The Recoil tips are ugly to boot. I don't trust them. The guides I love on fly and spinning rods. But, I personally only use titanium tips with SiC inserts.
Forum: rodboard

I've used 6's as the running guides and the 7 wt. line and loop/knot connections pass fine. Like Tom said, for your other guides, use high framed guides. I prefer single footed all the way. If you're really wanting to get the most out of the rod, I would rethink the guides & tip themselves. I personally would only use single foot, titanium framed (not plated), silicone carbide inserted guide
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I got 6wt from Dan last year and it is extremely fast. I was throwing a 7 wt. floating line and to be honest, this rod would have been much happier with 9-10 wt line. I was impressed with how it casted the 7 wt. line long and even in close. For me though, I don't like the feeling of all that reserve power and the rod is a bit heavy. (of course I'm sold on the CTS blanks which are the lightest).
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I'd agree with Andy. I was river fishing with my new CTS Affinity MX - 7 wt. and had a bead-headed #6 wooly bugger slam the rod on the forward cast. No problem. Kept right on fishing. There's a small scratch on the finish and that's it. Pheww! I'd a been pouting big time. Pretty tough blanks. Good Luck, Todd
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I doubt that there is any weight difference in the gold cermet guides. Plus, the Ti/SiC tips do come in a #5 and 5.5 for those lighter rods.
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I agree with you on the Ti/SiC guides. I don't think I'll ever go back to the Recoils. I have used them on a DanCraft 6wt and they are great. I'm going to go back on my 4 and 5 wt.'s (not DanCraft) and change the guides out to the Ti/Sic's. I'm thinking of using the size 5.5 or 5's as the runners to the tip. All you need is a hole big enough to allow your knots/loops to pass through (whatever d
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I waited for my CTS blanks and have to say they were definitely worth the wait. The Affinity MX fly blank is the nicest I've ever fished and I can't wait to get the spinning rod built. The tangerine (more like a burnt orange) color is amazing. I do believe things are turning around and we'll all benefit from these wonderful blanks.
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My $.02 is to go with the Fuji Concept solid titanium, SiC ring inserted, single foot guides all the way. A #16 stripper on a 5wt. is a bit much. Start with the #12, #10 or #8, and 5.5's or 5's the rest of the way. I just built a 7wt with these guides (the first) and it's amazing. I used 6's as the runners out to the tip because of the size of the loop and knot connections on the 7wt line. I'm go
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Thanks Andy. Good to know.
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I know there's a ton of info on this topic but I think this is a bit different. I'm building a CTS light-med 6'6" spinning rod. On my last rod (same rod only a little lighter) I used the Fuji solid titanium SiC insert concept guides and will do the same on this one. At the time, I asked for advice on guide size for the runners and was told to use size 6's all the way out. I did and it seems
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I have to admit, I've not heard about applying a second coat before 24 hours. I know I've done a couple of second coats of TM a couple of days later and have had no problems with the 2nd coat peeling.
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I've also used the Fuji SOLID titanium (not plated) framed guides with the SiC ring insert and love them. Both on spin and fly rods. The best. Yes, they're quite a bit more expensive than Recoils. A bit heavier than the Recoils but I feel the increased line flow and speed easily make up for the extra weight.
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It's certainly just tradition. Nothing to do with function. I've put single foot strippers on all of my fly rods over the past year+ and haven't had any problems with wear from hauling etc., or line wrapping around guide. Not once. IMHO, I honestly don't think there is ever a reason for double footed strippers or wire guides on any weight fly rod. Single footed with the "Forhan Wrap"
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I just recently finished a new fly rod using, for the first time, the Fuji TLSG solid titanium SiC ring insert guides. I have to say, I'm impressed. I know they add a bit of weight to the rod. But, the line flow and increased line speed is amazing. Huge difference IMO from the Recoils. But, it was a 7 wt. rod and I was advised to use #6's as the runners all the way out to the end. That works fi
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I have to admit I find what you've said a bit funny. You said you casted and fished the custom rod and liked it. But, next to the factory it seemed slow. What is it about the "faster" action that makes you not like the custom rod as much? I do think unless the Fuji guides were solid titanium framed guides their weight would be too much for a 5 wt. I just used some on a 8-9 wt and the
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Yes, they would be the Fuji titanium framed Concept spinning guides down to the fly guide runners.
