Are there durability or other issues in putting size 12 and 10 single foot stripping guides on a 6 wt fly rod? OEMs seem to use standard stripping guides or rods that feature single foot running guides. I want to go all single foot for the look.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2019 08:50PM by david taylor.

You'll be fine.

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I will go with single foot then. Thanks, Tom. Do folks advise a normal wrap or use the Forhan locking wrap?

There's not really any disadvantage to the Forhan wrap so why not?

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If your customer - or you - casts with a high line speed - then if the line knots-up on the stripper it will be very difficult to un-knot on the narrow leg.
Herb

Don't do a single foot without the Forhan !

David
And - - if your customer - or - you will get into the single-handed Spey/Skagit casting with the very thin mono running lines and a snarl/knot catches on the single foot stripper - your day of fishing is over unless you cut the running line off and start fresh.
Herb

Thanks for the pointer, Herb, though I don't foresee using spey/Skagit on this rod. But you never know.

I am unaware of any functional advantage in the use of a single-foot stripping guide on a fly rod and you may sacrifice some durability by using one. There is usually a trade-off between form and function.

If you go to a higher single foot guide, you may also have to go to a larger diameter rod tube.

David - they are doing some amazing casting with #6 rods now using short Skagit heads - of 12-14'.
I bought some Wulff Ambush SHORT lines. The line flys even with overhead casting. maybe there are better lines for dry fly fishing. But if you will be streamer fishing - you can't beat them.
Herb

This too from Spencer: If you go to a higher single foot guide, you may also have to go to a larger diameter rod tube.

But not only the tube - I use very high #20 strippers and then REC single foot spinning guides in #16, #12, #10. I have to get my rod socks custom made.
Herb

I have on hand size 12 and size 10 stripping guides in both single-foot and traditional double foot. And they each have the same height profile. I am not going for the high-profile single foot, but have PacBay SF hard wire single foots. I happened to look at 9 ft. 6 wt. St. Croix Legend Elite and Redington Hydrogen rods today in Jax Outdoors when last minute Christmas shopping. They both have one, and only one, standard two-footed stripping guide and all the following guides are wire single footers. So I could go that route.

Appreciate all the comments, gents Good news is it will not be very difficult to switch out a single for double foot stripper if I need to -- or want to -- down the line. Skagit intrigues me, but I think I will make a specific switch or spey trout rod for that. After all, I may as well keep upping the rod count in the garage. I think it is currently at about 9. And so far I only fish for trout in Colorado, Montana and Wyoming.

And I also must consider using nylon thread or trying the clear finish on #212 silk.

Decisions, decisions.

david,
Not pushing you on the single-hand Skagit - but it was designed for single hand rods of 3wt up to 6wts.
No need to go to longer rods unless you need to cast 80-100 ft.
watch: [www.youtube.com]
Herb

There is a rod tube with a "tri-roundular) section that takes high guides very well, by TFO, if I remember correctly. A sock is nice, but one can just use a length of cloth a little longer than the sections and wrap the sections progressively into that.

Appreciate the comments, Herb. I have actually been looking a lot lately at the OPST videos, site and the Commando and other lines, and educating myself on spey casting and the evolution of late in that area.

David,
Don't overlook the Wulff Ambush SHORT lines. They don't need tips. [royalwulff.com]
I'm testing the Sci Angler Skagit Short heads that need tips and the OPST that need tips.
Herb