Hello all,

I would like to build a 9 foot four weight and was planning on using Fuji Alconites for the guides. Not sure if this matters for the guide sequence but the rod would be used 90% of the time for nymph fishing with an indicator.

What I was thinking of was the following:
SV 16,
SV 10
Blag 6
Blag 4.5 for the rest.

Does this sound about right? Any alternative suggestions would be welcome.

thanks,
Tom.

It will work fine, but you can drop the 6 and go right on to the 4.5's if you want. Putting more guide sizes actually makes a less straight line path.

..................

For a 4wt rod, I never go bigger than a sz 12 stripping guide. I personally use a size 10 most often. I have experimented a lot with different ceramic guides on my 4wts over the past few years. For Fuji Alconites, I would never use anything smaller than a size 6 blag. I have tried size 5's before and the line does not flow as smoothly as with a size 6 guide and top. I have actually started to prefer size 7 running guides and tops more and more. There is a noticeable real world difference in my experience between the 6's and 7's if you are wanting to shoot a lot of line in colder weather.

I also find that if you just put alconites on the lower half and use size 2 SF lite wire guides and size 7 alconite top in the upper sections, the performance is about the same as all ceramics, with a crisper recovery rate. I do size 10, 10, 8, 8, 7 a lot on my 4wt builds and people love the way they fish.

I would never go any bigger than a 10 on a 4wt build either. Only time I use a 16, is on my 7/8 or bigger builds.

Ron Weber

Why ceramic insert guides on a light fly rod for nymphing? Not shooting lots of line, basically lobbing an indicator. Single foot wire guides would reduce the weight and serve the purpose.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2011 11:35PM by Phil Erickson.

Thanks for all the input.

In light of the suggestions, i'll change the guide set-up and will switch to a size 10 for a stripper guide and try the single foot wire guides,

In retrospect that makes sense. As Phil points out, I am basically lobbing an indicator and am trying to keep the weight low.

Could anyone let me know the smallest size single foot wire guides to use? I'm not very familiar with the sizing.

thanks,

Tom.

It all depends on how big your knots/connections are. Size 1 in a single foot will probably work fine for a loop to loop. How long of a leader will you use? Will you need to pass the connection to retrieve a fish or just when stringing-up at the start of the day? If I had to pass a connection, while fighting a fish, I would probably step up a size 2. On the other hand, if you use a really small nail knot, you might get by with a 1/0 or 2/0.

George Forster
Fort Collins, CO

I would go with the #2 single foot in light wire this allows for a little more knot clearance and the weight difference between the two is so minimal as to be un-noticeable.

I have found the Baston guides so well finished they need almost no prep at all.

I built a 10ft 3wt nymphing stick a little bit ago and used the Minima size 4 and love it. very light.

Bob