Building a 9 weight fly rod and was planning to use the following guides:

T-HVSG16, T-SVSG12, T-LSG7 to tip

Just second guessing the 7's. Would 8's be better? Will be using an intermediate line, no shooting heads. I don't have a full set of both guides to test with. My thought was the intermediate line would pass through the 7's without an issue and would also keep the weight to a miinimum. Any experience/opinions out there?

Thanks,
Brian

When I built my 9, I used the exact set-up you're describing. I had no problems with passing the connections. That being said, I was using loop-to-loop connections, not actual "knots". If you're going to use an intermediate line, full-sink, or an integrated shooting head line, then you'll be fine with the 7s.

It probably will also work with an actual shooting head knotted to a running line. I've never fished that way, though, so I'll leave that to someone more knowledgeable.

Most likely 7's will work fine, but there is never any substitute for trying it for yourself.

Anyone who builds many fly rods should acquite a "test set" of guides. Inexpensive guides in frames and sizes that they normally use. Use them for set up purposes, and then order the guides you need in the ring quality you want, accordingly.

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You'd be suprised how much more reel space a 10wt line takes up than a 9 or 8 wt line on a reel, the core jumps from 20# dacron core to 30# darcron core going from and 7 to an 8wt fly line. A 9 wts is still pretty bulky, the line will pass through sz 7 ceramic rings easily, but what might not? is the knots you tie with and attach to a 9 wt fly line? I'd look at SF wire fly guides , for a comperable sized ceramic ring frame a SF wire fly guide has a bigger opening and is much lighter with the ceramic ring. Now if you coat this SF wire fly guide with a hard coating like Tich or TiGold, your slicker and harder than most ceramic ringed guides. I don't trust black guides to hold up to mono at least Pac Bays verson, I hear Bastons double black fin is harder but have not tried them.

Ceramic ringed 7's will most likly do, 8's for sure, it depends on your knots...want to go lighter=====SF Wrie fly guides. The only other consderation is icing possibilities and the frequencey you wish to clear it, bigger guides being less often. If strictly used in warm weather smaller guides will do that need only pass knots tied with your hand for that weight of rod

If you use a braided mono loop to connect your fly line to the backing make sure you use the 30# loop material. A nine weight fly line is about the maxium size you can use a 30# mono loop connector on before you have to go to 50#. The 30# loop a nine weight make for a tight fit but it'll work just fine if for some reason you go to a 50# loop a number 7 guide will be too tight a fit and you will have to go with number 8 guides to allow the connection to pass through easily.