Hi all,

New to the forum here and was hoping I could fire out a question. In the past, I have built many 8 ½’ salmon rods, all of which I have used hardloy or similar guides, and in the past few years have switched over to the new braided lines. After a few trips, I notice the line getting miniscule frays on it. Rather than stripping off all the guides and replacing them, I am wondering if it makes sense, or even a remotely good idea to say just replace the tip top and maybe the butt guide with SiC? Am I correct in assuming that the butt guide and the tip top get the majority of the friction? Any thoughts or help would be appreciated. Thanks, Jim

I assume you are using Fireline? Fireline gets fuzzy, most of the otrher braided lines do not. It's not hte guides, it's a characteristic of hte line...if in fact you are using Fireline. Are thee other lines which had this property?

I have been predominantly using tuff line with these rods. the old original salt and pepper tuff line, the tuff plus, and also the tuff XP. the frays are quite small though.
thanks,
jim

sorry, i forgot to mention, i have not used any fireline with these rods



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2005 09:04PM by jim bousquet.

The greatest amount of load is always going to be on the butt guide/s because that's where the rod has the most power or resistance to bending. The greatest amount of use will be on the tip-top.

I'm not sure that your line fray is due to the guides, however. Still, you might experiment with that SIC tip top and butt guide, just to see if the line still frays next time around, or even at the same rate.

And while you're at it, take a cotton swap and go around the inside of each and every guide on your rod now. If one happens to have a slight nick or chip, the cotton will hang in it and you'll have found the cause of your line fraying.

.......

Jim,
I don't think the guides are your problem, I have 35 lb Tuf-line Plus on one of my that's been in use since 1992-93 whenever they started selling the stuff, been on lots or rods and caught lots of fish, and it got a little fuzzy than quit, the business end near the fish is the only part that's needed my concern. I've not had problems with any of my guides either.

Spencer

thanks for the tips, and especially the one with the Q-tip, Tom. i think I'll go ahead and try swapping out the butt guide and tip top with the SiC flavored ones and peel off 10 or 20 yards of the old "business end" line and then see if it makes a difference.......thanks again, Jim

I use XP and it's almost exactly the sameas Power Pro = doesn't fray. I am not familiar with teh other Tuff Line braids. Most people I know fish with PP, some fish 300 days per year and it doesn't fray, with Hardaloy guides.

Quite small fray are not what Fireline does, at all. Fireline looks like it's been electrocuted, lol.