I am building a 7'9", SC4, 3 weight rod. I like the look of snake guides and was considering using ultra-light wire snakes; but first wanted to know what opinions there are out there regarding improved action by using single foot guides. I don't suspect the weight difference will be significant.

I just built that rod (blank model 4F793.4). I used Fuji Alconite single foots and tip top. CFAT6 tip top, followed by 7 CLAG6s and a CLAG10. I made a 6" grip out of Exotic Burl rings from Lamar Reel Seats and an upsliding Robert Venneri seat with birdseye maple. Great looking and great casting little rod. You could build it with single foot wire guides and it will still be a great rod, but the smoothness and quietness of ceramics is something I prefer.

If you go with wire, use the REC light wire single foots. There is no reason to double your labor. The Alconites will cast better.

I've built one 7'9" 3 weight with single foot wire guides and the usual style stripper. I'm in the process of building a second one now and will again use single foot wire guides but this time I'm using a size 10 single foot ceramic fly guide as the stripper. I would have used ceramics all the way but nobody makes a ceramic tip top in a size 3.5 tube. IS ANYBODY LISTENING???? Single foot guides are just so much easier to deal with than regular snake guides.

I was mainly looking for opinions regarding if the action of the rod would be changed significantly by using snake vs single foot guides.

This is a project for myself and the additional time for snake guides is not an issue.

Al. Strictly a matter of taste, but the single foot RECs look better than the snakes and will be a little faster. I doubt if you could tell the difference in performance on a 3 weight, but why double your work?

Single foots are much easier to keep clean, especially if you fish in hard water or water with alot of algea. May or may not be an issue with you, but I hate that little space inbetween on the double foots. Can't say that it effects casting distance much, but that little space of rod blank sure can gather alot of crud over a short time.

I heard single foots have some effect on rod action versus double foots...can't say I've noticed it, don't think it's really that much if at all.

The double foot snake guides add a miniscule (tiny) amount of stiffness to the section of blank/rod covered by the wraps. When the rod flexes the double footed snake guide must flex with it. The single footed snake,or single footed ceramic, for instance the Fuji Alconite, has a much shorter area of effect on the blank/rod giving the blank/rod a (tiny) bit more of the crispness built into it. I would use the Alconite BLAG or CLAG fly guides, but if the choice is only between snake & single foot snake guides, the single foot snake guide is the obvious choice. Merry Christmas. Ralph

If at first you don't succeed, go fishing, then try, try again.