I will be building a #16-18wht fly rod for Yellowfin and Dogtooth tuna. I doubt that I will be fishing within IGFA leader ratings. I used to use the Fuji LNSG-F series in 20 or 25's which had a thick flanged SIC ring that increased the radius at the imediate point of stress thus reducing the pressure and heat build up(in theory), but I can no longer get these. so looking for a replacement.
What would you guys recomend and why?
Thanks.

Earl,

The company I own specializes in this sort of fly rods. We have found after years studing the problem of heat build up at the stripper guides is to increase the heigth of the guide acorrding to the diameter of the reel to be used. If you are going to use a reel with a spool diameter of 4 inches or less you can get by with a high framed guide such as the Fuji TSVG or if money is not a problem the T1SVGG. If the reel is 4.5 inches or larger in diameter a size 25 high frame is called for. I have used a size 30 before on rods where the reel is 6 inches or more.
Big game fly rod design is not any different than any other type of rod used for this sort of application, most of the time the reel will dictate the size and heigth of the stripper or butt guide.
My best day for yellowfin was off Christmas Island. Three fish all weighed 60 pounds each, caught on a 13 weight with 20lb class tippets. Biggest dogtooth Townsend, Aus., 124 pounds, 16 weight with 20 pound class tippet. Good luck and good fishing.

Michael A Taylor
Bluewater Fly Tackle

I'd have to concur with Michael. The line only contacts the lower edge of the ring during outlay. So height is the real issue in that it will reduce the angle of the line as it leaves the reel and enters the butt/stripping guide.

I've always used high frame SVSG or TSVSG style guides for the stripping guide. I'm not sure what is available in that style with a heavy, thick ring. But height can be obtained by either moving to a higher frame, or a larger ring, or both.

If you can find any of the old Fuji SIC high frame surf HSVSG you might have what you're after. The ring is generous but not overly thick but I suspect it would be fine for what you want to do.

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