Michael Danek Wrote:
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> "opinion" at work here rather than "data."
>
> I have used both single foot wire running guides
> and snakes, and I see no difference in casting
> distance. I prefer REC snakes for weight and
> corrosion reasons, and snakes over single foot for
> the reason that I believe they pass knots better.
> I grumble at having twice the number of wraps on
> the running guides.

I agree with all of this. For 9 and 10 weight rods, I prefer 3 stripping guides. Not sure why. Probably because my very first fly rod came that way! 8 wt and below I use 2, and for 3 weights use 1. No data, all personal preference. Definitely opinion and no doubt 2 would work fine on all rods. I like the REC snakes because: 1) They cannot corrode, 2)They are extremely light and 3) They don't tend to hang up as much in brush when hiking through the alders!.

I have been experimenting with "extra" guides on rods, and recently built a 9 weight 9 footer with 11 guides instead of the usual 10. I'll know in a month if I prefer that arrangement.

I have never seen a titanium reel seat, and no doubt if you found one it would be hideously expensive. Aluminum works fine even in salt water, just rinse well at the end of the day (and that's good practice in fresh water too). I've used the ALPS triangle fly seat on a couple of 8 weights fished in salt water and they have held up great. Same for REC reel seats.

And one other recommendation I've made before-If you are a new rod builder, it's wise to build a few less expensive blanks before your go all in on expensive name brand blanks. You're process will get better as you go, and as a result, your fit and finish will improve.

Good luck!

Drew

Drew Pollock Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Michael Danek Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > "opinion" at work here rather than "data."
> >
> > I have used both single foot wire running
> guides
> > and snakes, and I see no difference in casting
> > distance. I prefer REC snakes for weight and
> > corrosion reasons, and snakes over single foot
> for
> > the reason that I believe they pass knots
> better.
> > I grumble at having twice the number of wraps
> on
> > the running guides.
>
> I agree with all of this. For 9 and 10 weight
> rods, I prefer 3 stripping guides. Not sure why.
> Probably because my very first fly rod came that
> way! 8 wt and below I use 2, and for 3 weights
> use 1. No data, all personal preference.
> Definitely opinion and no doubt 2 would work fine
> on all rods. I like the REC snakes because: 1)
> They cannot corrode, 2)They are extremely light
> and 3) They don't tend to hang up as much in brush
> when hiking through the alders!.
>
> I have been experimenting with "extra" guides on
> rods, and recently built a 9 weight 9 footer with
> 11 guides instead of the usual 10. I'll know in a
> month if I prefer that arrangement.
>
> I have never seen a titanium reel seat, and no
> doubt if you found one it would be hideously
> expensive. Aluminum works fine even in salt
> water, just rinse well at the end of the day (and
> that's good practice in fresh water too). I've
> used the ALPS triangle fly seat on a couple of 8
> weights fished in salt water and they have held up
> great. Same for REC reel seats.
>
> And one other recommendation I've made before-If
> you are a new rod builder, it's wise to build a
> few less expensive blanks before your go all in on
> expensive name brand blanks. You're process will
> get better as you go, and as a result, your fit
> and finish will improve.
>
> Good luck!
>
> Drew

I was looking at the Alps and rec reel seats. I'll likely use of those. I consider myself new to building as I've only built around 10 rods, but they have all come out pretty great. I still consider myself an amateur when it comes to choosing guides and some other things. I've read that single foot ceramic guides have better performance than rec snake guides. Is that not true or is it preference? Would you recommend the three stripping guides you would use?

Conor Crowley Wrote:
>Would you recommend the
> three stripping guides you would use?

I am partial to the Fuji KW style guides for the stripping guides.

[www.mudhole.com]

CCKWAG are the ones I have been using.

They don't look exactly traditional on a fly rod, but they work very well. The titanium ones are nice but spendy! And since they are furthest from the tip, the tiny amount of extra weight of SS guides is not something you'll notice. Hence, why I have stuck with the stainless stripping guides.

Drew

The NiTi snake guides made by Recoil are excellent guides and nearly bombproof but have one weakness. The "light" (fine diameter) Recoil snake guides are so flexible that if they are struck parallel to the axis of the rod one guide foot can and will "back out" from under a guide wrapping and require re-wrapping and refinishing. This has happened to me. The guide itself was undamaged: it sprung back to its original shape and was good as new. I put Forhan wraps around each foot of the smaller REC "lite" snake guides. After more than 10 years of use in salt water these guides are as good as new.

Phil Ewanicki Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The NiTi snake guides made by Recoil are excellent
> guides and nearly bombproof but have one weakness.
> The "light" (fine diameter) Recoil snake guides
> are so flexible that if they are struck parallel
> to the axis of the rod one guide foot can and will
> "back out" from under a guide wrapping and require
> re-wrapping and refinishing. This has happened to
> me. The guide itself was undamaged: it sprung back
> to its original shape and was good as new. I put
> Forhan wraps around each foot of the smaller REC
> "lite" snake guides. After more than 10 years of
> use in salt water these guides are as good as new.

I've heard a lot of positive things about REC snake guides. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing out on any performance with purchasing them. Do you put forhan wraps on both sections of the guide? I didn't realize people put forhan wraps on double foot guides, I always thought that was only done on single foot guides.
Thanks

Conor Crowley Wrote:
-
> I've heard a lot of positive things about REC
> snake guides. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't
> missing out on any performance with purchasing
> them. Do you put forhan wraps on both sections of
> the guide? I didn't realize people put forhan
> wraps on double foot guides, I always thought that
> was only done on single foot guides.
> Thanks


All the positive things you've heard are true. They are excellent. And just speaking for myself, I've never done a Forhan wrap on any double foot guide.