Went to a yard sale. Saw a rod from the old days, built by a place I knew very well, Uslan Rods. A spinning rod with what I always called "Foulproof" guides. Look like they were cloned and are now called Recoils. Certainly, Recoils are made from better materials but what is the fascination?

They're not really as similar as you think, although the idea behind the design is somewhat the same.

The Foulproof guides were made of light monel wire. The long leg design made them very flexible and the light wire made them reasonably light compared against most steel guides of the day. They weren't terribly durable, however, and generally saw use on ultra-light to light power rods. The REC Recoils are also flexible, but quite durable. Unlike the Foulproof guides, they will recover to their original shape after being deformed. They are also much, much harder and more resistant to wear.

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Tom, thanks for the sanity check.

A similar type of guide was developed for ulua fishing and they are still in use. The main feature is their durability. They are made of either stainless steel or titanium. Here's what a tackle shop has to say:

"The original "Hilo Guides" were introduced to Hawai'i in the 1940's by Sumie Tokunaga, founder of S. Tokunaga Store. These flexible, durable stainless guides were designed to replace the old "boat style" guides. Grandson Michael Tokunaga, avid fisherman, custom rod builder and present owner of S. Tokunaga Store still sells these guides. "Hilo Guides" have a more weather-resistant surface and a higher frame for greater line clearance. Copied by many but still the best!"

Hilo refers to the city of Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Don Becker

I'd sure like to see REC make the Recoil guides in the shape of the old foolproof guides. I build quite a few flight spinning rods, and I think the shape would work well with braid. I have a bunch of rods with the Recoil guides, but I've always liked the look of the foulproofs. I suspect braided lines would eat them up though......

I'd sure like to see REC make the Recoil guides in the shape of the old foolproof guides. I build quite a few flight spinning rods, and I think the shape would work well with braid. I have a bunch of rods with the Recoil guides, but I've always liked the look of the foulproofs. I suspect braided lines would eat them up though......