I am deciding between SeaGuide titanium framed spinning guides with their silicon nitride (RSol) ring and Fuji's titanium-framed Torzites (also a silicon nitride ceramic, from what I understand). There is a big difference in price between these guides, even though others who have used both tell me they are very similar in terms of quality. I wonder if they weigh the same? The SeaGuide set is on i
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I will use it for trout, panfish, and perhaps light bass fishing. I opted for a skeleton reel seat (Fuji's SKSS), a 4-inch fighting but made of burl cork, and SeaGuide HLG guides with stainless rings and their Adaman coating. I do not know what the total weight will be yet, but can report back once the finish dries.
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Hi Lucas, it so happens I am working on a build with that exact blank, and the handle will be exactly the same length (though very minimalist in its design). As far as the benefits of a shorter handle, all I can come up with are: 1) Allows a longer reach, 2) Uses less materials. I follow this thread with interest, as someone who has always preferred rods with longer handles.
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Norm beat me to it. Rod Builders Warehouse is a sponsor of this site, so you can find a link to their website through the sponsor list too.
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As a follow-up to my post a couple weeks ago about an ultralight guide train for braids, I did end up buying a couple sets of SeaGuide's model HLG with chromed stainless steel rings and their Adaman PVD coating. They arrived in the mail today. I am seriously impressed by these guides! I bought a bunch of PacBay Minimas last year, and was dismayed by the quality control issues I saw when I looked
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Yes Norm, I will use the MKG for the runner. My current plan, based on looking at the heights of the various guides, is to stick with the 16 stripper, then 6 and 4L in the HLG, then size 4 MKG. I put the order in a couple days ago, so hopefully the guides will arrive sometime next week.
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Rick, thanks for sharing this. I ordered a couple sets of the HLGs with Adaman coating, and look forward to trying them out. Have you received any feedback from fishers regarding how the Adaman coating holds up to braid?
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How far is the 10mm stripper from the reel stem? I am curious. Thanks!
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Thanks Spencer. Any chance you could measure the distance from your reel foot to the stripper ring?
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Thanks Lynn. I have not been impressed by Pac Bay's Minimas. I bought a few sets last year, but found a few defective guides (burrs on the rings, improperly suaged rings, etc.) so returned them. I did just buy a couple sets of SeaGuide's match guide with stainless steel rings and their Adaman PVD coating. The Gunsmoke PVD coating looked quite handsome to me. I will try them out to see how they fe
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I plan on making a couple ultralight rods that I will use 8-10 lb braid on, probably either Sufix 832 or Power Pro. My typical UL reduction train is a Fuji 16H, 8H, 5.5M, then down to runners with KBs as needed. I have read in various places that since braid is softer with virtually no line memory, it does not benefit as much from the larger stripper guide. Can I go down to 12H, or 10H? Other par
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Thanks for all the advice. I decided to try out a light steelhead blank (ST1142-MHX). The blank feels good, with a nice stout backbone and soft enough tip to handle 4 pound mono. I will start the build in the next day or so. I might still buy a 9 ft 5 wt fly blank into a spinning rod too, but this will be a good start.
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Thanks to everyone who responded, especially those who have used both Microwaves and Fuji KT and kindly shared your comparison. I am going to stick with Fujis, I think.
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I have been looking at Microwave guides, and reading reviews. Lots of people think highly of them. Can anyone point me to data that looks at the casting distance one might get from them vs, for example, a Fuji KR Concept setup? I have been using Fujis for years and have been pleased. Always happy to try something new if there is good reason to do it. One reason I hesitate is that the running guid
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Thanks for the responses. I want a 9 foot rod because I do a fair amount of float fishing, and the additional length makes it so I can toss floats that are set deeper without having to use slip floats. Also, I fish primarily from shore, so benefit from a longer rod that gives leverage for longer casts.
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I am looking at 9 foot fly rod blanks to use as an ultra light spinning rod for panfish. I intend to use 3-4 pound test monofilament for the line, and prefer fast action blanks. I know nothing about fly fishing, so wonder what weight fly blank (4 wt, 5 wt, 6 wt, etc.) I should choose so that the blank works well with the line I intend to use. Can someone offer some advice? Thanks!
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Why would their lack of an 8H SeaGuide preclude using the 16H to start the reduction train?
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I am planning my next build and am considering one of the ultra thin rings available, among them Fuji's Torzite, SeaGuide's RSol, and American Tackle's Pentalite. SeaGuide's RSol ring is silicon nitride, and someone told me in a private email that Fuji's Torzite ring is also made of silicon nitride. Is Pentalite this same material too? Any sense how these ring materials compare to one another in
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All of the brands listed would work fine. I would start smaller though, with a 12 or 10 stripper guide. I just finished a 7'2" UL Rainshadow with Fuji Aconites and used 10-KLH for the stripper, 5.5-KLL and 4.5-KB for the reduction train, a 4KB to transition, and 4KTs for runners. Stripper is 24 inches from reel stem. Casts like a charm.
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Thanks for this reply. I am intrigued by the SeaGuides, but the challenge seems to be getting them. America Rodbuilding Warehouse carries some, but do not seem to have tiptops with a size 4 ring at the moment, as best I can tell. Their RS ring particularly intrigues me. Based on figures Rick Hall sent me via email, that ring is lighter than a stainless steel ring of similar outer diameter. If tha
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I have already done plenty of research on Fuji, and my first build (finished last weekend) included a guide train of alconites. They are good guides, but the frames are heavy and I am not fond of the runner guides having two stems leading to the foot. When I finished the guide wraps, the finished kept creeping up to fill the hole between the stems and it took work to get that cleaned out. I want
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Thanks Arthur, so the "black PVD coating" that you linked to on the HLG page is the Adaman coating? I just want to be sure. Also, the SiNi ring seems insanely light! I will read up on it. If it is lighter than a stainless steel ring, that pretty much defeats the purpose of buying guides with ss rings for their lightness, which is why I was attracted to them. Do you know if Seaguide o
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Greetings folks! I had a custom rod building business back in the late 1990s and into the very early 2000s based in the Midwest US. I specialized in light and ultralight rods, particularly spinning, and built for a few bank fishers in the Chicago area who wanted European-style match fishing rods (long, fast action, light tips, tiny guides). I even made several rods (and did a lot of repairs) f
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