Fly Rod Guides

[Liljoe]

Can I use Ceramic ring guides instead of snake guides?If anybody has any ideas please let me know.

Thanks
LilJoe

[kbproctor]

Sure you can. Eagle Claw does it with their lightweight rods.

[Orthoman]

Don't know for sure but seems like it would start to add too much weight.

[Mike Thomas]

I have a Kilwell 11ft rod with full ceramic guides and it is a good rod, not sure how it would go on a smaller rod.
All the best.
Mike

[kbproctor]

I think it depends entirely on what you are after. Fuji makes some specifically for fly rods. I think Eagle Claw uses spinning guides because they already get them for dirt cheap due to the quantity they purchase, if they don't make them themselves. These are single foot guides.

For a knockabout rod, this would be great. If you are trying for a custom built rod on a Winston or T&T blank, then no. But for a knockaround rod on a $7 Ebay blank, why not?

[Walnutshoe]

Inserted ring guides are available in several different materials / thicknesses with more frame choices than you can shake a stick at. While not as light as wire guides, the weights have been drastically reduced. I prefer inserted rings on my personal rods for several reasons, but number one would be quietness.

[billknepp]

Check out Fox Statlers site for some great thoughts on fly rod design... Especially on guide choice!.. I've changed my habits when building rods!
www.willowford.net

[dunfly]

Absolutely you can use insert guides on fly rods. As indicated above, Fuji makes fly rod guides in about every series they have. American Tackle also makes a fly guides with a variety of inserts, as does Pac Bay. I prefer single foot wire guides myself, but the insert guides work very well with 6 wt + fly rods. They are particularly well suited to the new sharkskin type lines.

[LouT]

My ideal rod would have ceramic guides.

[Mato Kuwapi]

Check out Fox Statlers site for some great thoughts on fly rod design... Especially on guide choice!.. I've changed my habits when building rods!
www.willowford.net

That was interesting. I've heard something about this a couple of years ago from a friend that was designing a rod for the Canadian Youth Fly Fishing Team. He was mentioning the use of more guides than we currently use on rods today. If you've actually used Fox's formula, let me know how you think it feels like. Is the trade off of more weight worth it? I suppose it's worth experimenting with. I'm not too keen on using ceramics all they way up the rod. I've seen rods built that way though. I haven't take one out to cast so I really can't comment.