In the whole scheme, and practice, of this Alconite Concept Guiding therory; Has Fuji's specialized BU/CU-NAG BRIDGE guide become a vistigial part of this concept where spinning rods are concerned? I find and like running BL/CL-YAG's in sizes 25,16,12, 8 then go directly to BL/CL-LAG's in size 8, 7, then 6's out to a size 6 tip. The 8 -YAG to 8 -LAG seem to transition smoothly without requiring the BU/CU-NAG Bridge guide. Now I can adjust, if prudent, the high frame guide run, incorporating sz. 20 and 10 into the decending -YAG mix to lengthen it in order to hit my choke/intersecting guide in upsweeping stride.... Am I missing something or does this bulbous BU/CU-NAG Transitional Bridge guide not only look ackward in comparison to the style of guides bookending it, but is also basicly unnecessary? or are the BU/CU-NAG's meant to only bridge the double footed BL/CL-NAG to BL/CL-LAG which they closely resemble and share a similar MFG designation? ie..BU/CU-NAG : BL/CL-NAG...The Prefix BL/CL in the above thread indicates Fuji's offering of frame colors: BL=Black frame / CL=Chrome frame.

Wow I commend you for the Robin Trower reference! Bridge of Sighs is a great album!

And no I don't think you need to use the bridge guide if the others are spaced and sized appropriately.

Chris,

I agree!!! I think the "bridge" guide definately looks weird and out of place. I don't see the purpose of it at all (maybe someone can enlighten us) and never use one.


Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Transitioning guides and transitioning line are two different things. Toss the bridge guides, they are neither necessary nor helpful. If anything, they only upset the straight line path you're trying to achieve.

Guide makers offer far too many sizes of guides. Most of them are just not needed. I fear the day when makers introduce size 11's, 15's, 18's etc., - many guys will feel the need to use them just because they exist.

.......

Robin Trower ~ 1975? NYC, Madison Square Garden...
If am still here, I guess I survived.
Pioneer 626X - 30W-RMS + ADVENT Loudspeakers
Open the windows and play air guitar in the courtyard.
Fly in the window when the security cops come
... and bang, TURN IT DOWN!

FUJI Concept J-Series: B/C = Black or Chrome. A = Alconite ring. G = Guide.
B/C_YAG: Y-frame, Single-Foot, 2-leg
B/C_LNAG: Casting frame, Double-Foot, 3-leg
B/C_UNAG: U-frame, Single-Foot, 2-leg
B/C_LAG: L-frame, FLY Guide, Single-Foot, 1-Leg

Come to think of it, I don't think I have ever seen a BUNAG or CUNAG on a rod either. Lots of CLNAG, and many more BLVLG or CLVLG (Hardloy ring, Vee-frame, SF, 2-Leg) or B/C-NLG (Hardloy ring, casting frame, DF, 3-Leg).

B/C_UNAG: U-frame, Single-Foot, 2-leg ... PASSE

Yes, VESTIGIAL is an even better description. In fact, I think these U-frames died "in-utero", ... or never really made it into orbit in the custom rod market, not in my area anyway.

"The EAGLE has LANDED, ... " ... Robin Trower - Day Of The Eagle

"[Yeah], you really got me now,
you got me so I don't know what I'm doing.
... You got me so I can't sleep at night, ..."

... "Those were the days my friends, we thought they'd never end, ..."

... "Is that all there is? ... is that all there is, ...?"

-Cliff Hall+++



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/08/2006 12:09PM by Cliff Hall.

I can see this "U" framed Alconite sz 8 -NAG guide utilized as a weight saving addition to fly rods as the guide, next up from the Stripper, knowing full well there is some controversy in calling this 2nd ceramic ringed guide a stripper; not opening that can of worms. I Almost wish they made this -UNAG single foot "U" guide in a sz. 12 so I could use it as a stripper to save weight, then the flared support legs, might help gather/direct/deflect the slack shooting flyline in as it initially runs onto the rod and being wider somewhat harder for a loose loop to snare this guiding protrusion.
"Takers get the hard end, Givers sing the blues"

For future reference:
B = black
C = Chrome

UN = single foot 2 legs
L = Single foot

A = Alconite
S = SIC

G = Guide
T = tip.

It was difficult reading the post since you broke up BU-NAG. You cna just say the UN's or L's. imo.

