If I am to use single foot ceramics guides on my FT1008-4, what sizes should I buy and how many. This is for a multi-tip line with big knots. I plan to fish the rod for spey style casting and also one hand. I've heard that as little as 8 guides should be used, is this true? and also what type and size of tip top? Thanks

#7 sf ceramics and tip, forecast zirconias work well, i have used 9 guides.

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

Should I use a #16 and a #12 stripper, with 7 of the same size #7 sf ceramics plus a #7 ceramic tip?

Here is the guide spacing I used on a FT1010-4 built as a switch a year ago. I used Forecast zirconium single foot guides that I got from Dan when I got the blank. I use a Delta Spey WF 10/11 line and the rod will cast 80 feet single handed and over 100 feet two handed with no problem.

Butt section: no guides
Section 2: 2 guides
Section 3: 3 guides
Section 4: 3 guides plut the tip-top

Spacing measured from the tip: 5-5/8 19 29-1/4 39-1/2 49 59-1/2 74-1/2 87-1/2

Guide sizes: 6 6 8 8 8 10 16 20

I would highly recommend temporarily attaching the guides and then test casting the rod with the reel and line you plan on using a number of times to determine the final spacing.

If you want you can use 9 guides but I found that 8 was plenty.

Bob

I cannot believe that rod hasn't blown up on you Bob...doesn't that Airflo run about 700gr?

I had a Windcutter 7/8/9 on mine which seemed WAY too heavy at 525gr, went to a 5/6 and 390 and still think that's a lot of load when really smacking it. It seems happiest for me with a 300gr head on a Rio Dredger running line, which probably makes about 340 total...throwing that around 110' single and 100' double (still don't quite have the double distance line management down).

Says a lot for Dan's rods that you can cast well with a 700 and works for me with 340...and a true 10 weight line is 280!!!

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