Snake or Single foot?

I'm about to make another fly rod, and I'm curious. What is y'all's opinion on guides, should I go with single foot or snake? I'm most likely going to make a Temple Fork BVK but I'm not sure how either one would effect it, if at all? If you have any tips on this, I would love to hear them.

will depend on the line weight of the rod. For line weight 4 or under, I would use a single foot. For heavier rods a snake guide pleases my eyes better. Depending on your wrappings and coats of the wraps, one foot guides will save you a little weight on the tip section of the rod. More wrappings means more coat and more weight. In light weight rods this difference of weight usually makes a difference and you can feel it (specially in medium action rods, fast rods might be different). In heavier rods is very hard to notice any difference in the weight at the tip section. Mostly because the whole rod is heavier and it is difficult to detect any small difference weight due to the wraps.
If you decide to go with the one foot guides, make sure to wrap ones or twice in front of the foot to anchor it. This prevent the foot to come lose when fishing.
Malevo

Malevo

Thanks for the input. I did forget to mention, I am planning on making a 4wt. And with it being a BVK it'll be a fast action rod.

Joe

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by malevo

will depend on the line weight of the rod. For line weight 4 or under, I would use a single foot. For heavier rods a snake guide pleases my eyes better. Depending on your wrappings and coats of the wraps, one foot guides will save you a little weight on the tip section of the rod. More wrappings means more coat and more weight. In light weight rods this difference of weight usually makes a difference and you can feel it (specially in medium action rods, fast rods might be different). In heavier rods is very hard to notice any difference in the weight at the tip section. Mostly because the whole rod is heavier and it is difficult to detect any small difference weight due to the wraps.
If you decide to go with the one foot guides, make sure to wrap ones or twice in front of the foot to anchor it. This prevent the foot to come lose when fishing.
Malevo

---

I prefer snake guides on all of my rods for no good reason except I like them.

I have so much trouble keeping single foot guides in place to wrap them that I've gone back to snakes.

Are ya' a "boat guy" or do you primarily wade?

Single foots tend to be a little more delicate, so if you primarily fish out of a boat, I'd suggest snakes...

But in the end, it's personal preference...

Bowfin47,

I primarily wade. And I could see how single foots would be less durable. Thanks for the info!

Joe

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bowfin47

Are ya' a "boat guy" or do you primarily wade?

Single foots tend to be a little more delicate, so if you primarily fish out of a boat, I'd suggest snakes...

But in the end, it's personal preference...

---

While I build however the client wants, even my own personal 8wt has single foot zirconium guides on it, and has never posed a single issue. My wife's new SHX 9' 5wt that I am building her for the San Juan next month will even have minima single foots on it. A lot of it I feel is just strictly personal preference, and asthetics to most people, just like the fact that you really do not need more than 3 sizes of guides on a build.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Goduster

While I build however the client wants, even my own personal 8wt has single foot zirconium guides on it, and has never posed a single issue. My wife's new SHX 9' 5wt that I am building her for the San Juan next month will even have minima single foots on it. A lot of it I feel is just strictly personal preference, and asthetics to most people, just like the fact that you really do not need more than 3 sizes of guides on a build.

---

Exactly how I feel.

I've only built a few rods but your comment about 3 sizes makes sense. Other than looks ,is there any reason to be so picky about guide size? Be interested to know what guides you use on various sized rods. It would certainly cut down on inventory if you were building a lot of rods.
Peter

For snake guides, I primarily use the Snake brand universals. No prep required, and the concave design on the foot lets them sit very well on the blank. For the single foot, I use a variety of different one's with Minima's the most

Asking about single foot or snake guides on a rod is like asking graphite of bamboo. It all comes down to personal preference. personally I find single foot just to delicate and off putting in looks. I like snake guides because it gives more satisfaction in the time spent on the rod. To me single foot give the hurried or quick finish. But that is to me. I never knock anyone on the guides they use.

Joe;
There is a trick to wrapping single foot guides that has a name that escapes me right now but I'll show you how to do it next time I see you. On a 4 wt. rod single food guides will be just fine!

I cannot tell if performance is different but I prefer the snake. I'm not sure if there's any noticeable difference in weight. The snake feels and I believe is more secure. The snake are actually easier to wrap(at least for me).

Allan

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jack Hise

Joe;
There is a trick to wrapping single foot guides that has a name that escapes me right now but I'll show you how to do it next time I see you. On a 4 wt. rod single food guides will be just fine!

---

Jack,
I think what you are referring to here is the "Forhan loop". Here is a link to a description of how to do it:
http://www.rodbuilding.org/library/forhan.html
Regards,
Ted

prefer snake guides to single foot

I have used both and find snake guides easier to hold in place while wrapping. Using guide foot adhesive made wrapping single foots much easier. As far as weight/performance goes, I can't tell the difference... It seems that knots pass through snakes a little easier.

your results may vary.