Chris, I use on my spinning rods, sizes 25,16,10, 8fly, 7 fly, on to 6 flys, and 6 tip. They work exceptionally well for me, no noise, and no problems. I do the same no matter what guide brands I use, alconites, forecast, Amtak, Pac Bay. I gave up on the concept system because of the reels, they all seem to angle differently, and the choke guides never seem to end up where they should be. I can get good line taming on this guide type of setup, no matter the size of the spools, and what is to say that you or your customer will change the reel, and everthing is out of whack. I have bridge guides in my box, I just don't know what for? Just my two bits on the matter.

Wow! You have some book learnin' in your brain. LOL. Couldn't find '"vistigial" in the dictonary. The correct spelling of awkward is awkward. Anyhow, being a newbie, as they say, what in the heck is a bridge guide and what was your question? I'm thinking I could learn something, but I'm not sure what! Robin Trower! There's a name I haven't heard for awhile. Isn't he a 70s dude?

The original "Bridge of Sighs" is located between the Doge's palace in Venice and the adjacent prison. Saw it on a tour in 1992. You have to go to the San Marco square in Venice, Italy to find it. Like the reference, however arcane.

Doug Weber

Chris- dump all the Fuji literature on the concept sysrem and read the article in the library here on this site to see how to set up a much "better" concept system. It's easier and works tons better!

Chris- dump all the Fuji literature on the concept sysrem and read the article in the library here on this site to see how to set up a much "better" concept system. It's easier and works tons better!

Well Shawn, I've made several comparisons between Fuji's recomended spacing and the concept method from the library and I don't see any significant difference. It must be my poor casting technique that prevents me from being able to cast further with the library method over Fuji's. And since the Fuji illiustrations of more lightweight guides setting the hook and fighting fish better are ingrained in my mind, I feel I will be casting better whether I really am or not !!!

What an odd lot builders are! I wonder what other site includes:

Vistigial
Prudent
Bulbous
in-utero
Quotes from Robin Trower
cna - Spelling from the Queens
people who have spent time in Venice

All the above when considering where to place a funny piece of wire on a limber stick.

When considering that the task at hand is sniffing glue and twisting twine it really is an amazing webb site!

Gon Fishn

I take all the info in given here, there, and everywhere, extrapolate and adjust accordingly. I just used both frame color designations because they both come with this "U" bridge guide. I should have just used some generalities. I'm not locked into any particular guiding method persay..I steal from all. "Vestigal" is the correct spelling as indicated on the spelling-bee site, but I'm not logged onto that. Thank You for those who can bear with the inaccuracies of ignorance and still get the gist. I still like to use a size 8 to 8 when going from one guide style to the other as the 8 LAG reaches up a bit more and to excentuate this I often under warp just this one guide (taking the place of tags or a false underwrap) further heightening this guide .006" off the blank. Still think Fuji's "U"-NAG style bridge guide is best used and designed to follow the double foot BLNAG's but lots of things get drawn up on paper that are implimented differently in real life.

Those guide sets might look good in combination with each other, but they will not provide a straight line path. There is rarely any need to "bridge" between two guides - the line doesn't need it.

The Fuji recommended spacings are like all other generic spacing charts - they do not take into account your particular reel, line, handle, etc. Sure it'll work, but you can do better.

For reference, sight down through your butt guide to the choke/intersect guide. Where the rings in-between fall? Each one should perfectly and concentrically frame the one preceeding it. With many of the Fuji spacings, you have a roller coaster where the line cannot travel straight but most move up and down as it changes direction slightly at each guide.

.............

I've used the alconite bridge guides on fly rods. There's no real advantage to them over the fly type. They do look kinda' interesting (custom?). Most of the time, they look kinda' silly to me. I used them because I was building 4 or 5 fly rods at a time, all with alconites. I got in a jam and didn't have the right sized stripping guides in the other guide style, so I used the bridge guides. They've done great for a really long time now, and under nearly constant use. So, they are good functional guides for certain applications. Given the choice though, I just use the regular single foot fly guides.

Hi Steve! I was only kidding about the spelling and the message, although it is spelled "VESTIGIAL." I wasn't being smart, hopefully, a bit humorous. I'm not very smart, especially when it comes to building rods. Is there such a thing as a bridge guide or not? I'm still not sure about that thread. Maybe it is the fumes getting to my brain.
Respectfully yours,
Bruce