I'm going to attempt to build a short switch rod from an 8wt 10' 3pc Pac Bay Tradition II Blank. I intend to use a Rio Windcutter 6/7/8 for spey style casting and a WF 8 line for overhead on smaller rivers for Ohio and PA steelhead fishing. I think I want to use ceramics and have settled on the American Tackle titanium guides. There will be some sub-freezing fishing. I was thinking probably 7s or 8s as running guides and either a 10 and 12 or 12 and 16 as stripping guides and a 8 top. Do I need 2 stripping guides? Thoughts on the guide sizes? Any other advice? Would I be better off with RECOILS?

Technically you can only have one stripping guide - the first one. After that you just decide how many feet/legs the guides need to be tough enough for the expected level of handling/abuse the rod is going to receive. On an 8-weight blank having the first 2 guides doublefooted isn't going to hurt anything and can buy you a little extra durability against snags on the rod tube, etc.

I'd use a high frame 16 as the stripping guide, then a high frame 12 after that followed by the remainder in size 8 low frame single foot models.

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Thanks. After checking the wincutter 6/7/8 with some guides I have, 8 is definitely the way to go, espcially if it gets icy. I probably would be able to do 7s or prehaps even 6s if I was just using a WF8.