I'm thinking about getting a custom build and wondering what the best options for guides are at the moment.
It will be a set of rods aimed at distance fishing, probably with Harrison aviator blanks.
The main options seem to be kigan, fuji, vortex air or minimas.
Any to avoid or recommendations would be appreciated
It will be a set of rods aimed at distance fishing, probably with Harrison aviator blanks.
The main options seem to be kigan, fuji, vortex air or minimas.
Any to avoid or recommendations would be appreciated
In reply to Post #1
Avoid minimas , they bend far too easily in my experience vortex are stronger in that respect , Personally i would have kigans or fujis in any model over the previous 2 both tried and tested , it also depends on how much you want to spend , a top set of guides can add £200 to a build ,and the most important bit of info for you get a 40ml ringset over 50ml.
Avoid minimas , they bend far too easily in my experience vortex are stronger in that respect , Personally i would have kigans or fujis in any model over the previous 2 both tried and tested , it also depends on how much you want to spend , a top set of guides can add £200 to a build ,and the most important bit of info for you get a 40ml ringset over 50ml.
In reply to Post #2
I've still got minimas on my rods from when they were first put on carp rods , by cotswolds rods. Over 8 years ago now. Never had any issue with them bending. 🤷♂️
I've still got minimas on my rods from when they were first put on carp rods , by cotswolds rods. Over 8 years ago now. Never had any issue with them bending. 🤷♂️
In reply to Post #3
I said from my experience, which when i used to do refurbs for my then local tackle shops, rods with minimas came in weekly for guide replacements.That is the reason harrisons wont use them and went for vortex after a number of years testing.
I said from my experience, which when i used to do refurbs for my then local tackle shops, rods with minimas came in weekly for guide replacements.That is the reason harrisons wont use them and went for vortex after a number of years testing.
In reply to Post #2
I find the 40mm v 50mm debate quite interesting! The main reason for 50mm seems to be the resale value (not relevant as I would not be intending to sell them...)
Are the K series guides worth considering? If so which version?
I find the 40mm v 50mm debate quite interesting! The main reason for 50mm seems to be the resale value (not relevant as I would not be intending to sell them...)
Are the K series guides worth considering? If so which version?
In reply to Post #5
As a rod builder the resale value does,nt come into it , as i have said on here over and over 50ml on a fishing rod and that is the point a FISHING ROD are of no benefit at all, they get broke very easily and are just downright a pain in the arse to put in rod bags etc, k series are decent guides in any guise if you go smaller .
As a rod builder the resale value does,nt come into it , as i have said on here over and over 50ml on a fishing rod and that is the point a FISHING ROD are of no benefit at all, they get broke very easily and are just downright a pain in the arse to put in rod bags etc, k series are decent guides in any guise if you go smaller .
I had the Fuji Alconite K type rings (40mm) on my Aviator Plus, very pleased with them.
In reply to Post #4
Okay 👍 In your experience then in what way do they bend? Is it the circle of the ring being bent out of shape it the legs ? Double or singles? The reason I ask when Tom pollard first fitted minimas on carp rods. A well know rod builder rubbished them after he did ‘extensive' testing on them. Yet not so many years after was offering minimas on his custom builds. Shortly after that there was a shortage of availability of minima's apparently due to shimano buying up the current stock at the time for their own rods . Then not long after Nash fitted them on the scope range. I've had a few sets of custom rods over the years . Never been told to stay away from minima's. I'm just curious as to what your experience is based on. As I've never heard anyone say anything bad about them. The only thing for me where I wouldn't have them fitted to a rod was If that rod was ever going to be used with braid. In which case a ceramic lined guide is the obvious choice👍
Okay 👍 In your experience then in what way do they bend? Is it the circle of the ring being bent out of shape it the legs ? Double or singles? The reason I ask when Tom pollard first fitted minimas on carp rods. A well know rod builder rubbished them after he did ‘extensive' testing on them. Yet not so many years after was offering minimas on his custom builds. Shortly after that there was a shortage of availability of minima's apparently due to shimano buying up the current stock at the time for their own rods . Then not long after Nash fitted them on the scope range. I've had a few sets of custom rods over the years . Never been told to stay away from minima's. I'm just curious as to what your experience is based on. As I've never heard anyone say anything bad about them. The only thing for me where I wouldn't have them fitted to a rod was If that rod was ever going to be used with braid. In which case a ceramic lined guide is the obvious choice👍
I have set of 3.25 Torrix with 40s and a set of 12ft aviator plus with 50s.
I find the 50s less prone to frap ups, and have more confidence in them because of that. They are different reels on each so unsure if that is a factor.
I went for kigan 3ds on my aviators when they were built. Very pleased with them. Not sure what Fuji sics are like now days, but the ligand look much cleaner than the Fuji on the torrix.
