I wanting to build a fly rod and wanted your opinions on fly guides. Whats the difference when using single foot vs traditional snake guides, pro-cons?

Single foot equals one less wrap per guide equals less work and less weight.
Snake guides don't form ice as easily in the winter and they pass connections more easily than a comparably sized single foot.

George Forster
Fort Collins, CO

It would be helpful to know what size rod and what the fishing conditions are like where you plan to fish..

Personally, I like double foot snake guides for heavier rods and single foots for 5 wts and down. If the conditions are rough or a hike in through brush, then the snakes hold up better. I also like REC guides for everything, whether single or double foot.

For any given circumstance, it is hard to go wrong with double foot snake guides. They always work, which is why they are so popular.

Drew

It is really a matter of preference. I use only single foot guides. Single foot wire guides for rods up to 8wt and single foot ceramics for rods over 8wt. The primary reason is you have one less wrap, but I also prefer the look of single foots.

It depends on the size of the fish you anticipate catching. A 4X leader will part long before a fouled single-foot guide will be ripped off the blank. I have seen forham-wrapped single foot guides torn off blanks by a fouled line with a #15 leader. Double-foot guides are less likely to be fouled by an accidental half-hitch or a loop-knot. There's a reason for the overwhelming preference for double-foot guides on conventional big game rods.

I build only fly rods and use single foot exclusively regardless of the rod weight. Only when a client insists or I am building a traditional look bamboo rod do I use snake or double foot. There is a very definite trend away from snake guides on fly rods primarily due to the weight savings. The less work angle applies primarily to the builder, with the client getting some benefit if the less work translates into lowering the build cost.

The weight savings on the upper sections using single foot can be very significant!