I need some help deciding on guide sizes for a 9ft 9wt flyrod. I’m thinking of using: 3,3,3,3,3,3,4,5, 12stripper, 16stripper and a large tip. I use loop to loop connectors so I’m hoping this will let them pass thru the guides easily. Does this sizing sound about right or any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks Mike
Ricinus;
Check Al Campbell’s vol. 8 in “Features”, “Graphite Rod Building”.
There is a guide size chart there.
What a legacy he has left behind.
Thanks Jack
The article on rod building is excellent as are the other articles available on the site. I use Al’s article as a guide to build and refer to it often.
Regards Mike
Why not end with 4,5,6 instead of 3,4,5 ?
Joe
Hi Joe
I haven’t come across any recommendations to use a size 6 other than for saltwater. My main concern is that the size3 might be too big.
Thanks Mike
I don’t think 3 is too big but I think you have too many. Maybe 3,3,3,4,4,4,5,5 or 6
Joe
Thanks for all the ideas. I think I will go with 333,444,55,12,16. The nice think about rod building is if you don’t like it it’s easily changed. Regards Mike
It’s not the fish, It’s the fishing.
Mike:
I just built a 9’ 8wt on a Dan Craft blank for my father-in-law, and I’m starting on another for myself. I used the single foot ceramic insert guides. They really look nice on the rod. I wish I’d taken some pics of my father-in-law’s rod, but here’s a link to the components of the rod I’ll be building for me.
[url=http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bstacy1974/album?.dir=bcc4&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3A//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos:95801]http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bstacy1974/album?.dir=bcc4&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3A//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos[/url:95801]
The two stripper guides are 16 and 12. Then two 10 single foots. Then the rest are 8’s including the top.
By the look of the components, it looks like an awesome rod. I have one rod I built using single foot guides and it looks great but I prefer the look of snake guides. Call me a traditionalist,old fashioned or just plain old!!
Regards Mike
It’s not the fish, It’s the fishing.
You might note that most of the rod manufactures only use the single-foot guides on rods 5wt and under. The theory is that the double-foot guides are stronger (including the wraps) on the heavier rods and for example the stripping guide(s) are subject to more stress due to heavier lines,
double haul and fighting larger fish.
LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL
I have read that the double foot guides spread the stress over a greater area and so are stronger. Also the double foot stiffens a rod and makes for a different action than if singles were used. Single foot guides supposedly keep the weight down and allow line to shoot better. I guess the only way to decide would be to build one of each and see which you preferred. (Oh-Oh, this is starting to feel like a slippery slope!!)
Regards Mike
It’s not the fish, It’s the fishing.