On light fly rods( 5 wt and under) is there a need for DF stripper(s). If locking wraps are used I can only see DF's to add more weight. Any opinions?

Scott

[www.solwaycustomcomponents.com]

The line will never have any idea how many legs are attached to the butt guide. If a single foot guide is sturdy enough for the way you handle your rods, use it.

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I build quite a few 3 and 4 wt. fly rods. On every single one of them, I use a LSG10 or TLSG10 as the stripping guide. I also like to use the YSG sz. 10 or 12 (or TYSG) when I'm building 6 or 7 weights that are going to be shooting quite a bit of line. The extra frame height helps to shoot line a little better, IMO. I've never noticed any negative aspects of using single foot guides as strippers. And, it's a lot easier (and better looking, IMO) to wrap just one guide foot.

I guess it's tradition to use double-foot stripping guides on fly rods. I'm not the one to comment on tradition, as I've only been building rods for 5 years or so. Realistically, though, single foot fly guides are so tough that I can't imagine the "need" for double foot guides.

As Tom alluded to, the actual need for double-foot has more to do with rod "abuse" than "use". If your rods will be sitting on the bottom of a boat, near your feet (or others' feet), then a double-foot guide might survive being stepped on better than a single foot guide.

I've seen a couple of explanations for using double footed stripping guides. One reason may be that the guide gets torqued/stressed from stripping, double hauling, and the line coming in at an angle. Another reason may be that the line is less likely to get wrapped around double footed guides, particularly if the frame shape funnels the line through the guide. I don't know if these explanations are true, but I have used double footed guides so far. The extra weight isn't much of a problem towards the butt of the rod.

It's certainly just tradition. Nothing to do with function.
I've put single foot strippers on all of my fly rods over the past year+ and haven't had any problems with wear from hauling etc., or line wrapping around guide. Not once.
IMHO, I honestly don't think there is ever a reason for double footed strippers or wire guides on any weight fly rod. Single footed with the "Forhan Wrap", no worries.

I use single foot stripper guides all the time with no problems. I have even put a single foot, size 20, on a 13'6" spey rod as the stripper guide...no problems. I will use a double foot guide if the client specifies it. I also use a line tamer guide on every fly rod. I like them and so do my cleints.

The blank doesn't know what type of rod it was sold to be, and the line only knows it is bound by the eyelets. Experiment. If you don't like it, cut it off and try something else.

It does offend some fishermen who are looking for a traditional appearance on their rods.

Joe Douglas