New rod builder here. Have only built spinning rods so far. My son wants to build a flipping stick with recoil guides. I have seen post for the stripper guide size but was hoping for help with running guides sizing. Any help is appreciated! Thanks for helping a new builder!

Running guides can be any size that will pass any knots you have to pass. Most of my casting rods are no larger than 5.5's. I have a few at 4 and they work fine. The heavier the guides the slower the recovery from deflection, so go as light as you feel comfortable with.

I concur with Michael. I like small and light.

Your pretty restricted in choices with REC guides, on double foot they stop at a 6, on single foot they stop at a 4 start at a 5. If you use a fluor leader, not knowing line size and knot, I certainly will not go under a 5.

Your pretty restricted in choices with REC guides, on double foot they stop at a 6, on single foot they stop at a 4 start at a 5. If you use a fluor leader, not knowing line size and knot, I certainly will not go under a 5.

Your pretty restricted in choices with REC guides, on double foot they stop at a 6, on single foot they stop at a 4 start at a 5. If you use a fluor leader, not knowing line size and knot, I certainly will not go under a 5.

Just something to consider. I have heard from others that if you use braided line, Recoil guides are rather noisy. If that's something that may bother him, you might want to consider other options.

Fuji KT running guides in titanium or black titanium with SIC rings in size 5 are only 20 cents more per guide, and I know they aren't noisy with braid. 4s and 4.5s are less expensive than Recoils Of course you gain a little in ID with Recoil guides and you don't have to worry about knocking out a ring.

Just something to consider ....

Flipping, I wouldn't think would generate much chance for noise from the REC guides, and it really isn't a big deal even when you are actually casting line through the guides.

Understandable Spencer. I just mention it because some people can find some sounds annoying. I know the sound a Shimano DC casting reel makes is one of those sounds for me. It's the only reason I'll probably never get one.

As far as the sound of braid goes, I hate the sound it makes through the guides when reeling it in. But I will say that because I only use braid for pretty much one thing, that I haven't tried any of the smoother versions they've come out with in the past few years. Aside from the very early versions of braid they used to call Kevlar, I've only ever used original Power Pro. Maybe some day I'll give some of the newer "quieter" braids a try.

Please note that the sizing of Recoil guides is not the same as most other "standard" guides. The size of a standard guide is measured by the OD of the ring insert, as Recoils do not have an insert they use their own system. This is not exact, but for general reference a Recoil guide OD will be 1 size smaller than the model # dictates (the difference gets to 2 or 3 mm on guides 20 & over). Therefore a size 6 Recoil is closer in comparison to a "standard" size 5 guide, a size 7 more like a 6 and so on. The other anomaly is that the single foot running guides needed for most casting setups are listed as "Spinning" guides - sizes 6, 7, and 8L specifically.

To sum everything up, any Recoil single foot guide 8L and lower are to be used as runners and guide sizes will be smaller than the model# says it is - hope this helps.

Here's a couple quick measurements of the ID of the REC single foot to compare to other running guides you may have used.

Size 6, ID = 3.83 mm
Size 7, ID = 4.65 mm

I don't have experience with braid and recoils. I typically use mono or floro.

I've used the size 6 as runners on a casting rod and like them.

As another reference, on an older G Loomis GLX crankbait CBR 855 I have, the runners are REC size 7.

Great info on the ID's of Recoil guides. Certainly not what I thought at all. Curious if anyone has compared the weight of a #5 Recoil with that of a Fuji titanium with SIC ring #5? I have one spare #5 black titanium w SIC ring, but my scale won't weigh something that light.

Thanks very much for all the info. You guys rock! I think it might be easier to look the the Fuji titanium, and re examine the recoils when i can get hands on some in real time. Thanks again for the help, very much appreciated.