I had an idea to try snake guides on a bass rod (except for the stripper ). I mentioned it to someone at the big show and he didn't think it would work well. I would like for some of you folks to weigh in on the subject so I can determine whether or not I am a fool before I give it a try. I might add..... it would be spiral wrapped and the snakes would all be on the bottom. All input will be appreciated. Thanks in advance...

Steve Buchanan

Steve's Custom Rods

It will work, but not as well as other guides types. What are you trying to achieve? With mono and braid, you may find that most snakes guides are short lived and will groove far more easily than even a cheap ceramic guide.

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WHY? Why would you want to do this? I can't see an advantage - only drawbacks.

I've seen it done by guys who take their rod/reel combo weights seriously, but they are also replacing guides all the time. They use only one coat of varnish on their guides and they never have to worry about the wraps durability as they last longer than the guides do.

He is thinking! Probably wants to deal with weight reduction and increased sensitivity for some bass fisherman who wants a magic rod that floats in space suspended in helium and has vibration enhancing chambers. Steve, I am also guilty and searching for the magic bullet. I do not think snakes are a viable answer. I put some wire guides on a sacalait (white perch) jigging pole and the braid quickly ate them up.

Can't imagine any advantage at all.

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!!

I just can not see snake guides holding up to tossing and winding in line very long. I would try low profile, double foot ceramic guides instead.

I can't see any advantage to using snake guides on your bass rods. If weight is that big of a concern, there's another good option.

If you're really that interested in saving weight, use Fuji TLSG single foot ceramics as your running guides. You could use sz. 6 running guides (which are easy to get ahold of), or if you really wanted to go the extra mile, you could use sz. 5.5 or 5 guides. Skip all double foot guides, and just use the TLSG style, with a TLSG10 for your butt guide, a TLSG8 (or 6) as the bumper guide, then TLSG6s the rest of the way out. Watch very closely during your static distribution test, and only use the guides you need, no extras. I've used this approach on all my bass rods, and they're as lightweight as is possible. Further, the single foot guides are plenty durable enough--I've not had any problems, even on larger, heavier powered rods.

I would think that depending on what applications he was going to be using the rods for he might be able to get away with the LSG's down to the 3.5's... I have seen a few of our sponsors that are carrying them. I am not too sure if the 3.5's would be heavier than the Titaniums... don't have any in hand to play with at the current moment.

May just be another option to look at.

Tom Kaufmann
GySgt USMC