I'm building a saltwater trolling rod. I've always wondered what the reasoning was for choosing to wrap all roller guides or just have a roller stripper and tip with turbo guides between. I
understand it's a possibility that if braid line is used it could flatten over time on regular guides. Is this all just preference? The rod is a stand up style.

The reasoning is

1) it looks like a higher class rod
2) the stripper/tip with turbos in the middle were something I believe the production companies came up with to cut costs and not have to use all rollers
3) the roller guides will improve line wear no matter braid or mono.

I actually recommend the turbo style guides over rollers in most cases due to the diameter of the braid and possibility of it jumping if any slack is given and getting caught between the roller and the frame. That = lost fish. With ringed guides, that possibility no longer exists and your fish fight is safe(r).

That said, if I'm using ringed guides on a stand up style rod, its Nanolite or SiC and nothing less as most of my standups are for tuna and the heat buildup a lesser guide can accumulate during an explosive run can be detrimental to mono, and I'm honestly not sure on the braid, but I've watched mono melt and split at a hot guide (std alum oxide).

Thanks Sean. Any MFG recommendations for the guides? Mostly, all my trolling or stand up rods are also for tuna.

hard to beat aftco bigfoot rollers. years of proven durability. i will admit the stuart guides look pretty cool, but i have no clue as to their reliability.

that being said i do not have one trolling rod on our boat with anything but roller guides. my belief is that i'd rather be over prepared than under prepared. that's why we pull big 80w reels even if we are not billfishing. never know when that big one is going to strike.

I have a differing view than Lance. I like the fight more, and generally use nothing over the 50# class.

Your size of fish will really determine which way to go. 100# class and under go with the ringed guides by any of the known manufacturers.

If you want rollers generally use Aftco for rollers and the HDs are more than enough for my personal needs.

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the comments. I'm in San Diego, so most of my tuna fishing is in Baja. The tuna are average of 40-60 pounds. I do go farther south into Mexico so the chances of bigger fish do exists. I just want to be prepared for the reel I may use on the rod whether it have just mono or backed up with braid.

Phil:

Your best bet is all rollers for a trolling rod. It will handle braid and mono equally. And will not wear the line down nearly as fast as a ringed guide (remember the adage: "the wheel is better than the sled"). Little is saved by doing a hybrid system, with a roller and tip, with ring guides in the middle, a concept which started to come in in the mid 1970's.

One point of interest is that when trolling the line is actually see sawing against the guide at all times as it stretches and contracts, creating wear on both the line and the guide. Full rollers address this issue .

That said, there have been many tons of fish caught over the years off the SoCal boats on straight (chromed) ringed rods well before rollers became commonplace, but why bother with that when you can be so better off with the rollers.....

Now, there is an exception to all this: If you are panga fishing in Baja instead of going off a long range boat, lotsa folks use just ringed guiides because of durability and their big rod will also be used to bottom fish.

Oh and if you do go with the rollers, the "HD" are the SoCal Standard, not anything larger. They will handle up to 200 lb spectra and any loop to loop connections with ease for those toads off the lower banks.

Whit

Whit,
Now were talking! I didn't mention the style of fishing except for trolling, but you hit the nail on the head with the Panga fishing! I do have three other trolling rods with all roller guides that's why I was undecided. I will be going south to Loreto and East Cape and you really don't need the rollers in the Panga's for bait fishing. The choice, besides the rollers, were the Fuji "HB" series new concept turbo guides. They have the silicon nitride ll rings, and I know they handle braid really well. Thanks for the advice.

Phil,
I have had several clients who had saltwater all ring trolling guides and came to me to change the guides to a roller stripper and roller tip.
The reasoning was that this is where about 90% of the wear occurs. They would have preferred all roller guides but to save cost, they just asked that the butt and tip be changed to rollers.
Very satisfied with the results.

In a new build they will generally request all rollers.

Take care
Roger

Thanks Roger, I think I will just wrap the rollers to play it safe.