I've built (3) fly rods with Forecast sf guides and really like them. The first one was with hard aluminum oxide rings, the other (2) were with Zirconian coated rings (one was for my son and I haven't with fished my other one yet).

I'm going to build a spinning rod for Salmon on probably the Rainshadow HS1021F blank. A set of (9) Forecast VSLG guides and tip top with hard aluminum oxide rings are going to run just over $8 altogether. The same set up with Forecast LTCVSNG guides and tip top run a bit over $67. I realize the LTCVSNG guide frames are TiCh coated but to go Salmon fishing a few days a year (and I'll probably use my fly rod most of the time) what difference am I really going to see for the extra $59 difference in the guide rings on a spinning rod that I'll probably only use from the boat? Thanks.

I doubt that the difference would be felt (Don't everyone jump at once!) Todays guides are ALL capable of handling pretty much of whatever you want to throw at them. The zirconium rings are a little harder and slicker, but, IMO, any of them will work just fine. You just have to decide for yourself if the difference is worth the price.

Mike

"I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me - I'm Retired!!!!!"

Tim,
I would say that the salmon rod you plan on building, which the blank you picked is an excellent blank, now for the guide to pick it all depends on how much fishing you plan on doing and how big of a fish you expect to get into. I know on the bigger fish when they make their runs there is alot of friction and you may want the zircoinia coated rings as appose to the hard aluminum oxide ring. I would either email Josh, Karry, or Bill up at Batson as they live up in that country for the salmon and can guide you in the right guide you will need. I myself would probably do the zirconia ring.

Neal's Fishing Products
www.nealsfishingtackle.com

Hi Tim,
I prefer the zircoinia rings for salmon, or any big fish. I use alot of braided line for salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon and have not had any problems with the line grooving the rings.
Hope this helps, Mike

Braide line won't groove a quality AlOxide ring either,

Mike

Hold on there cowboy,

I am confused, I thought a "zirconia ring was 100% ziconia and then it was coated with a hard chrome, Titanium Nitride (TiGold), Nickel (black), etc. If the "zirconia" ring is simply a coating of zirconia, then what is the ring made from and why coat the ring with a second coating? I also thought that zirconia was a cubic form of zircon, a mineral used as a gem. If there any of you folks can enlighten me, please send a note to me at mickgylblm@earthlink.net. I will be much obliged. Thanks.

Mike Blomme

Tim,
If you use the concept system to build that rod, those TiGold guides should only set you back around $36 at the most. (Smaller, cheaper guides) Looks like your planning for a "line of flight system" which always costs more, weights more, doesn't cast any better, and takes some of the sensitivity away. There is a article in the Library explaining the concept system.

Another thing I always now use the Fuji Concept guides for the transition guides from butt to chock only because I beleve they are the only ones that give the correct size ring at a very good height for this.

The Baston catalog has a page about the Forecast Guide Ring / Frame Materials. Here is a link to the online version: [www.batsonenterprises.com]