Fuji hardloy guides

[parr]

Has anyone used the Fuji single foot Hardloy guides on a rod that you have built.

I can't decide if I like all of the guides with the ceramic stuff in them. They seem too restricting or they just don't look right to me. I would appreciate some input from anyone with experience with them.

Thanks in advance

[Cary]

are you taking about the ceramic singlefoot fly guides? I have built many rods with these (SIC and Cermet, not hardloy), and all in all, I prefer good quality wire snake guides.

[ScottT]

I built a 7'6" 3 weight with the aforementioned Fuji guides and I didn't care for "the look" of the finished rod - resembled an ultralight spin rod. I took them off - before flexcoating, thankfully - and replaced them w/ single-foot wire guides.

True to form with my usual mantra for any project...
"A job's just not worth doing unless you can make it twice as difficult and tedious as it needs to be"!

But, I have used their hardloy tiptops on several rods - very wear resistant!

ScottT

[parr]

Thanks

Ya, I think the look will bother me more than anything, so back they go. Like yourself SottT, I always make it twice as difficult.

Another question,
I am having a hard time finding a 7'6" 3 wt blank that is not over $100. Any suggestions anyone?

[Lonnie]

http://www.rod-blanks.com/c210541.2.html
We have an overstock of High modulus graphite rod blanks. We sell them for $15.00 each. We have sold over 4000 in less than a year! Our rod blanks are from an un-named source and are not under any warranty. They are guarenteed not to be bent, broken or in any way unusable. Some may have small finish blemishes


You all knew that was coming didn't you....

L

[Curtis Fry]

Yep.

You can also try Pacific Bay blanks. Greg at Lone Peak in AF carries them. You can also find them online at www.hookhack.com

I have a 4 pc 4 wt I built last month and I love it. The blank cost only $50 or so.

[THeBLender]

and I don't know how good I got since THeBLender sux at judging quality, but my wife got me a whole 7'6" 3wt kit (blank, guides, tip top, handle, reel seat) for $35 from http://nealsfishingtackle.com/

I think it was a "weekly special" but you could call him and see what he could swing for you.

[ScottT]

I have built both a 7'6" / 3wt St. Croix (Avid???) and a Redington - both were quite affordable and both perform equally well. The St. Croix seems a bit lighter.

For what it's worth...
A small 6" tapered grip with a Struble slip-ring reel seat is a beauty of a match for a blank of the above specs. Anything else is overkill and adds too much weight to the finished rod. Same rule goes for both fly rods and women - butt-heavy is not a desirable attribute.

Contrary to some, I've NEVER had a slip-ring seat let my reel go for a swim. But I also, almost unconsciously, tend check it now and then. I also prefer a 2-piece rod when the overall length is so short (unless you've got a Concealed Fly Rod Permit). Too many ferrules on a little featherweight rod just "looks/feels" wrong. Kind of like the Fuji guides mentioned above or double-foot snakes.

Lastly...
Don't hang some big 'ol 5/6 disk-drag reel on such a lightweight stick - this really destroys the feel. There's some really sweet inexpensive 2/3 wt. reels (why would anyone need an expensive drag mechanism - it's a 3 weight "crik" rod!) out there. I have a little Martin that is a perfect fit, probably paid less than 25 bucks for it.

Lastly...
THE MOST fragile piece of fly-fishing equipment in the world (seriously) is the last 6" of the tip section of a 3 weight fly rod!

ScottT