Just noticed on J Stockard's site that the recommended guide sizes go up by one size when using single foot vs traditional snakes. Interesting, is this a common practice? Have very little experience with single foot guides.

Thanks, John

JLS Custom Rods
Cassadaga, NY

Snake and single foot guides are not sized the same way.

Phil or anyone

Any specifics available? Is one #size larger for SF guides a good "rule of thumb"?

John

JLS Custom Rods
Cassadaga, NY

Use the smallest size that will pass your largest knots without interference. I use #3 ceramic single foots on my 4 and 6 weights with no problem but I believe i used a #4 ceramic on my 9 weight. Snake guide are sized completely different and I don't think there is a reliable rule of thumb.

Bruce

John,
Toward the bottom of this PDF actual guide sizes are shown for snake guides and ceramic ring guides.[merricktackle.com]
Like others have said, use the smallest guide that will pass your connections, cottonwood fuzz on the line, reduce ice formation if you fish in the winter, etc...Spacing charts often list sizes that are bigger than required, because they are trying to cover a broad spectrum of situations. A sz 3 ceramic may work great, if you tie your leader on with a nail knot, and fish in warm weather with no clingy debris on the water surface. I have found that for my purposes, a size 6 ceramic works great. It allows me to use a loop to loop connection. It will pass the late summer vegetation that sometimes sticks to my line, and ice doesn't form as quickly as it would on a smaller guide.
Also worth noting is that a snake passes knots a little easier because its shape. For instance, a size 1/0 snake, works about as well as a size 6 ceramic for passing connections (IMO).

George Forster
Fort Collins, CO



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/19/2011 10:34AM by George Forster.

George

Thanks, useful info

John

JLS Custom Rods
Cassadaga, NY