SPONSORS
2024 ICRBE EXPO |
Newer guides?
Posted by:
Travis Thompson
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: March 15, 2016 08:32PM
Seems after being gone for some time things have changed a bit in guide options. I dont remember what I used to use but many of them were Forecast. Its very had to decipher what is a good guide now days. I build mostly bass and walleye rods. Could someone point me in the right direction to a decent guide. The descriptions of all of them make even the cheapest junk guides sound awesome. Re: Newer guides?
Posted by:
Herb Ladenheim
(---.lightspeed.wepbfl.sbcglobal.net)
Date: March 15, 2016 10:27PM
Nothing comes close to Fuji. Each one is like a little piece of jewelry.
I can't see doing all that work and hanging on guides that are less then 100%. Herb Re: Newer guides?
Posted by:
Hydra Fishing, LLC
(---.lightspeed.tukrga.sbcglobal.net)
Date: March 15, 2016 10:51PM
The days of one good guide company are really over. There are several good options actually.
Just being biased, I think you will find that Kigan is also a very formidable brand - now used on St Croix, Dobyns, Kistler, ALX Rods, Airrus, Greys, Hardy, Harrison, Loop, and several other smaller manufacturers/brands. It says a lot when Kigan is the guide of choice on St Croix's top end saltwater rod models. Hydra Fishing, LLC Online: [www.hydrafishing.com] Facebook: [www.facebook.com] Email: info@hydrafishing.com Re: Newer guides?
Posted by:
Randy Kruger
(---.cbpu.com)
Date: March 16, 2016 12:02AM
Throw American Tackle in the Mix with the MicroWave guide family, the guide system that changes everything. Re: Newer guides?
Posted by:
Thomas Kaufmann
(---.direcway.com)
Date: March 16, 2016 08:32AM
my choices are the Alps from Batson, Kigan's, Fuji and then Pac Bay. I have noticed a small weight advantage going to Batson's over Fuji (I compared the Y style spinning frames). I didn't have any of the Kigans so I cannot comment about a comparison. All of my Kigan's of that style are currently on rods. I've used the Minima 4's on many ultra lights and a couple of ice rods, and they work great for that. I've got Microwaves and they are OK and I also have the Airwaves that I DON'T like one bit ( they look like a cheap stamped inadequate item), the Minima 4s IMO are a much better guide.
Tom Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/16/2016 09:43AM by Thomas Kaufmann. Re: Newer guides?
Posted by:
John E Powell
(---.dynamic.wnyric.org)
Date: March 16, 2016 08:58AM
Comments deleted Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/2016 04:48PM by John E Powell. Re: Newer guides?
Posted by:
Dean Fowler
(107.77.94.---)
Date: March 16, 2016 11:01AM
I would have to say the Microwave Guides by American Tackle are my favorite. They are excellent quality. We are gaining distance and accuracy with these guides. Re: Newer guides?
Posted by:
Phil Ewanicki
(---.res.bhn.net)
Date: March 16, 2016 11:14AM
It is difficult to find a really bad rod blank for sale today. Maybe if you did an exhaustive search and bought the cheapest one available? I suspect the same is true of guides. We rod builders tend to be obsessive. Component manufacturers are aware of this. Re: Newer guides?
Posted by:
Herb Ladenheim
(---.lightspeed.wepbfl.sbcglobal.net)
Date: March 16, 2016 11:49AM
I agree with using Snake Brand Universal snakes. BUT - I wish Mike would shape the feet thinner and sharper. I use "00" and "000" thread to wrap my runners on all fly rods up to #10. I get a much lower wrap profile and lighter weight doing so. I also like the way it looks better.
I don't like to file the feet removing the coating and exposing the SS metal and inviting corrosion. But the "00" and "000" do not ride -up the feet well on the un-prepped feet. Mike insists that his commercial accounts do not feel it is necessary. Re non-Fuji ceramics. I have found that some have "spurs" of ceramic material that ruin fly lines and don't feel like continually running nylon stockings through rings to find snags. Herb Re: Newer guides?
Posted by:
John E Powell
(---.dynamic.wnyric.org)
Date: March 16, 2016 12:45PM
Comments deleted Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/2016 04:48PM by John E Powell. Re: Newer guides?
Posted by:
Donald La Mar
(---.kya.res.rr.com)
Date: March 16, 2016 04:36PM
Travis
You can add me to the growing list of Snake Brand devotees for snake guides. Both the Universal and the Lite Wire Universals are terrific. Re: Newer guides?
Posted by:
Travis Thompson
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: March 16, 2016 05:31PM
I think Ill try some Microwaves since its something I have never tried before. Any advice on them? Re: Newer guides?
Posted by:
Wes Motsinger
(---.triad.res.rr.com)
Date: March 16, 2016 06:06PM
Microwaves will come with the guide spacing from the reel for the first 3 guides. After that set the runners for what the blank needs and do static test to make sure of savings. After that you will have the best guides money can buy. Enjoy. Re: Newer guides?
Posted by:
John DeMartini
(---.res.bhn.net)
Date: March 16, 2016 08:08PM
Travis
I'll add to the pot, I like the Minima 4 guides by Pac bay. They take an unbelievable amount of abuse, accept any type of line, light weight and functional. John Re: Newer guides?
Posted by:
Travis Thompson
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: March 16, 2016 10:35PM
thanks guys!! Looks like I have lots more research to do looking at what you ll are using. Building 2 new spinning rods on matching Castaway blanks Re: Newer guides?
Posted by:
Herb Ladenheim
(---.lightspeed.wepbfl.sbcglobal.net)
Date: March 17, 2016 07:48AM
Hi John P.
I am using 3/0 with #3 and #4 snakes. Perhaps you are using smaller guides and that is why you are having an easier time of it than I. Herb Re: Newer guides?
Posted by:
John E Powell
(---.dynamic.wnyric.org)
Date: March 17, 2016 08:06AM
Comments deleted Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/2016 04:48PM by John E Powell. Re: Newer guides?
Posted by:
Herb Ladenheim
(---.lightspeed.wepbfl.sbcglobal.net)
Date: March 17, 2016 10:12AM
Hmmmmm
Wonder if Mike changed the foot shape a little. Will have to get some new guides and try again. Hreb Re: Newer guides?
Posted by:
Joe Vanfossen
(---.rcm-wpa1.kent.edu)
Date: March 18, 2016 10:54AM
The guides available in the US market that I've tried are all fantastic, AmTak, Batson, Fuji, Kigan, Pac Bay, and Sea Guide. Each manufacturer has design details that are slightly different, and those subtle details affect my guide selection for various builds. I don't really think there are many guides available to the custom rod builder that are poor designs.
Sea Guide is definitely worth a look, if you have not tried them yet. As John noted, the weights are very comparable to guides I had on hand to compare with. I'm quite impressed. Re: Newer guides?
Posted by:
Phil Ewanicki
(---.res.bhn.net)
Date: March 18, 2016 03:00PM
Joe nailed it. "Feeling" the difference between different guides used on the same blank is completely objective until someone provides measurable physical data (proof) that one guide provides longer casts than the other. Until then only durability is up for grabs, unless you value hype more than performance. Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
|