I have a Rainshadow 5wt blank. It calls for a 12 and 10 stripping guide. Has anyone substituted the 10 stripping guide for a snake guide like a 6 or 5?

After a #12 a snake 6 seems big for me I use a 4 after a #12.

Two different approaches.........traditional would be the 12 followed by the 10 then the running guides of your choice, the second is to go directly from the 12 to the running guides. My preference to go from the 12 to a size 8 single foot wire guide and then to the running guides. More for appearance then performance!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/15/2019 07:16PM by Phil Erickson.

I'm with Eric, a size 6 snake is a whopper even after considering not all 12 mm strippers are the same.

Just finished a 4 weight with a low, 12 mm agate stripper and a size 2 snake worked well.

A 12 mm stripper and a 10 mm stripper seems to me to be stripper overkill for a 5 weight.

Lefty Kreh and other accomplished fly-casters have used the thumb and forefinger of their stripping hand to form a circle around their fly line just after they released it in the cast until the fly lands. This not only "tames" loops in the line entering the guide train but also gives the caster immediate control of the line and the fly as soon as they land - no more groping around for the line. This technique also allows you to employ a smaller, lighter stripping guide with no loss of distance.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/15/2019 07:29PM by Phil Ewanicki.

Donald La Mar Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm with Eric, a size 6 snake is a whopper even
> after considering not all 12 mm strippers are the
> same.
>
> Just finished a 4 weight with a low, 12 mm agate
> stripper and a size 2 snake worked well.
>
> A 12 mm stripper and a 10 mm stripper seems to me
> to be stripper overkill for a 5 weight.

Don, the chart calls for 4s and 3 after the 10mm. Are you saying you would go from the 12mm to a 2 snake? I don't see that.

I noticed the issue immediately when you said " The chart calls for" i don't know anybody that follows charts from rod manufacturers , listen to the people who are commenting they know what they're talking about.

Herb, I follow the charts from the blank manufacturers!!! Then I do a static test to either confirm or change their layout. In most cases I find their layouts to be pretty close to the optimum, taking only small adjustments to perfect. I guess you might conclude that their past experience was not "set in stone" as you advocate.
I am enlightened to find that you experiment with guide layouts.

Hey Phil do me a favor , from now on " Do not refer to me or my posts in any thread " thank you i appreciate it .

Herb, Thank you for your input. The only size recommended so far was going from a 12 stripper, to a 2 snake. That seems a little radical. Since the Chart calls for 4s and 3s after the 10mm stripper. I am going to use 4s and 3s on a 9'0 rod. But my question was what you you guys do to replace the 10mm stripper after the 12mm stripper? Thanks everyone.

If uou take a 10 ceramic, and than place a 3 snake or single foot, along side or over it, I think you'll see the similar sizes. No need to step down gradually.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/2019 03:38PM by Spencer Phipps.

Thank you Spencer!