Buying guides

[DirtyDeuceGoose]

Did a little searching but couldn't find exactly what I was looking for. A buddy of mine that I now live close to does some rod building on the side and I have a couple rods that I want him to redo the guides on. Looking to downsize to semi micros, think along the lines of Orochi XX guides. I understand spacing will come into play as well, but how exactly does one buy guides?? As a set or as individual guides? I've cruised mudhole a little bit but figured I would ask the wealth of knowledge here. Thanks in advance to all who chime in on this. Looking for good, quality guides and the best way to buy them!

[breazy]

You can buy them in sets or one at a time, its really dependant upon what you are looking for and if they come on kit form where you're buying from

[Jrob78]

Buy them individually.  Unless a set happens to have exactly what you want, it's a waste.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I'll make this easy for you: Fuji Alconite blag 6, kb4.5x2, k4.5 runners to the tip. Total guides 1 for each foot of Rod length plus 2. Order a couple extras. Top with a bfat 4.5 tip top. Tube size in mm or 64ths "

[DirtyDeuceGoose]

Just the guy I was hoping would chime in. Thanks, exactly what I was looking for, from both of you!

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Don't let him go nuts with extra guides. Line touching on a deep bend is no problem. Just as long as it doesn't dip below the Rod giving a bow string look and has even angles you're good. 

[DirtyDeuceGoose]

@dwtaylor Yes, I'm talking about you here. 

[FloridaFishinFool]

Not trying to throw a wrench into the works, but are you looking for single foot guides or double foot guides?

I think the micro guides mentioned by DVT are single foot guides. I prefer something stronger and my personal preference is for double foot guides, but to each their own!

I am in the middle of doing a rod now with double foot micro guides using this type:

Fuji BLCAG "Low Rider" Double Foot Guides

As I recall, in the Mudhole book they are called surf rod guides because of their strength, but are just fine for bass rods too!

Some of my rods will see fish much bigger than bass like redfish, snook, permit, tarpon, etc. and I want some guides that can handle a heavier load. But whatever works for you!

[Jrob78]

56 minutes ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

Not trying to throw a wrench into the works, but are you looking for single foot guides or double foot guides?

I think the micro guides mentioned by DVT are single foot guides. I prefer something stronger and my personal preference is for double foot guides, but to each their own!

I am in the middle of doing a rod now with double foot micro guides using this type:

Fuji BLCAG "Low Rider" Double Foot Guides

As I recall, in the Mudhole book they are called surf rod guides because of their strength, but are just fine for bass rods too!

Some of my rods will see fish much bigger than bass like redfish, snook, permit, tarpon, etc. and I want some guides that can handle a heavier load. But whatever works for you!

Do you use the double footed guides all the way to the tip on rods used solely for bass?  You don't feel like this mostly negates the benefits of micro guides?

[FloridaFishinFool]

Latest spiral wrap using double foot guides all the way to the tip.

I use single foot micro guides on my medium light and light tackle rods, but not on anything heavier like medium to medium heavy. Besides, the double foot micro guides look great too!

Another member here recommended this type to me and I am using this brand and type on a rod I am building right now. Here is an image of his rod using these double foot guides:

This image was posted by forum member pgersumky on this thread about spiral wrapping a rod:

 

I believe this is on his 9' surf rod:

I previously used a different guide just a little bigger in size than these called the BSTG also double foot all the way to the tip. It is a titanium oxide guide for heavier use as well. I just went to Mudhole here locally and purchased the individual double-foot Fuji BLCAG micro guides I need to do a 6'6" MH VF rod for bass fishing.

Double foot all the way to the tip. And these double foot guides also work well on spinning rods too.

Just yesterday I was out on the St. Johns river doing some bass fishing and guess who trolled on past me? The Ranger MHX Mudhole boat. Small world. Stay out of my fishing spot Mudhole!  But, see you on Tuesday to pick up some more rod parts!

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Double foot are overkill. I've never had a Fuji single foot fail.  Double feet also means double thread and double finish which altogether adds enough weight to dampen a highly sensitive blank. I've rewrapped several older Allstar and Castaway rods recently replacing the oversized double foot guides and the clients couldn't believe they were the same Rod. To each his own though. That's the beauty of custom. 

[Jrob78]

I'm familiar with those guides and have used them but I really never use more than 1 dbl footed guide on a build, even if they are micro guides and sometimes I don't use any.  I agree with DVT, the single footed Fuji guides have never failed me and the weight savings at the tip is critical.

If it is working for you, that's all that matters though.

[FloridaFishinFool]

1 hour ago, Jrob78 said:

I'm familiar with those guides and have used them but I really never use more than 1 dbl footed guide on a build, even if they are micro guides and sometimes I don't use any.  I agree with DVT, the single footed Fuji guides have never failed me and the weight savings at the tip is critical.

If it is working for you, that's all that matters though.

Never noticed any negligible weight addition that mattered for a few guides. A non-issue for me.

I do a lot of inshore fishing and I want the extra strength. You know the old saying it is better to have and not need than to need and not have? It applies here:

Okuma Shadow Stalker Inshore Spinning Rods

"Shadow Stalker rods rods feature powerful and sensitive 24-Ton carbon fiber construction, and are finished with ALPS stainless steel double foot guides."

