I’m building a couple fly rods and I don’t have much experience other than a 6’6” 2wt that I built last year. That smaller rod came out great and I believe I did a size 8 stripper to a size 4 single foot, then single foot 1s the rest of the way. My only complaint is the loop connection catches on the single foots often.

One of the rods is an NFC F904-2 and I’m planning on doing a size 10 stripper to a size 6 wire frame single foot, then 1s or 2s to the tip. (Thinking the single foot guides would reduce swing weight and maintain a more true action).

The other is a RodGeeks C4F904-4 which I’m thinking a 10 stripper to a 6 double foot, then size 2 snake guides. (My dad wants traditional snake guides)

I guess my questions would be when do you need to use 2 double foot stripping guides and would increasing the size of single foot guides reduce the hang ups caused by a leader loop?

Also I’m not married to the guide trains, just basing it on some of the reading I’ve done so any suggestions would be welcomed as well.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/17/2023 07:15PM by Evan Cobb.

You can only have 1 stripping guide on a fly rod - that is the first guide beyond the reel. All other guides, regardless of type, are running guides.

Generally the use of heavier, ceramic guides, dbl foot, beyond the stripping guide, is limited to heavier rod where a great deal of load will be placed on the lower 3rd of the rod. I doubt using these heavier, sturdier guides brings any benefit on rods under a 5 or 6 weight model. Once get to the 8 weights and up, you may even see 3 of these, but for what you're doing on a 4-weight, it's not necessary.

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If your connecting loops are hanging up, your using too small guides.

I have 1/0t snakes on my 4 wt. no issues with connections.

I use 1/0 Snake Guides on 4 and 5wts without any issues of passing connections.

Personally, I’d stay away from single foots, get yourself some Snake Brand Universals. The foot profile is small. The added weight of a double foot guide vs a single foot is marginal, seriously doubt you’d notice a difference in how the rod cast.

Get a Pac Bay Minima double foot for the stripper, #10, then follow that with 2 #2’s and then 1/0’s the rest of the way out.

The loop profile on Snake Brand Universals and Originals is “rounder” than other brands of snake guides.

Thank you all for the advice and recommendations, I really appreciate it