Re: Non-ceramic Fuji guides?
Posted by:
Mark Talmo
(---.dsl.lsan03.sbcglobal.net)
Date: June 15, 2017 02:13AM
Thank you Phil, Tom and Jim for responding. Your input is always highly valued and respected, whether from a newbie such as me or veteran rod builders alike. While I have been and most likely will remain a “Fuji-kind-of-guy, my innocence in rod building dictated trying a set of Minima TKZV / TKF simply to experience the difference. I have not finished the rod yet due to having to order a different size for one of the reduction guides than anticipated, but the weight (or lack thereof) is impressive. I almost hate to admit the Minima TKZVs were chosen to retain a more conventional “look” for this vintage UL Conolon. From a practical sense, the Minima “Ms” might have been a better choice, but then I might as well have used KLHs.
I have yet to spend more than $70.00 on a store-bought freshwater trout rod (yes, I am a cheap bas#*^d) and even the cheapest ($19,95) Eagle Claw Featherlight has never grooved a guide in over ten years using 2-4lb mono / flouro in the streams and lakes of the Eastern Sierra.
My point is that it seems ceramic guides are not always necessary, regardless of the weight savings. If so, then why carry the extra weight? Please do not get me wrong, I am and will remain a “Fuji guy” as they are the ones who wrote the book everyone else reads and devotes huge sums into R&D from which all of us benefit. I applaud them for that! But do not expect me to pay $80,00 for a Torsite-ringed guide when a <$10.00 guide will do. But in their defense, anyone would be hard-pressed to find a better guide than their KWs, KLs or KLHs (in Alconite).
Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.
