Hi all I am in the process of building a Rainshadow IF904-4 rod and I need help with what guide sizes I should be using I was thinking of going with 12, 10, stripper 4,4,4,4,3,3,3,3, is this ok or no I have had one suggestion of going with 5 - 1's, 2 - 2's, 1 - 3, 1 - 4, #10 TAMING, #12 Stripping or go with 6 - 1's and skip the 3, or 6 - 2's, 2 - 3's, 1 - 4. what would anyone suggest? also can anyone tell me what is ment by TAMING?
Thank you
Tyler

You don't need to use all the sizes just because they're offered. Skip the ones in the middle and get on down to the smallest ones you plan to use. So, if you use a #12 stripping guide, then drop to perhaps a 4 and then move to 3's the rest of the way out. You accomplish nothing by using the intermediate sizes between your largest and smallest guides, except to add weight that you don't need nor want. If you know the 3's will be suitable to pass your line connections (and I would think they would be) then just drop on down to 3's quickly.

If you install a second guide about 3 to 4 inches past the stripping guide, you may be able to tame some of the line overshoot that happens with very supple fly lines. This "tamer" guide is an addition to, rather than part of, the rest of the guide set up. This means that you wouldn't adjust the spacing of the other guides to accomodate it. Just set up your guides as usual, and then go back and install that tamer guide about 4 inches past the stripper. I suggest wrapping and finishing the other guides and just taping on the tamer guide. Go and try it with and without the tamer and see what you think. If you like it, wrap and finish it. If not, untape it and go on your way.

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By the way, make the tamer guide the same size or one size smaller than your stripping guide. No larger.

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