------------------

EU PRO BAIT CASTING GRAPHITE ROD 
IM-8 GRAPHITE
7' 0" 
10-20lb CLASS 
1/4 - 1 oz.
DOUBLE FOOT GUIDES

----------------------

Yokozuna Str3 Series 3.00 m (30 - 70 gr). Carbon blank. SIC double-foot guides.

---------------

http://www.onthewater.com/fishing-tutorials/fishermans-workbench-rod-building-guide/what-you-need-to-know-about-rod-guides/

Single Foot vs. Double Foot

Many rodbuilders like single-foot guides because they have less of an impact on the rod’s action, and wrapping them on the rod requires half the work of double-foot guides. For rods intended for heavy-duty use with large species, double-foot guides are a better choice as they will stay securely anchored and resist twisting, even under heavy loads.

----------

As I said above, I do a lot of inshore fishing and catch redfish, snook, permit, tarpon, and other species that are quite large some over 4 feet in length. I will not use single foot micro guides because they are not rated for such fishing and rod manufacturers agree as shown above. Numerous rod manufacturers use double foot guides because they are stronger.

Match the guide to the fishing is how I see it.

If all I did was bass fishing and every fish was under 24 inches, then yeah maybe I would just use single foot guides.

ADDED:

I'm gonna tell ya, you guys have backed me up a bit here. The rod I am building right now is specifically for bass fishing. I have no plans on using it for inshore, and because of this I will now put on hold my plans for doing it with double foot guides all the way to the tip.

DVT is right, it just might be a bit of overkill.

I am going to Mudhole on Tuesday anyways, and I will now purchase some single foot micro guides for the running guides on my 6'6" bass rod. But I assume ya'll would agree I can get away with using double foot guides for the stripper and bumper guides?

But on my next bass/inshore rod I am on the fence as to whether or not I should give the "weaker" single foot guide a chance on big redfish and snook.

I will have to rethink my bass-only rods... maybe you can teach an old dog a new trick.

And its half the work!  DVT I think I am getting you figured out!

[Jrob78]

I can understand wanting added strength for inshore fishing.  I've never caught big reds but I imagine they can wreck tackle that isn't up to the task.

I see no benefit to using more than one double footed guide on bass rods and I've had really good success not using any.  

[FloridaFishinFool]

I am with you and single foot guides if all I did was this:

But I also do this- and I prefer double foot guides for this type of fishing:

34 inch redfish 2015- one out of many... and how about some snook upwards of 4 feet long? Single or double guides? The experts say go with the heavier double foot guides for this. So to the OP on this thread, consider your fishing needs before making your decision!

 

[Big Bait Fishing]

6 hours ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

Latest spiral wrap using double foot guides all the way to the tip.

I use single foot micro guides on my medium light and light tackle rods, but not on anything heavier like medium to medium heavy. Besides, the double foot micro guides look great too!

Another member here recommended this type to me and I am using this brand and type on a rod I am building right now. Here is an image of his rod using these double foot guides:

This image was posted by forum member pgersumky on this thread about spiral wrapping a rod:

 

I believe this is on his 9' surf rod:

I previously used a different guide just a little bigger in size than these called the BSTG also double foot all the way to the tip. It is a titanium oxide guide for heavier use as well. I just went to Mudhole here locally and purchased the individual double-foot Fuji BLCAG micro guides I need to do a 6'6" MH VF rod for bass fishing.

Double foot all the way to the tip. And these double foot guides also work well on spinning rods too.

Just yesterday I was out on the St. Johns river doing some bass fishing and guess who trolled on past me? The Ranger MHX Mudhole boat. Small world. Stay out of my fishing spot Mudhole!  But, see you on Tuesday to pick up some more rod parts!

i guess there is a misunderstanding , i only use 1 double foot micro guide ( BLCAG) as the stripper guide , the rest are all size 4 single foot American Tackle Artus Heavy Duty micro guides (11 to be exact !!) and it's not a surf rod , i do not saltwater fish . that is a swimbait rod !!! as far as the single foot micro guides holding up , i throw up to 15 oz. swimbaits with that rod .......

[Big Bait Fishing]

to elaborate on my previous post , i throw a lot of swimbaits , mostly 5 oz - 15 oz. , the St. Croix Big Nasty 9'H/F is a big bait stick , 5 oz. Hudds barely load up , it's sweet spot is between 8 -13 oz. , but can handle baits up to 16 oz. .a lot of people think micro guides are for light baits but trust me , they can handle BIG baits ! i use the AT Artus heavy duty guides cause the have a thicker neck , making them less prone to folding up and/or breaking . they are the only micro guide i will use , for regular rods i use the size 3 guides (still with the BLCAG size 5 double foot stripper guide )

[black94gt50]

On January 15, 2016 at 6:36 PM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

I'll make this easy for you: Fuji Alconite blag 6, kb4.5x2, k4.5 runners to the tip. Total guides 1 for each foot of Rod length plus 2. Order a couple extras. Top with a bfat 4.5 tip top. Tube size in mm or

Ive been looking at all the Fuji micros since I'm about to start building a micro rod. When you say kb 4.5 is it the bkbag part number? And the k 4.5, I can't exactly find in my catalog. Could you provide a part number? 

Thanks in advance for your time.

 

[black94gt50]

Figured it out. Found Fuji pdf catalog explaining the guide part numbers.