I have edited most of the text from this "Ask the Pro" at Scientific Anglers Web site. Any Comments ?

Q:Do snake or single foot guides offer advantages for a bluegill rod?

A: I would use one stripper guide and the rest snake guides. Single foot guides have more resistance, lines don't shoot as well through them.

When someone makes a comment like that, you have to wonder if they have ever tried a quality ceramic single foot guide.

The earliest ceramic single-foot guides where very heavy compared to their counterparts today. But I still know people who tried them 25 years ago and still think that today's guides could not possibly be any different. Most of the people who continue to spread the various myths about ceramic guides have never used them. Or at least have not used good ones.

The advantage to using quality ceramic guides lies in the total "package" - better longevity, less line wear, resistant to wear and grooving, less weight (in many cases) and better line shooting.

Whether or not they are for you is something you have to decide for yourself. I'd suggest trying a set and see how well you like them. It should also be said that snake guides and other metal ringed guides are not inherently bad - they're certainly not. They have done the job for many years and work just as well now as they did when introduced.

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Shaun,
Yes, it goes with tradition in some cases and with improvements in materials also.
Just to add to the above of what Tom and Dick say, but in the area of some new things to try out, there are lite wire snake guides now available that you might consider for you light bluegill rod. The advantage of these over regular snakes is the flexibility and light weight, less bulk for an ultralight.

As for going the 'non tradition' route, how about the new single foot fly guides now available in lite titanium alloy frame with the super smooth zircon/tigold or tich ring which compare very favorably with hardness of SiC? These have an appealing cosmetic appearance and highly functional in other ways for shooting the line through.

We decided to offer the two choices in addition to the traditional chrome (now super hard chrome) snakes and even the 'ordinary' ceramic single foot fly guides that have been around for some time.

It's a matter of a lot of choices really. Chevy, Ford, maybe even Cadillac??
The joy of rodbuilding.

Rich
Richard's Rod & Reel

Personally I would not build a rod with snake guides and my own rods are built with Fuji single foot SIC. I am waiting to find a blank that I feel like putting the titanium cermets on. I posted this to show what type of information is being presented by the "pros" on a web site of a reputable contributor to the angling industry.

PS. I have never been near a blue gill. Is that the same as a sun fish ? :)

The bluegill is in the sunfish family, as are the smallmouth and largemouth bass. If you've never caught one - you should. They are tough characters and a 1lb bluegill on a 3, 4 or 5 weight fly rod is a blast!

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I live in the Deep South and am only able to swing one or two trout fishing trips a year. I do however fish for the "Mighty Gill" at least twice a week. Pound for pound as good a fighter as there is. As Tom said, If ya haven't....you should.

jim

You can get by with almost anything, but there are only advantages to having better equipment. As long as I am able to afford it, I will use the best I can get my hands on. Life is too short to have to 'make do' unless you have to. Ceramics for me all the way!

In the words of that fishing and rod making sage, Mr. Veque Sprinkle, "A poor man can only afford the very best".

Give that some serious thought. He's right you know.