Hi. I am American and usually have my rods made by American rod builders and sent up to where I am in Canada. Nothing against Canadians, I am just a proud American lol. Anyway, up here everything is Rainshadow/Alps. How are the Alps products? Do they make good guides? Their reel seats look good, however they are aluminum and last time I posted about aluminum reel seats on here I was overwhelmingly told there is no need for them really.

Thank you in advance.

Oh! Also, if you were to get Alps guides, which ones would you get for 50lb braid on something like an Ugly Stik tiger? Reel is a calcutta 400b

Yes ALPS are just as good as fugi at less cost. If you had a rod with fugi guides on it and another of the same action and weight with ALPS,I bet you 1000 bucks you would not tell the difference. Now days all the rings that come in guides develop notchs with braid.

Never had a notched alps guide...even for a repair. Alps XN series is fine for your 50#.

Never had a notched alps guide...even for a repair. Alps XN series is fine for your 50#.

Very solid products

They next time I build a heavier rod with the MXN series, I’m probably going transition to their low rider option. The regular height ones leave a bit more of a step down at the tip than I like. I use MXN’s on a Tranx 400 and they have been a great fit for heavy inshore use. This series should work as well on the Calcutta 400.

I also have never had a guide ring grooved by braid. Or anything else. And I've used some real cheapies before getting into serious rodbuilding. All the ceramic rings currently on the market are fine with braid. Tiptops, because their job is more challenging, can groove with inferior rings, so I always use SIC or something close.

To directly answer the question, Rainshadow/Alps products are of high quality. Not to worry.

And Alps offers graphite seats if you don't want aluminum.

I like that Alps and Rainforest production is in Taiwan and South Korea, when feasible. They even tried for an extended period of time to have the RX10’s made in the USA.

Alps and Rainshadow are quality components, I use their blanks, reel seats and winding checks on a regular basis. Pretty sure your not going to have an issue with grooving guide rings or tip tops. Look at the RX7 S-Glass blanks, very similar to the Ugly Stik. If you need something heavier RX6 E-Glass.

Batson Enterprises provides quality components with a very broad selection of guide styles in 304 stainless (Forecast), 316 stainless and titanium (Alps) with multiple ring material options. They have great reel seat options in both graphite / nylon and in aluminum. I feel their aluminum seats are top in the industry in terms of finish quality On the blank front, tons of options across performance, price point and fishing styles. Batson components & blanks make up probably 95% of the BOM on what I build across the board.

As to which guide - what type of rod will it be and what is the target species? - from a “ratings” perspective the XN would be fine and likely overkill - the MXN double foot likely would be fine and depending on the target of the rod I wouldn’t be against putting there MXNs and then F series runners



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/16/2023 06:38PM by Michael Ward.

Target species is lake sturgeon. Rod would be an ugly stick tiger ML 8’. Reel would be shimano calcutta and like would be 50lb braid

Double foot all the way. XNs if you go strictly by the line recommendation but I wouldn’t be afraid of using MXN’s to be a little lighter - not a huge difference in the MXN & XN but adds up I guess

I have lesser quality guides on my white sturgeon rod I built in 1985, still waiting for a problem with the guides and they had nothing but braid fed to them since its introduction. Alps guides are right up there with the best.

Michael Ward Wrote:
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> Double foot all the way. XNs if you go strictly
> by the line recommendation but I wouldn’t be
> afraid of using MXN’s to be a little lighter -
> not a huge difference in the MXN & XN but adds up
> I guess


What’s the difference between the two. I looked them up but couldn’t tell.

The XN is a bit stouter guide - a little longer footprint, slightly taller

Refer to page 209 (MXN) and page 211 (XN) for specs on dimensions and such

[online.flipbuilder.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/17/2023 02:08PM by Michael Ward.

I build fly rods and use Batson products almost exclusively, never had and issue with their guides and feet are already prepped nicely

The Alps MXN guides are pretty stout and can be used for builds up to 30-40lb. class. The Alps XN's are overkill for most freshwater applications and can be used for builds up to 60lb. class. We welcome builder inquiries by phone or email. Contact info at [batsonenterprises.com]

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