Hello, I've been wondering if there is any particular reason why heavier weight fly rods or Spey rods should use heavier gauge wire snake guides than light? Is it due to looks? Or is there a performance issue with using light wire guides with thicker/heavier line? I find it somewhat hard to believe it would be due to strength of guide since it's double foot and wrapped twice but I could be wrong! Thinking of putting light wire guides (Sz 4 so it should have a large enough opening for knots) on a Spey Rod for reduced weight. Any thoughts on this is appreciated! Thanks!

Light wire guides are fine for fishing. It's the handling of the rod in transport and storage where the issue of how much strength you need creeps in. If you take good care of your equipment, I think the advantage of lighter weight along rod will pay off in a crisper, more enjoyable rod to fish with. If you anticipate a lot of banging, bumping, etc. then they may not be the best choice.

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Tom

What is your thinking with regard to heavier rods for the salt? I've typically abandoned the light wire guides for 8 weight and above. Guide size takes care of knot passage, but I've restored to standard wire just because. Maybe that is not necessary?

Just depends on handling. The light wire is more than adequate for fish fighting, but not good where a little rougher handling is expected. Of course, on heavier rods, the slight additional weight of the standard wire guides isn't going to be as noticeable as it is on much lighter fly rods, so the standard guides may remain the best choice for the rods you mention.

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And, there may be a "wear factor".
We have replaced guides on rods that have been used hard by local Trout fishing guides.
The worst worn (grooved) were the lighter wire ones.
And if unplated as on some lower end rods, they wear much faster.

Best wishes,
Ron Schneider
Schneider's Rod Shop
Mountain Home, Arkansas
[www.schneidersrods.com]
mtnron40@yahoo.com
870-424-3381

Light wire is flexible. If you bump one leg of a light wire guide it can "pop out" from under the wrapping, unless both legs of each guide have several Forhan wraps covered with epoxy - which lessen any weight saving from lighter guides.

Would be interested to know how ones does Forhan locking wraps on a double footed guide.

The lite wire Snake Brand guides do not flex any where near what the recoil memory wire guides do. Never had a single one pop out of the wrapping

Ron Weber

I do Forhan wraps on light double foot guides by hand. When I have almost completed my wrap I cut the tying thread, maintaining tension on the wraps with the fingers of one hand, leaving a foot or so of thread to complete the wrap. I use my fingers to make the turns around the guide foot (Forhan wrap) and around the blank, maintaining thread tension all the while. Then I pass the tag end of my wrapping thread through my whip-finish loop, pull it through, and I'm done. I do the other foot the same way. It's easy.

Sid,
Guide strength should be proportional to the strength of the blank at the mounting position.
The guide will only see the strength supplied by the blank.
On blanks with small diameter tips lighter wire guides are a better choice.
I've used light wire guides on 8 weight fly rods because I fish light tippet and the stronger guide would be overkill.
The lighter guides also reduce break-offs on the hook set due to decreased inertia and better feel of the rod tip.

Gene