I'm going to build my first fly rod for a customer and I'm wondering if one type of guide is preferred over another. My customer is going to use this rod mostly for bass in MN, Wi waters. He also is not a stickler for rod details and may not know any more than I do on what to use. Right now we're considering a couple of double foot guides for the front end going to snake guides the rest of the way which is how one of his current rods is assembled.

So...... no big deal or is one type really better for response, distance and weight.


thanks,

larry

my personal opinion is that single foot CERAMIC guides will outperform snakes for shooting line.

I fished in SE MN for a couple of years with a 9'9" 6wt SCIV from St. Croix. I liked it a lot and had built it with single foot snake guides. In retrospect, though, I think it might have been even better with some of the AmTak Titan or other lightweight ceramics.

St. Croix's recommended spacings are pretty good, and if you've got a Legend Ultra or Elite blank, I'm pretty sure they're spot on. Now some guys would say that you should run the static test (described in the library above) and I do it on my blanks, but if St. Croix has already done the work for you...

You'll probably want something like this:

#16 double foot ceramic
#12 double foot ceramic
#8 single foot ceramic
#7 single foot ceramic
#6 single foot ceramics out to the tip
#6 ceramic tip

If you're going to go with single foot snakes,
#16 double foot ceramic
#12 double foot ceramic
#6 single foot snake
#5 single foot snakes to tip
large loop tip


Scott Kinney
The Longest Cast Fly Rods
[www.thelongestcast.com]

Do the test, you can only make a better rod. It is quick to do

I go with the smallest guides that will do the job, for bass where your not trying to pass shooting head loops like steelheaders use. I can usally get away with #16 stripper, #12, 4,3,2,2,1,1,1,1 in single foot snakes, this puts you very close the the ring sizes on the ceramics listed above.
A trick I picked up for LM bass is a full sink line fishing the bottom, short leader to a floating hair bass bug. Used it at a few sportman shows and have had bass that won't hit the gear guys stuff really lay into this. Have had fish completely out of the water before they release the hookless bug. Homer Circle showed it to me years ago in Florida.

Wow, Lots of ideas on what to do. Thanks. Now, I saw some posts for a size 12 or so stripper, maybe a 10 next, and then down to 3's the rest of the way. Seemingly the progressive size reduction is a method that looks good and is done that way because "thats the way it was done". I think one of those posts was from Tom.

I admit I haven't a clue but will look at the suggestions I have and figure out something from there. Guides, tape and test....

Oh heck, time for another Scotch.


larry-rigged Custom Rods.


:-)

It's a bass rod - use Ceramic ring guides, more durable.
Snack guides are for light weight 4 and under fly rods.
IMHO [www.willierods.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/2005 08:00AM by bill boettcher.

I don't think I could bring myself to use anything except ceramics on a 7 weight or heavier. I just finished an Amtrak Matrix 8 weight and used only ceramic spinning guides. I don't have an even semi-good place to practice casting at my house, but I was able to lay out 60+' of line without much effort, no tamer guide and no double hauling. I think the ceramics make for easier casting, although I don't have any objective measurements to support that..