Where do you purchase your guides?

[fronty]

 

I just need to replace some guides on some Penn guides. The rods are not expensive. Should I just use Fuji guides? I noticed amazon sells some cheap kits. Where do you get your guides for budget type rods?

[crypt]

I go to mudhole,live 30 minutes away. I pretty much use Fuji guides.

[MickD]

Getbitoutdoors.com

 

Penn guides?  Meaning salt water?  Fuji has their new Corrosion Control stainless guides in a number of versions, some very affordable, so give them a look.  Call GetBit if you have questions.

[BoatSquirrel]

Another vote for Mudhole.com

[onthewater102]

Mudhole - I really like the LZR series of lightweight guides and the Ringlocks, both come with zirconium insert rings. 

[Alex from GA]

Mudhole has free shipping.

[gpnfish]

I second checking out mud hole and I really like the CRB LZR guides.  Very lightweight and I think pretty strong. Less expensive than Fuji guides.  To lay all my cards on the table, I have to admit I’m not a big Fuji fan anyway.  They are good guides, but I think there is a lot out that perform just as well (or better) in my opinion.  Sure, you won’t be able to say “I used Fuji guides”, but that doesn’t matter in the field!  Good luck on the guide replacement!

[Paul Roberts]

So far this winter I've ordered from Mudhole, Jann's, Getbit, and Barlow's. Only trouble has been shipping times (mostly pre-CV19). I've been modifying actions on blanks and ended up needing to re-order guides, twice! The 10-day waits have been rough. Just ordered from Barlow's though and, by tracking, that pkg is moving along! Phew!

[MickD]

How are you modifying actions? 

[ike8120]

LurePartsOnline.com 

Barlowstackle.com

Also there are some local tackle shops in my areas that sell rod building supplies.

[spoonplugger1]

I'm with Mick, how are you changing actions and why would you need to order new guides? Cutting a blank is the only way to change action I know of and it's always slower no matter what I do, just test the blank and get what you want before you cut and than order the guides. You don't need a tip top, or the perfect guide set to test and evaluate a blank.

[Paul Roberts]

Guides I ordered did not come smaller than 7. So I ordered 6s of another type. I guessed at tip sizes and missed on one blank. I am trying to slow the actions.

[.ghoti.]

Paul, you can not slow the inherent action of any blank by changing guides. You can install larger, heavier guides, which will reduce sensitivity, and slow the blanks recovery time. But the flex profile is what it is.

 

What are looking for in a rod? If you want a slower action rod, buy a slower action blank. There are many available.

 

As spoonplugger1 indicated, you can change action buy trimming the blank from either end. If you trimmed 6” from the butt end of a 7’ blank, you would have a shorter blank that would test out a bit slower in action. The change would show up in a CCS test, but it is doubtful you would notice the difference in actual use. If you took 6” off the tip, at would also test out as a slower action, but you would really notice the difference in use. The finished rod would be noticeably stiffer, and would not cast baits in the lower end of the weight range nearly as well. In my humble opinion, trimming from the tip is a good way to turn a good blank into a scrap blank.

 

If you must trim from the tip end, test it first. You can wrap on a running guide at the trimming location, and test.

 

I seem to recall, from one of your earlier posts, you are wanting soem rods duplicating the actions os some older rods. Don’t remember the details. But here is a suggestion for you.

 

http://www.anglersworkshop.com/SeekerBrand/S-Glass-Two-Piece-Trout-Blanks

 

I have built two of these for my brother, who shares your love of older slower actions rods. He likes them. A lot! Been thinking seriously about building one for myself. These are surprisingly light blanks for fiberglass. They have that buttery soft action, but they recover from casting a lot quicker than the old glass rods all of us old farts grew up with. 

 

[Paul Roberts]

Hi, @.ghoti.Thanks. I know I can't change an action via guides. I'm also not trying to duplicate older rods. And... the last thing I want is a soft blank.  I'm trimming blanks, at both ends. Been talking with someone at Batson, and it starts with the right length and power blank, and trimming from there. Looks like I have to go longer yet.

[.ghoti.]

Ah. So sorry. Was making an assumption based on my poor memory of older posts.

 

Iy you are working with Batson, you’re getting more expertise than I have to offer. 
 

good luck.

[Paul Roberts]

Oh, no worries. Playing around with blanks. I have some ideas. But that's pretty much what they are right now.

[.ghoti.]

Well, I, for one would like to hear what you learn from the experiments.

[Paul Roberts]

To be clear I'm not working with anyone at Batson, just some suggestions by them via email. What I'm able to do is pretty limited right now with other priorities and budget constraints. But, I'm a curious sort. Paul

[bogfrog]

All American Tackle guides are 316 alloy stainless frames that I have never seen corrode, as some other brands claiming to be 316 alloy will do.

Aside from the Halide ring models, all other guides have zirconia rings (nanolite, duralite).

Zirconia is what synthetic diamonds are normally built from.

Low and mid range Fuji guides use aluminum oxide rings, which is what sandpaper is made with. These grade Fuji guides are usually 304 or 308 stainless alloy frames, which is not as strong as the 316 and far less corrosion resistant.

You dont need ultra high quality guides in most situations, but in the salt, corrosion resistance has to be a concern.

[bogfrog]

A note on trimming blanks. You can increase lure weight slightly by trimming the tip, but any gains made on the top end of lure weight will be doubly lost at the botton end of the spectrum. While it might seem like the power and line weight increases as the tip is trimmed, it only an illusion. 

If you need to trim more than a half inch to an inch from the tip you have the wrong blank to begin with.