My current project is the pursuit of a perfect winter time trout (the speckled - spotted kind ) rod; I plan to use the Batson RX8 782 6'6" blank (if it is not too stiff) with a simple spiral. I had planed to use recoil guides simple because of the weight, but now I as starting to wonder if I would get better casting preformace by using conventional Ti guides with an insert. Anyone have an opinion?

If it is a rod for winter fishing you will have an issue with ice on any guides. I like the American Tackle Ti guides ( price ) but they are nice. I don.t really like the re-coils. Just me ?
I think you will get better performance with any ceramic guide, other then metal.

Thanks for your reply. We don't really get ice down here, but I am starting to lean towards a normal guide.

Unless you are fishing structure, you might want to look at a longer rod ... something along the lines of a 7'0" popping rod in a 3 power.

As far as the guide selection goes, I would most definitely encourage Fuji Titanium SiC over anything else for inshore use.

The only experience I've had with recoils is being asked to remove them from rods and put ceramics on in their place.

Thanks for your replys yall have confirmed my thoughts.

I had low frame Recoil spinning guides on a flyrod. VERY FLEXIBLE! They worked fine for fly fishing but I would NOT utilize them in a spiral wrap because ANY Torsional pressure on the guide (twisting) will be very evident - especially if you use single foot guides for your transition guides. I would definately go with the ceramics for your application. The American Tackle Titans are even less costly than the Recoils!

How hard are you on your rods? If you're really hard on them, I'd put the Recoils on. They are nearly indestructible and weigh less than the AmTac Tis (I'd give you exact weights, but I forgot to weigh the single foot size 6 Recoils I used last week). That being said, I personally prefer the AmTacs because I don't like the "noise" you get with Recoils. Most of my customers prefer the AmTacs, but I have 2 that want Recoils on everything.

I take good care of my rods as far as bumping and beating; however, my current crop are showing sings of use. The guides have rust marks that run down under the epoxy, the blanks are starting to look bleached and they have never been just what I would call perfect. I am not in love with the recoils as every one else around here seems to be, they are all the rage at the moment. I ordered some Ti tonight I may just wrap both and fish a few time and see what I think.

Recoils are not a big weight savings over TiSiC. At least in the double foot casting versions that I've weighed. TiSiC's are often times lighter. I've redone several Loomis BCR's and compared the weights of those guides to the same size TiSiC.

Personally, wouldn't touch Recoils with a 10 foot pole. Got burned the first time I used them (they grooved on the customer rod) and I won't use them on any of my personal rods. I'm not one of the guys around here that is in love with them.


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Better to have and not need than to need and not have.