Hoping to get some help in selecting running guides for a pike/musky fly rod I am planning.

The build will be a 9' 10wt North Fork LMX blank and planning to use ceramic (LZR) single foot guides as runners due to the abrasion resistance with sinking line, instead of snake guides.

To base my initial sizing off of I have a Redington Predator 10 wt, which uses snake guides, and a size 8 LZR guide is very similar in inner diameter, but in the case for saving weight what keeps me from using a size 6?

If I size down, am I just worried about knots getting through or does it impact casting?

The weight difference for just the running guides, 6 vs 8, is 1.7g, 3.5g vs 1.9g. Looking at the over guide train, so different tip-top, it's a difference of 2.2g. 7.6g vs 9.8g. I've built a few casting rods, but I'm a novice fly fisherman and have never built a fly rod, so I'm not as confident in what I will be asking of this equipment and where the limits are.

I feel like 2.2g won't be noticeable on a 10 wt., but building a custom rod is all about building to maximize performance, so why throw the weight on if I don't need it.

Curious what people think on this. Thanks.

I feel like 2.2g won't be noticeable on a 10 wt., but building a custom rod is all about building to maximize performance, so why throw the weight on if I don't need it.

DON'T

Jim Ising Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I feel like 2.2g won't be noticeable on a 10 wt.,
> but building a custom rod is all about building to
> maximize performance, so why throw the weight on
> if I don't need it.
>
> DON'T

Right, I'm with you on not adding weight, but you believe a size 6 would also be just as functional then?

I have some experience with building a few fly rods for pike. Mine are 9 wt.

In general: Use the smallest guide that will work AND pass your line and leader knots. Even small, single foot guides are brutishly strong. I used size 7 rings for my set up, That is right down the middle of 6 and 8! Ha! If you can get away with 6's, that's what I would do. You could also trial and error with 6's or 8's.

Stripper guide: place 31-32 inches from butt. Size 16 for a 10 wt. (You can go smaller if it still casts well)
Intermediate guide: (one) size 8-10 ring.
Running guides of the size you like (6 to 8) ring.
Static test you guide set-up or space progressively.

You are right to go as light as you can go as a 9/10 wt. with an appropriate size reel, sink tip, and hefty fly is a load to huck all day, as you probably know already!

Sounds like you are gonna build a very nice rod!

I put together a 9' 10wt 4pc Sage One blank with Fuji Ti framed Alconite 7mm L guides (bought them on sale after Fuji discontinued them) for runners and a TKGTT 8mm tip top. The stripper guides I used were Fuji KW 20mm and KW 10mm Ti Torzite. The first fish caught on the video is with that rod the second and after is a 8wt rod I put together with a TFO BVK blank and conventional double foot snake guide runner set up.

[youtu.be]

For all-day casting "light" is absolutely the way to go, even small snake guides are plenty strong enough for leaders up to #50, and the double-haul will save you shoulder now and even more later.

Thanks for the feedback all. I’ll just have to test the 6’s and see how the knot at the end of my fly line goes through.