Hi All,

I read on a post a while ago that mixing snakes and single foot guides on a fly rod can change the rods action, but I can't seem to find the post.

I was just about to wrap a MHX #7, 4 piece rod, but after another test cast this morning, I felt that I would like the bottom third of the rod to be slightly stiffer. I would like to experiment a bit before I wrap.

The guides are 16,12,(wire SF 3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3),T, and the top two sections have a guide on each ferrule.

Could someone explain how this works, and the Pros/Cons associated, or another way to get the desired action.


Thanks,

Richard

No, you cannot change the action (where the rod initially flexes) with guides of any sort.

You cannot make the rod, or any portion thereof, stiffer by adding guides. Any guides will soften the rod and reduce its speed (reaction and recovery time).

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

Richard,
I've mixed snakes and single foot guides for several years.
I prefer snakes over single foot but like to keep the tip of the rod lighter without the second wrap required on snakes.
For this I switch to single foot light wire titanium.
It's not as much a function of attempting to stiffen the rod as it is to increase the rods reaction speed by reducing tip weight.
All guides add weight to the blank reducing rod response. The tip is especially susceptble.
The rod deflects from tip to butt and straightens from butt to tip.
The weight reduction at the tip lowers the amount of torque required by the caster as well as making the tip more responsive.

Eugene Moore

I must have read it wrong.

Thanks,

Richard

Tom......thankyou......finally some sense........the more guides the softer the rod..........i build ulralight game rods and the less rollers i use the stiffer it is ..comments of adding more to stiffen it up annoys the @#$%& out of me....
eyrerods.com.au

Would I be better off reducing my guide numbers from 10 to 9.

If this felt better, would it it put undue stress on the rod when fighting fish.

What about moving the stripper guide up towards the tip. What, if any effect, would this have?

Thanks,

Richard

Do it and then Test Cast it to see if it changes how it casts Check for the line slapping the blank if you bring the stripper up farther

Bill - willierods.com

Richard,
If you want to drop 1 guide not a problem.
If you intend to fish light line drop 2 guides.
The load on the rod or line is at the mercy of the angler.
Even the addition of several guides will not stop a rod from breaking from abuse.
If you fish heavy line and are concerned over the rod breaking, point the rod tip directly at the line and pull with your free hand.
No rod stress.

Eugene Moore

Eugene on the #7 I will be fishing a 7 & 8 line as well as a shooting head. I am not targeting a specific fish, but I do and hopefully intend to come up against larger specimens.

I will probably use less guides on the Dancraft #2 I will start after I fish the #7.

Would 8 guides on the #2 then suffice if the static test agrees?

Thanks,

Richard

Richard,
The conservative rule of thumb is one guide per foot plus one plus the tip top.
In my book this applies if you plan on loading the rod heavily with stout tippet.
In general for fresh water, where water clarity controls tippet size I'll build with one guide per foot.
If I want casting performance and am willing to sacrifice loss of fish fighting ability at peak loads I'll drop to one guide per foot minus one.

Conservative build 9' rod 10 guides (Heavy build)
Performance build 9' rod 9 guides (Medium build)
High performance with reduced load 9' rod with 8 guides (Light build)

I've had very good acceptance using high performance builds where the fishing required very accurate casts with light tippets.
Midge fishing is very technically challenged and is enhanced with this type of build.
You really can't apply much pressure with hook sizes smaller than #20.

How much pressure is applied to the blank is under the control of the angler. Much of my fishing is "Catch and Release". I don't require trophies and if the fish "Win" sometimes that's quite alright. The "Fun" for me ends when I can get the fish to take, after that I've released too many trophy fish to be concerned with a "long line" release. Allows me to make another cast and perhaps entice another fish to the take.
Match your build to the technique and style you wish to enjoy.
Enjoy yourself. Walk on new soil and learn what you're capable of achieving.

Eugene Moore

Eugene,

As soon as the rain stops, I will do some more testing and see what results I get.

Thanks again,

Richard

I have had st croix 2 pc 9 ft 7 wts with single foot wire guides as runners and it cast excellent
Single foot guides have less weight for the rod to handle because of only one foot of thread and finish
Titanium single foot fly's and Minima's are also some thing to conceder

Bill - willierods.com