Rod Building Modern guide sizing

[Wetswinger]

https://www.rodbuilding.org/library/fly_rod_guide_sizing.pdf

I’ve read about this on some spin/cast sites and find it interesting. Seems to be the modern way, using more, smaller guides. On NFC’s placement charts they specify 11 guides on a 9’ rod, one more than traditional. And getting down to one size guide for the majority of the rod, after the stripping guides, is bucking tradition also.

 

[Chucker]

Using more, smaller, guides is the way it was done in the 1960’s and 70’s. There really is nothing new in fly fishing.

 

[Salmo_g]

Look at the guides on old cane rods from before WWII. Very small, even the stripper. Then guide got larger on fiberglass, staying the same on graphite until the 90s and early 00s for saltwater rods, then on all rods it seems like. So now they're going the other way?

 

[Wetswinger]

Yes, except that the stripper and first guide are larger then back in the day. Even more so for saltwater rods..For me that’s all good except I am challenged to get these larger, single sized guides wrapped properly up on the skinny tip section.