I am building a heavy 10 weight rod for saltwater fishing. I want to use a large 20 stripper guide and end up with size 8 fly guides with Fuji silicon carbide titanium frames. They don't make a
TNSG with a 20 size ring. Should I use the TSVSG 20 for the stripper guide and work my way down to the size 8 fly guides? I thought about a TSVSG 20, TSVSG 16, maybe a TSVSG 12, and then
something to make the bridge to the TLSG 8. The guides are too expensive for me to buy a bunch of extra guides to experiment with and I may not build a heavy rod like this again. Thanks for any help.

Hello Lee-

You are on exactly the right track. If Iyou want to use the Titanium framed SICs, I'd use the TSVSG 20, TSVSG 16, TSVSG 12, TLSG 10J, to TLSG8Js out to the TFST8 with a tube to fit. With 9' rods, I have had excellent luck with 7 #8s for 11 guides plus a tip top. I know that is slightly more guides than conventional wisdom but it works very, very well for me. Let me know if you need the spacing I typically use.

Here's one other dirty little secret...I've had saltwater fly rods in use for nearly ten years with chrome framed Alconites with zero corrosion. They aren't titanium but they work if you rinse them after use and before storing them. So, if you go that route you can use a CMNAG20 and then CLNAG16, 12, 10 etc. HOpe this helps. Good luck and tight lines.

Bill

Lee, Bill, Why use such a large stripper guide?

Greg

You don't need so many guide sizes. The line path will be straighter and smoother with fewer guide sizes involved.

Try the TVSG 20 (I"d use a 16) and then a 12 in the same style and then move right on to the TLG8's.

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Tom,

Would it be better to use the TVSG 16 than the available TNSG 16 if I don't go with the size 20? I always thought a heavy rod in the 10-12 weight would perform better with a larger size 20 ring. I should probably try both the TVSG 20 and 16 as suggested in your book and test cast to see which works best. Thanks.

Yes - the higher frame tends to reduce line slap against the blank and allows you to do the same job with a smaller ring.

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lee loux Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Tom,
>
> Would it be better to use the TVSG 16 than the
> available TNSG 16 if I don't go with the size 20?
> I always thought a heavy rod in the 10-12 weight
> would perform better with a larger size 20 ring.
> I should probably try both the TVSG 20 and 16 as
> suggested in your book and test cast to see which
> works best. Thanks.



Lee,

I wouldn't bother buying both since they are pretty expensive. You can try the same style in an alconite or an aluminum oxide guide. Or, you can just go with the TVSG 16 and be done with it. I doubt you'll see any casting or fish fighting performance difference. About the only thing I can think that the 20 would give over the 16 is if you had a tangle in the line. Then you're only delaying the inevitable for 12" before the next guide. Also, my SCIV 9' 10 wt has V style guides and I went 16/12/10(tamer) then single foot wire 6's to the tip.It will bang out over 100' of line all day without problems.

Thanks
Rick