I'm wondering if anyone has experience with the minima guides on a salt water fly rod . I'm building one (8wt) and thinking about trying the minimas for the first time. Do you like them, and how do they look on a rod? How do they compare to the standard insert ring single foot running guides (like the alps models) etc.? How do they hold up to the salt?

The Minima guides are light and work well. As far as durability ... in respect to wear from use and abuse, they do a good job. However, nothing is going to REALLY hold up to saltwater outside of full titanium alloy. They will work, they will "hold up" for quite some time - but they WILL eventually fail due to corrosion.

I have stripped plenty of guides from used inshore rods ... Fuji, PacBay, Batson and others. The ONLY guides that are truly reusable and are nearly indistinguishable from brand new - 100% Titanium Alloy.

I was under the idea that they are stainless steel with hard chrome inserts so they should hold up pretty well. But like Jim said anything you put in saltwater and do not take really good care of is going to reap the penalty of the salt at some point.

Before you wind minima guides on your 8 weight you might save time and trouble by taking the #8 or #9 line you plan to use, fasten a leader to your line (nailknot or loop), and see how well this connection passes through the tip-top and smallest minima.

What Jim saids.

Bill - willierods.com