I use a lot of Minima fly guides on spinning and casting rods. Do any of you guys use them on fly rods. If so what sizes do you run on lighter and heavier rods for sizes, and any particular tip tops?

I use Minimas many times, and I only build fly rods. A just finished 9wt had these sizes, 16, 12, 10, 8 & 7's. A recent 5wt had these, 12,10,5, and 3's. Some customers do not want them and insist on wire.

I just built a 10 foot five weight as a tow-handed rod. I used size 6's for the running guides and tip, and I believe a size 12 and 8 as the stripper guides.

I like the guides but don't care for the bigger foot. I think the rest of the fly rods I'll build I'll likely stick to wire guides for the running guides. They just a smaller amount of materials in comparison to minimas.

Grind the foot down or file them

Bill - willierods.com

I've found them to be the best all-around guides to use on fly rods. Keep in mind that they have a larger opening for the given size than do ceramic guides. The #5 is a good al-around size. On heavier line weight rods, you might opt for the #6, which has about the same opening on a #8 ceramic but at a fraction of the weight.

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What tip top do you like to run with these as fly rods guides Tom?

Also, how heavy of line weights have you run with the size 6's? Looking to do a 10 wt.

Thanks - Marc

Keep it simple - that's all I can handle!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/08/2016 06:39AM by Marc Morrone.

If I were going to do a 10-weight and expected to encounter any L to L connections, I'd most likely go to 8's or 10's for running guides. They're really lightweight so you don't have to pay much if any penalty for moving up a size. And keep in mind they're a mm or more larger in actual opening than ceramics of the same size.

I often use a Fuji Titanium tiptop on rods I build with Minima guides just to eliminate friction and wear at this particular point. But on lighter rods I've gone with the standard Minima tiptop and have had no issues.

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I was using a Model PT tip in a size 6 to match the running guides.

With this particular rod I have been trying a 6 weight Skagit line, which seems to have plenty of room to spare with the size 6 running guides. Keep in mind though it is a fully integrated line so there are no loops for the shooting head/running line connections.

Thanks Guys!

How does the ID of a size 3 minima guide compare to standard wire guides?