What do you think about REC Cerecoil guides on a light offshore casting rod (conventional reel) for fish up to 100 #s? I really don't care about the price and know there are cheaper alternatives but I don't build cheap and want something that is different and will function very good. Has anyone got experience with these guides other than strippers for fly rods. Have you used them on "heavy builds" for fish 50 lbs+? I am wanting to do a spiral wrap with them and will be using it on Wahoo, Kings, Tarpon, Ling, small sails, small tuna and Dorado (dolphin fish). Opinions? Thanks

I love the Cerecoils on fly rods. I use them all the time for rods up to #10-11. I am helping someone to build a #14 fly rod. I would not use them there either.
Perhaps on spinning rods.
Don't think I would use them on top of conventional rods for large ocean game fish like yellow-fin tuna, etc.
Herb

Lance,
I admittedly have no experience with REC Cerecoil guides so I cannot answer your question directly. Large fish and heavy drags not only induce more strain on a guide train but, more importantly, the line itself as well. For rods up to 50lb or possibly 80lb, a quality ceramic ring is a safe bet while over 80lb rollers are by far the best choice. I have learned that rollers are becoming less popular recently; I think it is simply due to people wanting to avoid the inspection and maintenance routine required. To me it is a small price to pay for the ultimate, line-friendly guide. 50lb or 80lb braid is quite expensive!
Many guides are overly strong, possibly including the Cerecoils as well. While they may handle the additional stress of offshore fishing, for how long before they groove and at what cost to the line?

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

Tip-tops will show grooves long before running guides, and casting guides will show grooves long before trolling guides - but overbuilding a rod with atomic tempered Rhodium guides won't hurt anything besides your pocketbook

Mark,
My concern was if the rings will pop out or even crack, because that is all they really are, just rings held in by spring steel (alloy). I don't think I will fish it enough to wear out and the heaviest line I intend to use is 50 lbs braid. I know when I first saw them at a fishing event, they were bending them down and sideways and it did not look like the ring would pop out very easy. That leaves the ring material itself, will it crack or even break in half. I guess this would be the ultimate test. I have just asked the REC service rep (via email) about this and it will be interesting to see what they say the application should be. When compare to other more conventional ceramic guides, are they stronger or weaker or about equal?
Lance

Lance,
Most on this site know I am a big Fuji fan. I am additionally a big fan of Alconite rings for their best-bang-for-the-buck status; Torsite and either SiC or SiN may be smoother and SiC dissipates heat better than any other guide material, but Torsite is VERY pricey and SiC and SiN are quite brittle and susceptible to fracturing / breaking under rough treatment.
Again, I am unfamiliar with the Cerecoil guides, but you lead me to believe they incorporate a ceramic ring of sorts; I was unaware any Recoil guides sported inserts. If so, and combined with Recoil’s titanium / nickel alloy frames, they could be a VERY good choice for saltwater. Let me know, I am here to learn.

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

Mark,
This is what I am talking about. I have seen them on fly rods but not really anything else commercially. You can bend these down to the blank and it won't hurt them.

[reelseats.com]

When NiTi snake guides first became available many years ago I built a #5 fly rod with lightweight REC NiTi snake guides - without forhan wraps. Needless to say, fishing osier-covered spring creeks soon backed snake guide feet out from under snake guide wraps. I still fish a rod built with these guides - with triple forhan warps.

Lance,
Please excuse my ignorance, but from your supplied photo, I cannot tell if there is actually a ceramic ring insert or not; possibly, but probably not, but… While innovation fuels advancement, haphazardly applied it can prove to mask its effectiveness, not to say such is necessarily the case here.

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

Mark, maybe this might help. I saw these guides at the Expo a couple of years ago. I have never used them, they are very light, extremely flexible, and corrosion proof.
I have no idea how suitable they would be for heavy duty conventional rods.

[www.anglingtrade.com]

Norm

I might suggest that you contact REC and ask them if they believe those guides are suitable for the type application you propose. I suspect they're going to say no, but on the chance that they may say otherwise, I'd spend the two minutes to knock out a brief email to them.

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Tom,
I actually did that and have not gotten anything back from them yet. I will do it again and also try calling them.
Lance

Ask for Bryan and see if you can get him on the phone. He has been very forthcoming with custom rod builders and even attended the Expo back in 2020.

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They are ceramic and more durable than you might think.

LAnce,
I would not install them on off-shore conventional rods.
Herb