Looking for suggestions or advice on the proper tip top for a 12 wt. I'm building. Guides are all Fuji Ti with SiC rings. However, I cannot find a "traditional" looking tip top with the ring size I want - #8. Fuji's TLST has the look I want, but I believe only goes up to #7 ring. Fuji does make the Ti TPST with a #8 ring, but this tip top has "braces", for lack of a better word, supporting the ring - a style I associate more with spinning and casting rods. All that being said,

(1) Are you aware of a manufacturer that makes a "traditional" looking Ti tip top with Sic ring in size #8?

(2) The reason for all this is that I want to make sure I have sufficient clearance - the guides for the 12 wt. go down to #8, and I'd hoped to have a #8 tip top so there'd be no worries with knots passing through. Given my difficulties in finding what I'm looking for, will a #7 give me enough room? I haven't built a rod this heavy before, so I'm not sure how to proceed.

As always, I appreciate any thoughts you might have to offer.

Regards,

John Boatwright

John,

I have been obsessing with what guides to purchase for a new 12wt. Probably so much so that it is bordering on insanity! haha. Anyway, I am planning on going with #10 alconite's as running guides. I am planning on using shooting heads and Bimini backing connections, so I want to have enough room to pass any knot needed. Since I have the same problem as you (no fly style to in 10mm ring), I am probably gonna use a Fuji BMNAT10 tip top. It sure ain't pretty, but it should get the job done. I do wish they had the unbraced (or "less" braced) tip tops available in larger sizes and ti frames.... Especially since I still need to make a 10wt and 14wt for offshore work.

I would never go with a tip smaller than my running guides. If you choke your ring down to a 7 at the tip, you lose any advantages you had with 8mm runners.

Barret

Why not just use a running guide as a tip?? I see that a lot of guys actually prefer them to tip tops (lighter)

Mike

Re: the running guide as a tip top, how would you wrap it to protect the tip of the blank?

wrap it right on the end and just coat the end with your finish, or if that makes you nervous, put a SMALL dab of Rod Bond on the cery end (though I don't think it would be necessary)

Mike



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/03/2005 03:37PM by Mike Barkley.

Mike,

I think I understand the process of wrapping a regular sf guide as a tip, but it kind of scares me to do so on such a heavy rod. Especially with crazy doubled up Surgon/bimini knots flying through the guides as an Albacore takes off into the depths!

Does anyone have experience using this method for big fast fish? Part of me is considering going with snakes just to put my worries at ease (forgive me).

Barret

I've used single foot guides for tip tops on some spinning rods (amtak needs to widen their range of tip tops) . One particular Rainshadow I built last year caught a ~50# red drum on the first cast, and several more the same day. I was worried at first too, but now I can sleep at night. :) Just wrap it on like any other guide. I've also taken "three leg" guides (NSG style) and bent the single leg back over the guide, wrapping one on top and one on bottom of blank. I believe Mike Barkley gave me that idea. This gives the "braced" look, so you would just want to use a single foot guide.

I've used single foot guides for tip tops on some spinning rods (amtak needs to widen their range of tip tops) . One particular Rainshadow I built last year caught a ~50# red drum on the first cast, and several more the same day. I was worried at first too, but now I can sleep at night. :) Just wrap it on like any other guide. I've also taken "three leg" guides (NSG style) and bent the single leg back over the guide, wrapping one on top and one on bottom of blank. I believe Mike Barkley gave me that idea. This gives the "braced" look, so you would just want to use a single foot guide.

I've used single foot guides for tip tops on some spinning rods (amtak needs to widen their range of tip tops) . One particular Rainshadow I built last year caught a ~50# red drum on the first cast, and several more the same day. I was worried at first too, but now I can sleep at night. :) Just wrap it on like any other guide. I've also taken "three leg" guides (NSG style) and bent the single leg back over the guide, wrapping one on top and one on bottom of blank. I believe Mike Barkley gave me that idea. This gives the "braced" look, so you would just want to use a single foot guide.

Clyde,
I can't take credit for that one! First time I heard it but it sounds neat. I can't quite picture it, though. You should post a picture

Mike

I have used the TPST tops on 12 weights, although I agree they don't look like fly rod tips. Because they are titanium, however, they are relatively light for the size. I recently purchased one of the Titan fly rod tips from American Tackle with a size 8 ring, and it is braced like the TLST. Unfortunately, it is made of steel rather than titanium. I have not weighed it yet, but I would not be surprised if it is actually heavier than the TPST.

[www.fishingphotos.net]

Here's a pic of one Mike, needed another coat of epoxy before the pic. This is the rod that caught the big drum on the first cast. Wish I could put that kind of juju on all my rods! :)

Hey Clyde,

That's one of the coolest ideas that I've seen in a while. Love it!

Mike