Hello all,

I spent this weekend fishing for steelhead in the rain and was frustrated by my line tacking on to the wet blank. The rod I built had fly guides as the running guides. It worked fine when casting spinners/spoons but was terrible for float fishing.

Does anyone have any recommendations for some guides which will keep the line away from the blank but are still fairly light to keep the blank performance up?

thanks,
Tom.

One candidate would be the Fuji Alconite K-series spin/cast guides. Has anyone tried these?

thanks,
Tom.

Tom Lusis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One candidate would be the Fuji Alconite K-series
> spin/cast guides. Has anyone tried these?
>
> thanks,
> Tom.


Yep-I've used them a bunch and really like them.

If you want to keep the line off a spinning rod, use the Pac Bay Match guides.
Although tall, these are very light guides and work very well for this application.
I would doubt very much if you would have any issues at all with the line sticking to the blank.

[www.mudhole.com]

The chrome guides are fine and have no wear issues with the lines that are commonly used for Steel Head fishing.

By the way, if you wanted a set of match guides, let me know. I ended up with too many of these guides on my last order, so I have some extra ones. Just drop me an e-mail -
hflier@comcast.net



Roger



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/14/2012 07:25PM by roger wilson.

Thanks for the input.

Drew, have you used them for a steelhead rod? I'm trying to decide what would be the smallest size to use because later in the season things start to ice up (i'm in southern Ontario)

Roger, I was using these guides as the butt guides. I'll take another look at them for the running guides as well.

best,
Tom.

Is this a casting rod or a spinning rod

If casting rod you want the guide rings to be close to the blank so there is less tourk to twist the blank
Which can be Spiral Wrapped
If spinning Get some thing that the ring is father away from the blank - A spinning guide Minima's come to mind Light - or you may need more guides on it

Did you Static Test

Bill - willierods.com

Tom,

I don't do much steelhead fishing, but the only time I ever have issues with the line wetting to the blank is when I'm using mono that should have been replaced some time ago. What type of line are you using? What model, and size of fly guide are you using for your runners? What is your current spacing? Where on the blank are you having issues with the line wetting to the blank? Tip, mid section, butt?

Depending on you current spacing and where the wetting issues are occurring, a simple adjustment to the spacing and the addition of a guide may solve your issues.

The K series guides or Z series guides from Kigan will sit slightly higher than the typical fly guide, but not much, depending on the model. Like Roger pointed out Minima guides might be the best choice for you. The SV frames will likely give you the height you and ring diameter you are seeking.

Joe

Bill, I must have missed your post when I read through the thread.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/14/2012 08:27PM by Joe Vanfossen.

double post



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/14/2012 08:26PM by Joe Vanfossen.

> Drew, have you used them for a steelhead rod? I'm
> trying to decide what would be the smallest size
> to use because later in the season things start to
> ice up (i'm in southern Ontario)
>

> best,
> Tom.


Used on 2 salmon rods with good results. I really don't deal with any ice, so hard to advise. The runners on my rods are 6's.

Drew

90% of my builds are float rods for steelhead fishing. If money is not an object, go with the Fugi Titanium TYSG's. They are strong and light. Else go with the Fuji CYAG's. For smooth transition I use the following sequence 20j 16j 12j 10j 8j 8j 8j 8lj 8lj 7j to the tip (the number of 7j's depends on the length of the rod). The transition from the 8 higher frame guides to the 8 lower frame then to the 7 higher frame is perfect. Many would consider it to be a non issue but since we build custom rods, it is our opinions that matter. Some prefer to run the 8's all the way up for icing purposes, but i like the sevens as they are only a tiny bit smaller than the 8's.

Hillsborough, NJ

Thanks for the suggestions.

I did a static test before the final wrapping and things were fine. The fly guides were a smaller size, i can't remember the exact one at the moment.

It is a spinning rod, built on a six weight switch rod blank. New mono as well.

On a side note, with the exception of the guide choice I was really please with the way the switch rod blank worked out. Plenty of backbone but nice and light. Best of all it packs up smaller than my traditional steelhead rods.

Being a spinning rod I am surprised the line is sticking to the blank
I have gotten Fuji Alconites and have seen them to have the foot come right off the frame holding the ring - no step up
then it also depends on if you make it - one guide per foot plus one
With the - step up - that holds the ring off the blank just that little bit and the guides at the 180 gravity tends to pull the line down Unless there are not enough guides

Bill - willierods.com

G Loomis and others have used the Pac Bay M guides on their 1141 steelhead rods for 20 years or so till Shimano bought them. Not sure what they use now, probably Alconites.
I added new, larger guides to some 1141s in MI back some years ago. If I remember right went up to #7 from 4.5s and changed the tip to a standard tip. Didn't change mine Blakemore Reel Magic helped keep ice off the smaller guide ehough to keep me sane.

You can use SIC MATCH model M for spinning rod

were in southern Ontario are you ,and were do you get your suplies

Hi Gordon,

On the outskirts of Toronto. I usually get things via Mudhole. There is another supplier in BC who I use on occasion as well.
Tom.