I own an Orvis 7’9” far and fine 5 weight fly rod, which I enjoy. As a winters project, I would like to replace the older guides with modern snake brand or recoil guides and perhaps cerecoil strippers. I would hope this would add a slight improvement, and I’m not concerned about re-sale. But I don’t want to mess up the action. Thoughts? Suggestions?... Mel

Action won't change regardless of guides used. Speed might and probably will if the new guides are of a different weight than what you have on there now. Heavier guides will slow the rod, lighter guides will quicken it.

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In my opinion, you get several advantages with the newer guides, whether you opt for recoil titanium, Fuji single foot , or Snake brand eco-wire guides, or other quality brands. The guides have less friction, and if sized properly to the line you will be using, produce less wear and tear on your fly line. will shoot a bit further, control, and load the rod better,

Also important to yuur fly fishing experience is using a good fly line. I like SA fly lines, personally. But that's just my preference.

Tight lines, and frisky fish

RJF

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William Sidney
AK



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/09/2020 12:32PM by Bill Sidney.

Mistake .............

William Sidney
AK



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/09/2020 12:33PM by Bill Sidney.

Don't change unless there is a problem that will tear your fly line , on a real fine ROD like that one, you are better off not touching the guides unless they missing or broken , as I see it

William Sidney
AK

One of the posts mentioned that different guides have a different rate of friction that allows a greater casting distance when casting.

I have to respectfully disagree that the composition of a guide has very much to do with a greater casting distance or better casting action.

However, I do agree that if one is fighting a very strong fish that makes blinding fast strong runs, then absolutely, the coefficient of friction with respect to the guide ring absolutely makes a difference on line wear and the ability to tame the fish.

The simple reason is this:
When casting the line essentially does not touch the guide except momentarily and under very light pressure.

Contrast this when fighting a big powerful fish that has the rod virtually doubled over with the line screeching all of the guides under maximum friction force against the guide ring.

Absolutely put very good low coefficient of friction guide rings in guides for this type of fishing. But, this does not automatically translate to better or longer casting distance - since the guides for the most part are not really part of the equation - except momentarily.

Best wishes.

I would not bother to change them. I would buy a different blank and make another rod instead. Getting off the old epoxy and thread off the blank is tedious work and you can sometimes not get it all off or can affect the cosmetics of the blank.

Unless there is something wrong with the guides you have on there now, you aren't apt to really gain anything by swapping guides. If your current guides are very heavy compared to whatever it is you'd be replacing them with, it's really not a practical endeavor. Reducing guide weight would be the only gain, as your rod would become more responsive. But again, how heavy are the guides you have now against what you'd be replacing them with?

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The guides on the Orvis rod now are standard chrome snakes in use during the 70’s, 80’s or 90’s. They appear more substantial, a bit larger, and heavier than the guides I currently use to build rods... Mel

In that case, you might see a noticeable difference in rod speed if you can shave some weight off.

If you do this, I think the forum members would be interested in hearing how much difference you felt it made.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/06/2020 06:29PM by Tom Kirkman.

Go with REC TiCr double foot snakes, they are most likely half the weight of the chrome plated guides that are on there and they won't corrode. I like Fuji KW with Ti frames for strippers. Not sure of the weight compared to the Cerecoil guides. Go with whatever is lighter in weight.

If you use lightweight TiCr snake guides take two or three wraps which encircle each guide foot leg before you pull the end of your wrapping thread under your wraps to secure the thread. If you don't do this the guide foot may compress when struck parallel to the blank, enabling the guide foot to back out from under the windings. I had this happen several years ago, but since I re-wrapped the guides with forhan wraps* on each guide foot the TiCr Lite guides have performed faultlessly. *I think you can look up how to use forhan wraps in the glossary on this site.

Thanks for the info on the forhan wrap. I will give it a try... I was thinking of using the snake brand light wire eco snakes, unless someone has some evidence that the recoils are better/lighter. I’ve had good results with both in the past, and haven’t noticed a difference. I prefer the snake brand because they look really cool, and are very easy to work with. Sizes 1, 2, and a 3, and a cerecoil stripper, which I really like...