Sage recommends only one #12 stripping guide for this 11 1/2 ft 4 wt switch rod. This seems strange to me. I would have expected at least two. Have any of you built on the 4116 blank? Did sage go with only one stripper to save weight? Trying to decide if im going to follow sages recommendation or modify for two strippers. Any input would be appreciated.

There is only one stripper guide on any fly rod so I'm assuming you mean Sage only uses one ceramic guide instead of two .Most of the power you can apply to the fish is found in the lower section of the blank - the bottom third. While not having a ceramic guide there won't stop you from applying that power, ceramics are better when it comes to a long wearing surface. On a rod of that length and in that position, any tiny bit of additional weight from a 2nd ceramic guide would be of no practical concern. My guess is that Sage was more concerned with saving money than weight.

If you like the idea of using 2 ceramic guides, I'd do it. It's your rod, after all.

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