Looking for some advise, Building a Sage z-axis 6110-4 zx. I want to use Titanium snake guides. I've been told they will "sing" when casting and even when retrieving. Does anyone have experience with this? Will noise carry through the line and spook fish? Am I setting my self up for disappointment?

Rob

In my experience :-
Snake guides - not really
Single foot - can vibrate during casting & under load with a fish on but not significantly when working a fly

multi- spiral Spinning guides ( two wraps of wire to form the ring ) is where the 'singing' is experienced, from the two wires in the ring vibrating together.

DenisB

Hard to say. I have heard such things concerning the REC Recoils, although not as much concerning titanium snakes. The combination of your particular line and guide type can indeed create a slightly noisy situation compared to almost anything running through ceramics.

..............

Hi, Rob
Don't know about titanium Ihope they don't just built a 12 wt with them but REC recoils on a ro I just built do, very annoying.

Mike

Mikes Custom Fly Rods

As noted by Mike above, REC Recoil snake guides do sing.

Jeff

I used the REC Recoil single foot Ti guides on a Sage Z-Axis 4 wt and yes they do sing. But I found the degree of singing really depends on the line .. how clean it is, perhaps even the brand of the line. Personally the singing doesn't bother me too much especially when the rod cast so wonderfully. But if the snakes don't sing as much I'd probably use them next time. I doubt that it disturbs the fish.. I've caught lots of spooky spring creek trout using the rod.

Wayne

you're talking about titanium finish snakes right? i've never heard of full titanium snakes or single foot guides for fly rods. i've used titanium finished (coated?) snakes and single foot guides from batson, pacbay and snake brand and they all make a sound. all guides make a sound. the only thing one might be concerned with are the sound (many say though i haven't used them) generated from REC's recoil guides which are a "special nickel titanium alloy".

eric
fresno, ca.

I am using the REC Recoil RSF single foot guides and they do sing.

My NiTi REC's "sing." It's not too annoying for me and definately won't spook fish. I love how light they are on lower rated rods.

Rob,
They certainly do. Both single and double foot guides vibrate under load. The factory rep equated it to the vibration caused when a bow is pulled across the strings of a violin. (not quite that pleasant though).
The vibration is loudest when retreiving a fish under a tight line. Can also happen on double-haul when the line is pulled, if you put a pretty good bend in the rod.
Have tried wax ,Pam, Silicone, teflon spray nothing works.
Have suggested Recoil try a baked on teflon coating a year ago. To date still waiting.
Mostly occurs on softer coating fly lines.
If this is offensive go to a stiffer line 444 SL .

On my custom rods I prefer to define the sound as a "large fish attractor" and charge $ 10 extra! If they request the higher pitch for the really big ones it is $ 25 additional. If neither of these marketing concepts works tell them the sound is specially tuned as a repellant for Deer Flies, Gnats and Misquitos.