In my opinion, a 3.75 mm running guide seems extremely small for a fly rod guide. I don’t even use guides that small on a micro-guide casting/spinning rod. Are you sure you have the measurement right.
Norm

Norm,
You are correct - I was incorrect - senior moment.
3.75 mm is less than a 2/0.guide.
Should be at least a #2 wire guide - 5.8 mm.
Herb

Herb Ladenheim Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "My question really is that the last 4 guides at
> the top seem pretty small at 3.75mm compared to
> the ID of wire guides and was wondering what
> others think about this?"
>
> Bruce,
> That will be fine - although I would prefer a
> little larger.
> But the big issue in my mind is that, it seems
> from your wording, that you are using ceramic-ring
> guides all the way. I personally am not a fan of
> ceramic runners. I believe that they slows
> downthe rods recovery rate - makes the rod softer
> vs wire guides - especially on a #5 rod.
> What broand and model arethe runners?
> Herb

I should have mentioned the make and model # and even opened up the page they are on that I ordered from to do that but bed was calling and I forgot.

They are Minima, Hard Chrome, part# XF4XG05. No ceramic inserts except the stripper which is the NSG12.

I was comparing them to the top wire guides on my old Powell 7/8wt build that are 6.75mm from the blank and 5.62mm across.

The proof is in the pudding as they say and if the rod performs well I'll be happy to keep them on when I do the final wrapping. I think they look great on there. I'm going for minimum weight and they were the finest looking ones in the bunch tho I really like the Titanium/Chrome ones and wonder if they are the same weight tho the ring looks fatter but being titanium may be even lighter.

I'm not doubting Andy's wisdom in the selection but as it's my first build in so long I guess I have the first time jitters back and have been overthinking everything as I go. That's why it's taking so long plus I have something like chronic fatigue that really screws up a lot of my days. Docs tell me there's nothing that can be done about it so I do what I can, when I can. I just came out of one of my "nap attacks". :(

I have an old, cheap South Bend 8wt fly rod that I'm going to convert to a spinning rod like one I did way back for coho fishing that was stolen from my car while fishing the Chilliwack River just above the bridge at Vedder Crossing. That will give me some practise and confidence to make sure I do a great job on this rod.

Bruce

“The gods do not deduct from man’s allotted span the hours spent in fishing.” - Herbert Hoover