I'm rebuilding an old St.Croix TRS66MF, CS2 Graphite, 6-12lb, 1/4-5/8oz. There were originally 6 guides on the rod but the first stripper guide was missing when the owner gave it to me. The second guide up the line is a 16mm. The owner fishes for redfish most of the time and uses 6lb pound test, not specific on the reel size. . I'm replacing the old guides with BLVAG. Should the first stripping guide be a 25mm or 20mm? Any help would be greatly appreciated

Size 25.

Mount your preferred reel and let the balance of the reduction train tell you what size stripper you need. In this case, it's going to be about where the guide positions itself based on height - not ring size.

Hello Mark - As a suggestion, a size 2500 reel would be a good all-round choice for that rod , but would check with the owner of the rod. If the owner would go that route, a BLVAG-25 Fuji Alconite, V-Frame, followed by a size 16 would be a good choice. Over the years past, I have set-up many of that type rod, that way, with good results.

Bob McKamey
Mud Hole Custom Tackle
bobm@mudhole.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/12/2019 10:49AM by Bob McKamey.

If he wants an upgrade, replace the LV guides with KR concept Guides. They are a performance enhancer in my opinion..
Norm

Mark,
I agree with all replies you have received thus far. Roger and Bob with a LV25 stripper with a 2500 reel if you want to go that route. However, I strongly suggest you consider Norman’s point of using the KR Concept, most likely a KL-16H stripper, 8H, 5.5M reduction down to whatever size KB and KT runners you prefer (use Jim’s GPS software). While the KR Concept was designed for braid, limp 6lb mono or even fluoro should work fine. There is a reason Fuji spent the expense of R&D to develop the KR Concept!

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Mark,
For sure, if you are replacing all of the guides go with the KR concept style guides. You will be well pleased with the results.

Thanks everyone, but the customer wants similar single-footed guides. I think the KR would be the way to go for sure.

Mark,
If you view the video you will see that the KR concept guides are available for spinning rods in a single foot version.
A couple of differences.
The tilt of the guide to minimize wind knots.
A quick reduction in guide sizes. Typically 2 or possibly 3 reduction guides before going to the running guides.


[www.youtube.com]

Mark - The Fuji KR Concept set-up is a great way to go. KR is "One" of the best advancements in guide train systems that has ever come along. but keep in mind if you do so, the guides will more than likely be positioned on the rod blank at different spacings. Please, do not take this as I am trying to talk you out of not going with the KR set-up. Just wanted to point that out to you, if you are not familiar with the way the KR sets up, since that has not been mentioned.

Bob McKamey
Mud Hole Custom Tackle
bobm@mudhole.com

Mark,
Bob is correct in that guide spacing will most probably be different with the KR Concept, but then the original guides may not have been placed properly in the first place; static load testing for guide placement will reveal that. I can appreciate you may just want to mount the new guides in the same locations to cover-up where the original guides were.

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Bob is right. KR will ask you to relocate the entire guide train.

Put your preferred reel on the rod and run line through the remaining guides. Get a size 25 LV, put the foot on the blank and slide the guide up and down the blank until the line (through all the other guides) passes through the 25 in the same way it does through the other guides. Note the location. Do the same with the 20 LV and note the location. One will position itself roughly evenly with the rest of the guide train. I would choose the one that sits where the original guide came off. That is likely the LV that was lost and by far the easiest to replace since you can cover up the old finish with new finish.