I have seen many arguments about snake guides vs single foot ceramic. From your experiences, which should I use for my Dan Craft ft1008-4. --My biggest concern is being able to pass the BIG KNOTS on my 15 ft multi tip--. Thanks

On an 8 wt? Ceramics.....Ceramics.....Ceramics! (might I recommend the Forecast line?)

Unless your going 4 wt or below (and even then according to a lot of the guys around here) ceramics....and single foot ones...are the way to go!

They are quiter and slicker.....and on an 8 wt you'll never notice the small wt difference.

I have Forecast ceramics on my 9 ft 7 wt FT. The handle the loops on my Airflow milti-tip without a bit of a problem.

Keith

I have #7 gold zirconias on my 8 and 10 weight FTs. No problems with the Rio braided loops on the old Dredger line...wouldn't have any problem at all with welded ones.


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

I reccomend Fuji Alconite Fly guides. Ralph

If at first you don't succeed, go fishing, then try, try again.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/2005 05:48AM by Ralph Jones.

I would echo earlier comments...go with ceramics. Most folks here seem to agree...4wt and under, snakes, both single foot and double foot are fine, but 4wt (the "swing either way" weight) and above, ceramics are recommended. Don't get me wrong, snakes are ok on all rods, especially if cost is a factor, but the rods will perform better with ceramics, especially in the heavier weights.

Tim

The Fuji Alconite fly guides are very nice. I just finished a 5-wt. with them, and it's a dream.

-Nick Dazer
Portland, Oregon

All of my 7 wt's and above have ceramics, but to go against the grain of the above comments

I've found the American Tackle lineup to be the best for me and my company.



Good Wrappin !
David A. Fuller,
Great Basin Fishing Rods
Full-Time RV'r Traveling- n- Fishing
www.mytripjournal.com/FullersBigAdventure

If I am to use ceramics, then what sizes and how many should I use for the ft1008-4. Keep in mind, I will use is for two handed spey type casting and also one hand. I've heard that a 10ft rod may only need 8 guides, is this true?

Depends on the flex of the blank. get at least two extra, also one smaller and larger on the tip tube size to be safe.

I have built an 8wt FT with ceramics. I'm careful with my knot size and almost always use loop to loop connections. I used down to a size 6 on mine but if I were to do it over, I wouldn't go smaller than an 8. Usually tip tops are available in a 6 or an 8.

I have a friend that has wrapped a few rods for me and sold me on the idea of all ceramic several years ago. I have an 8' 6wt L.L. Bean rod I have had for years that has snake guides. I had not fished it for at least four years. After a few cast , it seemed to shoot line better than my ceramic guides. I started taking a closer look and it raised a few questions. Here they are. Why is the stripper guide on the Bean rod closer to the forward edge of the cork than on my 7'9" with all ceramics? Also noticed that that the spacings on the ceramics were closer thus more guides. Also noticed that the I.D. of the ceramics seems to be much smaller than the snakes. With all that said, would having more guides for the line to travel through and the smaller I.D. of the ceramics not offset the advantage of their slickness? I am having him build me a 4F9011.2 St. Croix saltwater rod that will not be used a great deal and am wondering where to go with the guides.

Steve