Hello,
first post here... i will be building a glass fly rod and want to use double foot snake guides. There are just so many choices, brands, materials, etc., in a wide variety of prices ranging from $.65 to more than $2.00 apiece for snake guides... what is the difference in a .65 cent snake guide versus a $2 one? do the expensive ones really perform better? For those of you who use snake guides, what do you choose for your rods, and why?

I find that the very cheap ones are not as well finished (the feet) and not as consistent in shape and alignment of the feet. Having said all that, you should know that I only build fly rods and have gone over almost exclusively to single foot guides.

hear good things about fuji alconite SF guides, but am looking for a more traditional look. thanks for your reply-- re the foot shape/alignment of less expensive snakes, i was not aware of that.

My favorite is Snake guides, hard, beautifully finished with guide feet and a shape that needs no work before wrapping. Hopkins and Holloway guides are my second choice for many of the same reasons.

All depends on how much you want to spend. Me I go for the hard chrome.

Bill - willierods.com

Patric,
I use only REC recoils. I used to use only s/f recoils for their lightness and only one wrap. But I tried their snakes on a couple of rods and like them a lot. The wraps on a snake are shorter than on a s/f and the profile is a little lower - so IMO the weight is about the same. And, due to the "side-door" effect, the snakes have about 15% more room for the line to go through. I am using them pretty extensively now.

Also - the REC recoils in either s/f or snakes will never corrode. The chromed ones do and the guide will ultimately have to be replaced. It makes me cringe to look at my Burkheimer customs with corroded guides erupting from the thread finish.

Herb

You are a builder, replace them

Bill - willierods.com

the hopkins and holloway are nice guides and i used to use them quite abit until i have settled on using the single foot minimas. I only use snakes if a client wants them

I use two brands:

Snake Brand - In my opinion these are the best snake guides available today. The bottom of the guide foot is radiused to match the curvature of the blank and the feet are perfectly ground so no additional prep is needed. The downside is the cost...

PacBay Light Wire snakes (XSNLG) - These are the lightest traditional snake guides available (as far as I know). Very thin wire, nicely shaped feet for little or no prep. They are very reasonably priced. These I use for my lightest rods.

I do not use the REC recoils even though they are the lightest available guides and do not corrode. I have used them on several builds and my client's complained because, for some reason they make a LOT of noise (they "sing") when the line pulls through them...several of them have asked me to replace them because of this, so now I just don't build with them.

Walt Natzke
Ripon, CA

What type of Wt. rod are you building? I use nothing but single ft. inserted ring guides now. I would get the best guides you could afford. I would do a comparison manufacture check list first. No matter who you talk to, each of us have a favorite

Good Wraps Bob

Walt,
I took a look at the "Snake Brand" giudes and like the look of them. Have you weighed them on a digital scale vs the recoils??

And, does the stainless steel discolor with use in saltwater?? Do you have any idea what formular SS they use??

I will contact "Snake" but I thought I might get faster ans. here.

Herb

BTW - REC Recoils really only sing - and they do - when the line is dirty or dry - or both.

Herb,

I don't build for saltwater (yet!), so I have not needed to address the issue of discoloration.
I doubt that they are as light as the recoils...

I'm sure Mike or Susan will be able to answer your questions though.

Their contact number is 360-666-9928.

Walt Natzke
Ripon, CA

Walt,
Thanks.
Herb