I am considering a RS 908 fly rod for medium SW fishing inthe NC sounds and Ches bay.

I have built several rods, but never a Fly rod.

I like the Black that you get with the Alconite, so the Stripper guide most likely be the BLNAG16J...

From there, I have no idea where to go..Snakes ? concept fly type guides ??

Any help with a guesstimate of snake (or ring) guides sizes and numbers would be greatly appreciated....POssible a small comment on two vis-a-vis snake vs guide would be cool too...

BTW, I finished a Loomis P842GL2 for Small mouth and U/L SW fishing...

inna word:

LUVIT !!!

Thanks Folks..

For the 8 wt you are going to build I would suggest the ceramics of your choice. Snakes these days are generally for traditionally build fly rods (esp. bamboo) and very light line rods; 3-4 weight and under. If you need help with sizing guides and spacing, there are lots of charts available from many on the sponsor list and manufacturers themselves also publish their guide sizes and spacing recommendations. Do a search on this site for the snake vs. ceramic discussions...you'll be reading for days.

Tight Lines,

Tim

Most of the rods I build are fly. I have never done one just for salt , which brings up the whole corrision issue.
Don't do snakes unless the customer really wants them. For distance single foots ar ehte way to go.
I did just finish a 12' spey with Alconites and a concept spaceing that shoots line about a mile.

Since your running and Alconite stripper I's just run BLAGs of the right size for the rest.

I'd start with a size 12 stripper ceramic guide (most common stripper size), then 10 and 8 on the butt section. Tip section (assuming it is a two piece) BLAG 8's , 7's, or 6's all the way out to the tip . BLAG size depends entirely on the terminal tackle, the size knot you tie, and how it passes through a particular size guide. I'm guessing 7's or 8's if a 7 passes your knots well then slap in a BLAG 8 in front of it, in the same vein if you were to use 6's then one 8 and 7 would preceed it. I'd run 10 guides min.+ the tip; BFAT with a ring sized to match the guides that lead into it.