Hi All,

I am getting ready to start a new project ( 9' 6wt ). What are the pros and cons on using three stripping guides vs two?

Thanks... Jim Hitt

HITTMAN
i use two all the time i believe the thrid is called a tamer guide.
joe.
smokin rods.

Technically, you can't have more than one stripping guide on any fly rod - it's the first one up from the reel. All the rest are running guides.

But like most, I'd take it to mean what are the pros and cons of using 3 ceramic ringed or non-snake type guides on the rod. No real disadvantages other than maybe a bit more weight, although it will occur low where the weight doesn't hurt much.

Generally, manufacturers have located ceramic ringed guides down in the power area of the rod, which is the lower mid and butt area. That's the area you must use in order to apply real pressure to a fish and therefore where the line will be creating the most pressure against the guides. Thus, hard and slick ceramics are generally used here, or at least ringed guides instead of snakes .On very heavy saltwater fly rods you may see 3 ringed guides here, while lighter rods only have 2. Very light rods usually sport only 1. It has to do with how much pressure the rod can generate and what the maker feels will be required to handle that kind of line pressure over the long haul.

I use ceramic ringed guides all the way out on my fly rods so it's a mute point for me. If you're building a rod with snakes or wire running guides, frankly I doubt you could tell any difference between using 2 or 3 ringed guides on a 9' 6-weight rod.

..........

Jim,

Tom covered it pretty well. I would only add that most stripping guides are two footed. For a 6 wt I would consider a size 12 or a size 16 in a Fuji pattern SVSG or NSG type of frame design. The NSG is a tad lower. Joe mentioned a Tamer guide. This in fact is not the third guide up from the handle but the second guide placed a short distance in front (Tip Side) of the actual stripper guide. This distance is typically about 4 inches. On a 6 wt rod you probably could get away with just a stripping guide, unless you are convinced that a tamer guide does give improved casting distance. I have an early Sage 6wt and 8 wt both fitted with only a stripper guide the rest on out are single leg ceramics and after 13 years and a lot of fish later everything is as it should be.
Two double footed guides on fly rods especially on lighter fly rods seems to be more asthetic driven rather than totally necessary to have.

That is my opinion and as always plenty of other builders here will probably disagree.

Regards

Mike O.