I am building a #5 9' fly rod as a present for an admin of one Finnish fly fishing forum. I want the rod to be as good as I can make it to be. The blank is Winston's Boron IIx according to the admin's wishes.

I'm getting some of Andy Dear's high end cork and burl for the handle. The reel seat will be the same as in the original factory rod with Winston engraving on it.

Now I'm pondering which guides to put on it. Since the budget looks pretty good I've decided to give the Fuji Concept Titanium Sics a go. The runners will be #6 TLSG's and strippers probably a #12 and #8 TLNSG - does it sound ok? How ever the tip top is causing me some problems to decide since they do not have titanium framed concept one. Should I get the Concept TFST although not titanium framed (?) or TLST with titanium frame?

Cheers!

I'd use the TLST.

MIKKO - According to the Mud-Hole Catalog 2005, page 59:

The FUJI "TITANIUM CONCEPT SIC TOPS" TFST is listed as a TITANIUM guide frame, and has arms positioned at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock (high arms).

The TLST is listed as their FLY-rod Tip-Top in this Titanium-frame, SIC-ring category.

For Fuji's Titanium frame, Silicon Carbide Tip-Tops, the smallest rings for TPST (regular frame, arms medium height at 8 o'clock + 4 o'clock position) or TLST (fly rod frame, NO ARMS) are 8mm and 7mm, respectively. ...

FUJI "TITANIUM CONCEPT SIC TOPS"
TFST-6MM-__/64ths inch Tube Size: $8.20 ... From the photograph in the M-H Catalog, this Concept frame for the SiC ring does not seem to hold the ring off the tube quite as high as the Alconite-ring Concept-frame Tip-Tops.

TFST - the Concept frame tip-top - rings in 6-7-8 MM - $8

TLST - the FLY rod frame tip-top - all rings 7 MM - $11

TPST - the SPIN/CAST frame t-t - all rings 8 MM - $11

Mikko,

I have a suggestion to you in this case, you've seen my rod I showed to you at Kotka and I have used different Fuji's sigs in that. I's say go for following setup

Strippers Fuji SVSG #12 and #8 (sizes are as you set)
Runners Fuji TSG 1 x #7 and rest #6
TipTop Fuji TFST with 6 or 7 size ring (I've been using TPST for my 8wt rods)

You could also think set up like #12 & #10 strippers and the singlefoot #8, #7 and rest #6's

SVSG is a bit higher and "slimmer" and looks better when mounted at rod in my opinion.

Give me a call Mikko and let's talk more of the guides. I also need to talk to you about blanks....

Cheers for the tips lads! :D

Thanks for the good info Cliff! Yes I noticed that the TFST is listed as a titanium famed tip top by the M-H. Though I find it confusing how Fuji lists the concept tip tops if you look at their page at [www.anglersresource.net] . The subheading written with blue text does not say that there are titanium framed concept tip tops. However the TFST is listed to be titanium alloy framed. If you take a look at the other concept SIC guides the titanium framed ones are clearly listed as solid titanium framed ones. Here [www.anglersresource.net] . Doh - I am confused! LOL! :D Perhaps I should write to Fuji...

I'll call you Antti.

Mikko - It does look confusing. But I think that the left-hand column is speaking in general terms about the characteristics of the overall Concept Series Guides. Fuji did not match the text to the Table of Tip-Tops. By looking at the Tables, we see:

For Fly, Casting and Spinning Rods
TITANIUM ALLOY FRAME: TFST-MM-___/-64ths inch .

Fly Guides
SOLID TITANIUM FRAME: TLSG-MM-___/-64ths inch .

IN THIS CASE, Don't let the description at far left confuse you about the TABLE of Guides and Tip-Tops. Look at the Header description in the Table for the correct information on the guides listed in it. ...
Take Care, Mikko. -Cliff Hall+++

I'm not seeing the problem here. Titanium alloy is basically titanium, there's just some other elements too. Like carbon steel (iron alloy) has iron and carbon.

If you get ie TFST5(4), you get a titanium frame, 5mm diameter ring and the tube's inner diameter is 4.1/64 inches.

Cheers,