So my passion really is light, sensitive spinning rods. After playing with quite a few guides, I can't seem to find anything that touches the Stainless frame with Stainless insert ring style, outside of going with Recoils (which are not my favorite).

What's your go-to for light guides on a light rod? Talking freshwater 4# - 8# line generally.

Marc,
While admittedly a Fuji proponent, when seeking the lightest guide train, I like the PacBay Minima M reduction guides (SS or Ti frame w/SS ring). Set them up as per KR Concept. Although the Minima F runners may be a half-tic lighter than the Fuji KBs / KTs, I like the Fujis better. One way or the other, I always use a Fuji LG tip top on my ULs.

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

Marc Morrone Wrote:
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> What's your go-to for light guides on a light rod?
> Talking freshwater 4# - 8# line generally.

I've done a few rods on CRB SSR Light-Medium Duty guides.
Have to admit that they grow on ya.

Fuji K Ti frames and SIC rings. For casting rods: I like the KW with KB and KT. I have weighed the Minimas, the ones I weighed weighed, weigh more than than the SS Fujis, but I have not weighed all the Minimas. The Seaguide TiXBG, TiXOG-N and TiGOG-W with RS rings are pretty light also. For spinning: Fuji KLH with the KT & KB guides. Seaguide TiXOHG with the TiXOG-N & W. You can make a very light sensitive rod with these.

There are two great options from American Tackle, Vortex Air and Pentalite.

The Vortex Air have Stainless Steel inserts with ring sizes from 30 down to 4 (in the single-foot spinning version) and Atlas Stainless Steel frames. These guides are available in both Chrome and Matte Black.

Pentalite have an ultra-thin ceramic ring and are available in sizes from 50 down to 5.5. The frames are a lightweight flexible titamium material. Colors are natural Titamium and Black.

I am liking the look of the American Tackle Vortex Air guides. I like that they are actually hard chromed, which does help with wear.

I fish mono a lot, and feel it fishes better on nice ceramics, but the weight reduction of the stainless is hard to beat. Thanks so far guys!

For reduction guides I like the Seaguide HLG much better than the Pac Bay versions. The swaging is much more consistent and the Adaman coating is much harder than chromed steel.

Agree that the Seaguide adaman coated guides are very nice. Remember not to judge guide weight by appearance. Stainless rings are not necessarily lighter than ceramic rings. If you feel that guide weight is very important to your builds you owe it to yourself to weigh a bunch of guides.

The SeaGuide HLG reduction guides and MKG runners with the Adaman coating are lighter than the Minima M reduction guides and F running guides.
Norm

I have used the SSR guides from Mud Hole / CRB and the finish is really nice too. But I can't find any specs on the Gunsmoke color - if it adds wear resistance, if it has chrome under, or if it's just cosmetic? On the silver ones they just say Polished Stainless - which I think implies no plating or coating???

Any insight appreciated - thanks.

Just my two cents.

Silicon nitride SI3N4 is the best ceramic for rings for several reasons. SI3N4 is made under extreme heat and pressure; only a handful of facilities produce this material, only two make it for the fishing industry, and SeaGuide is one. This is not the same as the Fuji silicon nitride rings for salt water, it is very different in how it is made.

First and perhaps most importantly is that SI3N4 has the best fracture resistance on the market for ceramics. Secondly, it has the best thermal conductivity or smoothness. It is also the lightest by volume or lowest specific gravity. SIC is a little harder ceramic at about 2300-2400 whereas SI3N4 is about 2000-2200.

Stainless steel 304 rings are about the hardness of 150-250 on Vickers hardness depending on the steel.
Hard chrome is about a Vickers hardness of 250-400.
PVDs we have tested are about Vickers hardness is about 500-700.
Adaman vapor is testing about 900-1000 Vickers hardness.
Aluminum oxide is about a Vickers hardness of about 1200-1400.

Rick Hall
Global Sales Manager
SeaGuide Corporation
406-750-2122
www.sea-guide.com

Rick,
Thank you very much for your informative reply. It is appreciated by all when a manufacturer takes the time to address issues personally. I have used Seaguides on a number of builds and consider them to be of very high quality and appearance. Your customer service and shipping is top notch as well.

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

Really when it comes down to it on spinning rods, it is the reel. The reel is most of the weight of the entire set up. If you can lighten the reel then the overall performance of the set up is going to improve in spite the the rod components. If the rod is made to to dissipate the line motion (Fuji Concept and Rapid Reduction) of the line, it will cast farther. Casting reels have been made to be superlight, increasing the performance of a set up. You can literally have a combination of rod reel and line that is under 8oz. Spinning reels have been inherently more heavy, and the technology to lighten them has mostly been advanced in the last few years. When you can get a super light spinning reel, then it will make a difference in you entire set up and the tweaking of the rod will be more important to performance.

I find it interesting that so many are ultra-interested in the lightest guides available but so few are interested in objective data on how the differences in guide weight affect the performance of the finished rod. Lighter guides theoretically improve sensitivity (the ability to feel a bite) and unequivocally increase the recovery speed of the rod. But how much? Is it significant? Only those who measure the True Natural Frequency know.

For the past few years I've been using either Minima or SSR guides and have been pleased with the results. I use light, 6 and 8 lb, mono on the rods I've built and haven't any problems. Ceramic tip tops of course. On my next build I'll try the Adaman coated guides. Thanks Norm.