I have this problem. Every time I fish for a while, the guides on the top half work themselves out of alignment from the bottom half. Is this a common problem? Is there something I can do to fix it?

Happens to me all the time. I think it is from casting and holding the reel more to the side rather then straight up and down. Plus when I drift fish I often hold the rod and reel a little to the side.

rub candle wax on the shaft

Candlewax/parafin is great. If your caught in a pinch the oil from the area around your nose works good too. I know it may look funny but just rub the rod agains your nose. Oiliest part of your body. Just make sure you wipe any mark off your face when your done or when you walk in the store after fishing you'll get some strange looks (stranger than normal).

This is a very common occurrence with factory built rods. The guides are not mounted directly on or below the spline and the top half of the rod will twist under fishing pressure. The above mentioned remedies are all good. You will just have to fiddle with the alignment as it twists. The guides are typically mounted on the area that looks the straightest rather than associated with the spline (strongest side of the rod).

I think the spine answer is correct. best solution: Strip the guides off and re-wrap after you correctly spine the rod. You can determine the spine by holding the tip of the rod in one hand and, while placing the bottom of the top section on a flat surface, bend the rod and roll it from side to side (works even with the guides on but better with a clean blank). The rod will "jump" in a couple of places. You want the guides aligned with the area where the rod does not jump (where it is stable).

One of the spots that the rod is stable will have less bend with the same amount of pressure than the other. The is a fair amount of controversy over whether you want the guides mounted so that the rod bends against the face of the spine (more power for casting) or agaunst the back of the spine (more power for fighting). Either way, get the guides off the jumpy part!

Check the spine of the rod before you strip your guides off to make sure that that is the problem, because Lamiglas rods are splined from the factory. Some rods aren't but Lamiglas' are.