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I'm going to build a 4pc. 7wt and use all single foot ceramic guides. Is the 7wt the size when you would move up to a #16 stripper? Or, stay with the #12? I was thinking: #16, 12, 8, 7's the rest of the way. Thanks, Todd
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As for the CTS blanks themselves, I've built a few fly rods and lighter spin rods from their blanks and they are truly the finest I've ever seen and fished. Crisp, clean, unbelievably light and sensitive. I call them the "edge" of the cutting edge. You will not be disappointed. Todd
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Looking forward to all of these great products Andy. Keep up the good work. Todd
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I'll join in with Duane (DR) and shout the praises of the CTS blanks. I built a 6'6", medium light, fast action spinning rod from the Elite Tournament series last year and have never fished with such an incredible rod. Unbelievably sensitive, light and yet very powerful. Like Duane said, It's hard to fish with anything else after feeling the difference. Todd
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I'm not overly concerned about weight. Although the lighter the better as far as casting all day goes. I'm using CTS blanks so I'm already starting with the lightest blanks available. I'm not absolutely sure what it means to have a balanced rod. The rods with the REC seats cast fine and feel balanced. I guess. What would a lighter seat feel like (other than lighter) as far as balancing goes?
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I've been using REC nickel silver reel seats with wood inserts on my last couple of fly rods. I like their seats. Well made and very nice. But, they seem a bit heavy and like all nickel silver, get scratched and rough from good use. Not really a problem. Adds character. However, I'm thinking of using a Fuji-Cobra graphite skeleton reel seat and graphite barrel on my next fly rod. Would this set
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If I may ask, where did you purchase them? I see a press release on their website but no reamers for sale. Is there one of their distributors stocking them? You can e-mail me privately if needed. Thanks, Todd
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The CTS blanks are by far the lightest and most sensitive rod I've ever smallie fished. I built a 1 pc., light spin, 6'6" Elite Tournament Series with the Fuji "soft-touch" seat and their solid Titanium guides. Unbelievable. I've got another on the way that I'm going to test the Recoil guides on. Will probably even make for a lighter and more precise rod. I can't wait.
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I'm confused on how you found a Loomis blank weight on CTS' website. I don't even see the weight of their own blanks on their website. If the lightest weight blank is what you're looking for, CTS is it.
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I'm actually going to give the Power Pro braided line a try. I realize my thoughts of cutting myself are unfounded. I've never done it with mono so I know it's as unlikely with braided. I don't fish for musky with heavy duty line and I don't get out as much as R.W. So, I think I will give the Recoil tips their shot. If I don't like them, I remove them. Beautiful thing about custom rod building.
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That's what I was looking for. Real world experience. Thanks guys. Another question. What do you think about the Recoil single foot spinning guides as a stripper guide on fly rods?
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I realize the file test wasn't necessarily a real world test. However, the new braided lines warn of not getting your finger caught up in them under pressure or your finger is gone. (which is one reason I'm going to stay away). I tend to stick with copolymer type lines. Of course, I'm mainly river fishing for bass, saugeye, etc. I'm going to try some Recoils on my next spinning rod. They are l
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I was wondering about the Recoil guides for spinning rods. I use them on my fly rods and they're great. They do sing a bit. But, not a bother. My concern with their spinning guides is that I remember seeing someone on this forum showing a photo of what damage he was able to do to the Recoil guides with a file. It was pretty surprising. I'm not that concerned with fly lines doing that kind of dama
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I guess that seems to be a fairly miniscule difference. But, possibly enough to check out. I'm going to put on some Recoil tips and see if the difference can be felt. Thanks.
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