Im going to use Minima 4 fly guides with Tich finish. Im running out with either 5's or 6's. The Tip Top XP4XT comes in Chrome what would be a good subsitute? Both the Chrome and the Tich start with a 6 ring and my tube size is a 4,5. I like the TT to be the same ring size as the first running guide thanks



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/08/2012 12:05PM by Maryann Cohen.

Maryann: I am in the same boat. I wanted to go with a size 5 Minima 4 fly guide, but couldn't find a Minima 4 tip top in a size 5 ring. I am not familiar with the XP4XT TT. I would really like to find a Minima 4 size 5 TT in black and chrome for my new fly rod.

Mike Bradfrod
R.M.B. Fishing Rods
Nampa, Idaho

Batson's XTCPPCT06R05.0 tips are pretty close
or you could go with titanium tips

Mike the xp4xt tips start with a ring size of 6.

Marryann:

Can't find them in the current Pac Bay catalog. I did find them on line. I am doing a 9' 5 wt fly rod and a Batson SB740-4 spinning rod and am using the Minima guides for the first time. I just don't know if the size 4 rings in the Minima guides will work with the 5wt fly rod. I also want to use the black and chrome Minima 4 guides.

Mike Bradfrod
R.M.B. Fishing Rods
Nampa, Idaho

Maryann,

Here are a few things from my experience that might help. When working on bass rods with micro guides, until recently smaller tip tops with bracing and designs that could take some abuse were not available, it wasn't uncommon to use a braced 6mm tip top with 3mm or 4mm micro running guides. The larger tip tops were more durable than what was available. Even with smaller tip tops now available, it's still advisable to go to the 6mm top when designing a rod to be used with heavy mono or fluoro (15lb or larger). In the smaller tip tops, the heavier line doesn't exit very well and can pinch as it makes the turn away from the rod. With that said, those issues may or may not be important in your fly rod building.

Something that may be of interest. I've often noticed that tip tops are designed so the ring sits closer to the blank and that the ring is angled away from the blank. Both result in pulling the line closer to the blank. You can get a straighter line path in that last segment by going to a slightly larger diameter ring in the tip top, say a 6mm tip top with 5mm running guides or a 7-8mm tip top with 6mm running guides. It may seem a little counter intuitive at first, but can have its merits if you consider the option of going to a slightly larger tip top.

I hope this helps a bit.