
9' 7-9 3 Guide Spacing 4 9 15 21 1/4 28 7/8 36 1/4 44 53 1/2 63 1/2 75 1/4
Guide Size 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 12mm 16mm
9' 10-13 3 Guide Spacing 4 9 15 21 1/4 28 7/8 36 1/4 44 53 1/2 63 1/2 75 1/4
Guide Size 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 16mm* 20mm*
9' 4-6 4 Guide Spacing 4 1/2 9 14 1/8 20 3/16 27 3/8 34 7/8 43 7/8 53 3/4 64 5/8 76 1/2
Guide Size 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 12mm
9' 6" 5-6 2 Guide Spacing 5 10 3/8 16 3/8 22 1/2 29 35 3/4 43 51 60 3/4 70 3/4 81 3/4
Guide Size 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 12mm
9' 6" 5-6 3 Guide Spacing 4 1/2 9 1/4 15 1/8 21 1/4 28 1/8 35 42 1/2 51 1/2 60 3/4 70 1/2 81 1/4
Guide Size 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 12mm
10' 4-6 3 Guide Spacing 5 11 17 23 29 7/8 37 1/4 46 3/8 55 5/8 65 1/2 75 1/2 86 5/8
Guide Size 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 12mm
10' 7-10 3 Guide Spacing 5 11 17 23 29 7/8 37 1/4 46 3/8 55 5/8 65 1/2 75 1/2 86 5/8
Guide Size 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 12mm 16mm
  1. The above measurements are from the tip-top with the sections assembled to the center of the guides.
  2. This chart covers the most popular rod sizes. If your rod is within a couple of inches of the chart, a minor adjustment of guide spacing is acceptable. For instance, a 7'1" rod would still use the 7' chart with the 1" adjustment either applied at the last two guides near the butt section or spread over the entire rod.
  3. The * indicates a braced guide for strength.
  4.  The general rule of thumb I follow is that for every foot of length, you need a minimum of one guide. For example, a 9-foot rod would have as a minimum 9 guides, but no more than 11. I split the middle and prefer 10 guides. This does not include your tiptop, but does include your stripping guide.