I'm going to build my first spey rod & want to use single foot guides. All the charts I've found for spey rods use snakes as their guides. What is the conversion?
Thanks in advance!

Tim

TIm-

What conversion information are you looking for? If you're talking about guide placement, figure the current measurements are on center. Make sure that you put the guides on those measurements and do a static test. It'll tell you what guides need to move and where.

Hopefully that was the answer to the question.

Domenic Federico
Infinity Rod Creations
Wickliffe, Ohio

Or did you mean guide size. A ceramic single foot size 6 (Alconite BLAGJ6 for example) has about the same size opening for the line as a size 1 snake guide or size 1 single foot wire guide.

Conversion from snake to single foot SIZE. Is there a chart or something I can access to convert my sizes? I need in SNAKE sizes; #3, #4, #5 (I'm going to stick to standard strippers).

Tim

Consider whether you really need guides with clear space openings as large as size 3-5 snakes. If you need openings that big to pass your knots and connections, then you will need probably size 8 ceramic single foot which equate to about the snake size 3 in opening size. No need to taper the sizes, use all the same size and use the smallest size you need to pass your connections. If size 7 will do it, then that will save you some weight and make your rod more pleasant to fish, although with 2 handed delivery you can more easily handle the extra weight of size 8s. So, you probably need 7s or 8s in ceramics if you have loop to loop connections and buy the lightest ones you can fit into your budget.

Steve,
This is my first spey rod, so I'm working right off the Sage charts for the guide sizes. I'm assuming that loop-to-loop connections for spey won't be any bigger than conventional ones. Interesting that you don't feel that I need to taper sizes down like conventional rods...BTW...Any thoughts on tip-tops? I was going to use a conventional large wire loop, ceramic ones always seem too small for my tastes.

Thanks again,
Tim

Tim,

Connection sizes should be the same. I don't think the running guides on any fly rod need to be tapered in size, conventional or otherwise. It's an aesthetic thing but I have never noticed any advantage and of course larger guides weigh more so why use them. I think if you are going for the benefits of smooth, quiet, durable ceramic guides, you should use a ceramic tip top to go with it in size to match your running guides. Many folks actually use a ceramic single foot as the tip top, secured with a Forhan locking wrap (see library if you don't know this wrap). It might be worth a shout to Bob Meiser, the king of spey and switch rods and a board sponsor. Chances are he has wrapped the blank you are buying and can give you some darn good advice if you are uncertain.

Steve

Thanks for the advice!

Tim