Don't kigan make a k style guide now aswell? May be worth considering.
and rod bags for 50mm, either the Cotswold trident, or the thinking anglers elasticated sleeves work a treat. I prefer the sleeves of the 2 choices
I find the 50s less prone to frap ups, and have more confidence in them because of that. They are different reels on each so unsure if that is a factor.
I went for kigan 3ds on my aviators when they were built. Very pleased with them. Not sure what Fuji sics are like now days, but the ligand look much cleaner than the Fuji on the torrix.
Don't kigan make a k style guide now aswell? May be worth considering.
and rod bags for 50mm, either the Cotswold trident, or the thinking anglers elasticated sleeves work a treat. I prefer the sleeves of the 2 choices
In reply to Post #8
I said what my experience is based on , lots of rods rung with minimas needed guides changing , both double and single leg guides bent both on the legs but mostly on the circle, if you have had no problems with yours then thats good , they were probably used by nash and shimano as they were very cheap to buy , Around 6 years ago i built a chimera no2 with them to see how they were and purposely used braid , they did,nt groove at all which is what most rod builders told me they would, they may have over time i dont know, but they did bend both on the leg (dbl and single). .
I said what my experience is based on , lots of rods rung with minimas needed guides changing , both double and single leg guides bent both on the legs but mostly on the circle, if you have had no problems with yours then thats good , they were probably used by nash and shimano as they were very cheap to buy , Around 6 years ago i built a chimera no2 with them to see how they were and purposely used braid , they did,nt groove at all which is what most rod builders told me they would, they may have over time i dont know, but they did bend both on the leg (dbl and single). .
In reply to Post #10
Yes I understand you meant from your experience . It wasn't an attack on you're knowledge as a rod builder. I was genuinely interested to know. I get do get that single legs especially can bend , but alternatively can bend back in to place. As for the ring section getting bent , something must of happened for it to bend. Stood on or knocked for example. Metal just doesn't bend for no reason . There must be a cause . Unless of coarse Uri Gellar owned the rods. So assuming that's so and the ring did receive some sort of trauma . It would be safe to also assume that any other guide , ceramic lined or otherwise would also end up with a similar out come. My point is ,to simply say , that to stay away from minima's because they bend.Without actually stating how they got bent. Is a rather bold and sweeping statement to make . When the same thing could happen with any other guide given the same set circumstances.👍
Yes I understand you meant from your experience . It wasn't an attack on you're knowledge as a rod builder. I was genuinely interested to know. I get do get that single legs especially can bend , but alternatively can bend back in to place. As for the ring section getting bent , something must of happened for it to bend. Stood on or knocked for example. Metal just doesn't bend for no reason . There must be a cause . Unless of coarse Uri Gellar owned the rods. So assuming that's so and the ring did receive some sort of trauma . It would be safe to also assume that any other guide , ceramic lined or otherwise would also end up with a similar out come. My point is ,to simply say , that to stay away from minima's because they bend.Without actually stating how they got bent. Is a rather bold and sweeping statement to make . When the same thing could happen with any other guide given the same set circumstances.👍
In reply to Post #11
Having had various eyes on rods, and having Minimas on my aviators I'd have to agree with Jeff. Yeah any metal will bend, but the Minimas being so thin will bend more easily. If I was getting my rods built now, I'd not have Minimas . (And I'm extremely careful with my kit)
Having had various eyes on rods, and having Minimas on my aviators I'd have to agree with Jeff. Yeah any metal will bend, but the Minimas being so thin will bend more easily. If I was getting my rods built now, I'd not have Minimas . (And I'm extremely careful with my kit)
In reply to Post #12
Doubt you'll bend titanium guides or stainless and if you do your doing something very stupid.
Doubt you'll bend titanium guides or stainless and if you do your doing something very stupid.
In reply to Post #13
Stainless bends quite easily when it's that thin, having worked in the metals industry for a while a few years back I know that full well
Stainless bends quite easily when it's that thin, having worked in the metals industry for a while a few years back I know that full well
I bent, snapped and wore through minimas. The rods with Fuji alconite k series are completely as new
Not a fan of the minimas at all.
I think titanium frames actually flex more than steel but go back into shape, I found once the minimas were bent they became like cheese once bent back. Admittedly it was often my fault but it didn't happen with the Fuji's and they actually had a tougher time.
I'd have alconite k series on any rod I had built, 30s on 12 footers, 25s on 10s and 20s below that or on a specialist rod
Not a fan of the minimas at all.
I think titanium frames actually flex more than steel but go back into shape, I found once the minimas were bent they became like cheese once bent back. Admittedly it was often my fault but it didn't happen with the Fuji's and they actually had a tougher time.
I'd have alconite k series on any rod I had built, 30s on 12 footers, 25s on 10s and 20s below that or on a specialist rod