Hello all,

A friend has asked me to build him a 6 weight with alconite guides but i'm not sure which size would work best.

Does anyone know what would be the smallest size running guides you could use with 6 weight, weight forward line?

thanks,
Tom.

Ask your customer what type of connection he/she will use to join leader to line. Nail knots will be largest, needle knots slightly smaller, co-axial braided mono loops smaller yet. It's hard to guess the diameter of welded loops. The rush to micro guides on a #6 rod is a bit difficult to understand. Shoulder fatigue and maximum distance casting are not big issues for the great majority of situations in which a #6 weight rod is used. To err a few thousandths on the big side with guides on a #6 weight rod probably wouldn't upset anyone except a full-tilt fanatic.

If it is a soft blank I would not go ceramics A fast should be able to hold them But you are talking extra weight ?

Ti guides or Minimas

Knots if he can not come over and show you his knots - then have him do one and send it to you Not the whole line just the knot Then you can see if it goes though the ring

Bill - willierods.com

Thanks for the input.

If not Alconites, what size Minimas would be recommended?

Thanks for the advice, I'm still new to building fly rods.

Tom.

Tom K knows these guides better then I Ask him I myself would think them or wire

But this also depends on what blank he is going to use. A fast blank could hold the ceramics better then a Mod blank IMHO The lighter the better !!!

Bill - willierods.com

Tom,

Try Minima size 10 stripper and size 7, 6 & 5 single foots. Not sure if the size 5 will accommodate your knots(ID=4.5 mm) but the foot width of the size 6 exceeds the blank diameter near the tip of finer diameter rods. Guess you can grind the foot width if you need to use size 6.

Regards,

Craig

I just put minimas on a 5 weight for my uncle and i used size 5's. The 4s didnt pass the connections that he uses very well.(welded loop) Just for reference, a size 5 minima has a 4mm opening, and a size 6 alconite has a 4mm opening. Again check your connections and see how small you can go and still pass then to your satisfaction

Tom,
Unless you are trying to slow the blank frequency down you are unlikely to find guides lighter with larger openings then single foot wire guides.
Use a larger titanium single foot wire and you will increase blank frequency, feel and sensitivity without the concern for passing loops or poorly tied knots.

Eugene Moore

Hello all,

Thanks for all the information. Lots of food for thought!

best,

Tom.