I am building two 9 wts. for saltwater use. I am thinking of starting with a size 16 stripper, a 12, a 10 and 8's the rest of the way with a size 8 tip. I like the Fuji alconites with the stripper being a CLNAG. . I have noticed that GLoomis uses 20's and I believe 25's on some of their rods in the Recoil type guides. My preference for the alconites is purely cosmetic. I would like to start with a size 20 but it is not awailable in the CLNAG guide. What do you opine?

Go for it. That combination sounds good. I made one with that variation of strippers but used 3 each 8s and 4 each 7s, but after I finished it, realized that I could have used 8s all the way. IMHO, and I'm about to try it, is to go with 7s all the way. I know that some people like to use a 20 for the first stripper, but I haven't found the need. Just my opine.

Ellis,
Use the V Frame Fujis for your strippers and you'll achieve the exact same effect as an N frame 20. What youre after is the height, not the diameter necessarily. And, there is not a doubt in my mind that you could use 7's out to the tip and not lose anything at all...except unneeded weight that is! I fished an AllStar Austin 10/11wt last year for Tarpon, and it had 7's on it, and it was really a nice feeling rod, plus I think the smaller guides look better anyway.

My setup for the 9wt would be 16V 12V 10 8 7 7 7 7 7

You may be able to eliminate the 10 and go straight to the 8 and 7s out to the tip. I am convinced that the "oversize" guide fad has been just that...somewhat of a fad. It might give you a bit moreroom for the line to move around, but too much room can cause excessive slap. And the bigger guides add more weight anyway.

Get taht sucker wrapped so we can hit Christmas Bay this spring!


Andy Dear
Lamar Manf.

Thanks guys. Sounds like I am on the right track. I can spend days trying to decide how I am going to wrap my rods. If they were for somebody else they would already be wrapped. Andy, I am tying some Wobbler Spoon flies for our up coming trip If you can think of any other flies you want to try let me know. By the way, the 7 wt. that I got from you is a beauty. I know that I will fish that rod more than the nine.
Cheers, Andy