Hello All,
I am building a few heavy casting rods and wanted to get a few opinions on using FUJI Alconite concept guides. I have used them on smaller rods but wanted too know if the single foot BLAG would be ok on a Muskie / Striper rod. Or would it be wiser to just run the double foot BLNAG all the way to the tip top.
One more question.
My customer uses braid exclusively and all his exsisting Musky rods have stainless tip tops can I use the Alconite or just use a stainless tip top?
Thanks as always
Mark

I'd still use a high quality ceramic top - an SIC if possible.

Single foot guides can be used on a heavy duty casting rod. I would use the lowest frame version I can (fly rod type) to reduce torque on the rod as much as possible. If you can sell it to your customer, there are nothing but postive advantages to using a spiral wrap. Sure they look funny, but if you could have seen the stability demo that Don Morton and I did at the recent conclave you'd definitely be a believer.

If it works on the California party boats, it'll work on a musky.

.........................

Mark,
The spiral concept works well on Musky rods, the problem is as Tom mentioned to get someone to get accustomed to the look.

Many musky angler's seem to be gravitating to the use of super braids and the choice of guides can be a bigger factor as far as getting harder ceramic, but also for heat dissipation. (Those 60 or 80# super lines are strong , but just to be sure if you have that trophy of a lifetime to keep the line in top form).
Besides SiC guides, also I like using the titanium carbide framed guides with the Zircon/ TiCH ring which also is approrpiate for the situation. They are durable, corrosion resistant, and light. Nothing wrong with using double foot if you want. On the light weight musky blanks available today the weight of those smaller guides (probably size 8) in double foot are less the factor, and would not necessarily reduce performance, in my opinion.

I also like to double wrap the guides on those larger blanks.

Rich
Solyrich Custom Rods
Richard's Rod & Reel

Why do most rod builders use Fuji guides? I have very seldom; if ever; seen comments about using American Tackle guides. For my personal use, I have always felt that Fuji guides were overpriced.
on rod tops for myself & for others I have used nothing but the Nanolite ring. So far I have not had any complaints.