I was talking to a friend who's opinion I value and trust (he runs a very successful flyshop) and he told me something that got me thinking. He had used a friends rod that had been built with single foot ceramic guides though it was only a 3 wt. (I think it was a Winston). He said he could cast it further than the factory version because of the ceramic guides. I don't know that I've ever seen anything smaller than a 6wt with ceramic ring guides. Maybe I haven't been paying attention.

Are ceramics better for casting performance even on lightweight rods? I haven't checked specs yet (if they exist) but was of the impression that the ceramics added weight which would have a magnified negative effect on rods this light. I am interested to hear replies because I have a 4wt blank in hand for which I need to select components.

Guide to line friction on the cast isn't high enough to change overall distance by more than a few inches. If the rod casts better than the factory version it's going to be due to something else. By the way, your friend "said" it would cast further than the factory version. Are you sure it actually will?

As far as ceramics go, they're wonderful. Carefully selected and used, they don't add much more weight and they do bring a host of other desirable attributes to the table. But increased casting distance isn't necessarily one of them.

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Can you elaborate, Tom? What enhancements can I expect if I were to decide to put ceramics on this 4 wt?

The line will pass through the guides much more quietly. The guides will never wear nor groove. Your fly line will last longer. Under drag pressure the line will pay out more smoothly.

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be careful You can add some weight to the rod
Single foot wire even recoils will be lighter then I believe even Ti ceramics Minima's may be nice

In a 5 - 6 hour day I will clean my line and dress it to keep it smooth at least 2 to 3 times Also depends on the quality of line used

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/14/2011 05:23PM by bill boettcher.

I got tired of trying creamic running guides on fly rods - even up to 11 wt one-handed rods and 12 wt two-handed rods. They add a lot of weight - especially if you add a ceramic tip-top. I am talking of Ti SiC Fuji's here, which are the lightest. Yse, they are everything that Tom says they are - but they kill performance. Now I am talking running guides - not stripper and 2nd two-footed guide.
Maybe the friend likes the feel of bamboo or glass rods in his graphite rods - because that is what you will get.
Herb