Hi guys
What would ya all consider the hardest or best material on the single foot fly guides. They are out with all types of coatings ??
Thanks

Do you mean just wire like snake guides or frames with ceramic inserts? What weight rod?

Tim

Single foot wire fly guides or the snaks. They are out in many different platings. Is the hard chrome still the only way to go or are the other platings any better ? Thinking of doing myself a 3 wt.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/2005 10:07PM by bill boettcher.

I'm sure others will disagree (what a country!) but I think good 'ol chrome would be just fine. In general, you won't be booming out 80 foot casts or hooking up with steelhead on a 3 weight, so friction and excessive wear should not be an issue. Chrome can stand up to many years of 14 inch trout and saucer sized bluegills. However, the gold or black coated ones will loose their color on the inside of the loop over time. Keep your line clean and that too should take years. I won't comment on recoil or titanium guides because I have no experience with them. You know this board, I'm sure someone will chime in...

Tight lines,

Tim

OOPS! Single foot...less wrapping, but do a locking wrap for insurance.

Tim

With all the " pretty " colors that are out I thought I could get pretty and hard at the same time ??

less wraps less weight, better performance, always a locking wrap

Just wondered if any materials are harder then the chrome ??



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/2005 10:35PM by bill boettcher.

I'm currently doing a Spey rod on a blue Batson blank. I'm trying out the blue snake guides. It should look snappy. Mostly, I'm curious to see how well their coloration holds up. Also, I want to try the multicolored (mirage? holographic? I forget the name) ones. They look cool too. I'm just afraid I wouldn't know what color to wrap them with. Is there a thread to match them?

Blue ?? LOL Try some test wraps with an extra guide Check the photo page for ideas



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/2005 10:52PM by bill boettcher.

Yes, blue! They match the blank beautifully. I'm going to couple the snakes with black strippers that have blue ceramic incerts. I've already got part my color scheme set for the blue guides, a blue and silver trimar thread with a yet to be determined solid trim wrap. Maybe another blue or perhaps a black...when I get the trimar I'll do some playin' around. I will also be experimenting with my first feather inlay; 4 thin, white/black grizzly hackles at 3,6,9 & 12, wound around the blank 1 turn each. I'm excited to start...just waiting on that darn trimar thread! I just don't know what I would do with those other guides (if I ever get them). They claim to change color as the light hits them. Maybe some pearlescent thread would look nice, that changes with the light (sort of). Oh well, boys with toys...

Tim

So what is the hardest material on single foot wire fly guides ????

There have been some posts on this in the past. I think the RECs are the hardest. Not a coating, though. Tom should know. Don

I would think Cermet.

I like the REC recoil single foot guides a lot for a light rod like a 3 wt. What I really like is a combo, with about 3 or 4 REC single foots at the top and some sort of ceramic from there down.

No one ever mentioned hardness of the coatings on the wire or snake ?
Like these [www.fishpacbay.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/21/2005 03:13PM by bill boettcher.