05-28-2004, 07:58 PM
Rod Tech...Your Guide to Guides Part II
Kurt Schirado | Apr 26, 2004
Your Guide to Guides...
How the Fenwick Guide System improves fishing performance.
There are big ones. Little ones. Wire, ceramic and steel ones. Guides are integral components in the performance of a quality fishing rod, and Fenwick's SS304 Guide System represents the leading edge of guide technology and application.
Originally designed as a simple wire curly-cue, early fishing rod guides had but one purpose: to hold the line close to the rod in order to distribute tension evenly along the length of the blank while fighting fish. Manufacturers discovered guides improved the shock-absorbing characteristics of the rod, reducing both line and rod breakage. Another plus was that they improved casting distance by more efficiently "feeding" the line to the rod tip. Guides were good.
But there were problems. Fishing is wet. Wet corrodes wire. Corrosion chews line. Fish break chewed line. Not to mention the curly-cue design caused excessive line "flap" on the cast, and corrosion increased friction. There was definitely room for improvement.
Evolution...
Ceramics. Smooth, non-corrosive and hard. Ceramic guide inserts were a definite improvement over stamped steel, and back patting ensued throughout the industry as most rod makers flocked to this new technology. But there were still problems. Ceramic inserts were heavy, which compromised rod balance and sensitivity. They were brittle, and would often break and fall out of the guide frame. Plus, they were more expensive.
Plated stainless-steel inserts seemed to be the answer. Guide inserts were designed with various alloys to promote smoothness and durability. There was chrome. And there was the ultimate. Titanium. As good as it gets.
A New Concept...
In today's technology, titanium is the ultimate fishing guide alloy. It's lighter, harder, smoother and more durable than anything out there. Guide frames with SS304 (stainless steel) inserts coated with titanium deliver better performance in all aspects of casting, retrieving and fish-fighting guide dynamics.
But there's more to optimum guide performance than smoother and more durable. Fenwick employs the Concept Guide System, a complex formula of guide size, number, placement and design to enhance specific rod actions and applications. In short, the appropriate Fenwick Concept Guide System vastly improves rod performance, whether you're bobbing for panfish, worming for bass or jigging for walleye.
On first glance, you'll notice the guides are generally smaller in diameter and lower in height. There are more of them, and they're not necessarily spaced evenly. And if you compare Fenwick rods of different lengths and actions, you'll notice the guide patterns and numbers are different. Optimum guide application for each and every Fenwick rod action. Ah, science.
How it Works...
Guides affect virtually every aspect of fishing rod performance. And since different rods are designed to perform differently according to fish species and presentation technique, it follows that the guide patterns would be different in order to enhance that performance.
[ul] [li]Sensitivity - Rod sensitivity is affected by the weight of the rod tip and number of guides. The lighter the tip, the higher the sensitivity. And the more guides, the faster the vibration is transferred through the blank. You feel more bites, more quickly.
[li]Casting Distance - Casting distance is affected by the number, size, height and position of the guides along the rod blank. In essence, the straighter and more efficiently the line is fed through the guides, combined with the least amount of friction, the longer the cast.
[li]Accuracy - The lower the frame and smaller the diameter of the tip section of guides, the greater the accuracy of the cast. Similar to an on-target follow-through in the throwing of an object, this feature ensures a more accurate delivery of the cast.
[li]Balance - The balance of the rod is affected by the weight of the guides. Lighter guide weight, especially at the tip, results in greater comfort while fishing, as well as greater sensitivity in detecting strikes, simply because the rod's balance is not tip-heavy.
[li]Line Twist - In spinning rods, the greater the number of guides, the less line twist will occur. Since line comes off a spinning reel in a spiral motion, line twist in inherent in spinning gear. Guides remove most of that line twist on the retrieve, especially under fighting tension. Thus, the more guides, the more twist is eliminated.
[li]Hooking Power - The hooking power of any rod is directly related to the number of guides. Because more guides keep the line closer to the body of the blank, less energy is lost on the hookset, that is, more of the strength and action of the rod is brought into play.
[li]Fighting Power - More guides, placed at more strategic locations along the rod blank, increase the fish-fighting power of the rod, whatever the action. Since more guides distribute more direct energy to the rod through line tension, "weak" spots are eliminated and more rod power is applied.[/li][/ul]
Fishing is Fun...
With the proper quide system, you'll cast farther and more accurately. Improve your ability to feel bottom structure and detect lighter bites. Increase your hook-setting and fish-fighting power.
In a nutshell, you'll increase your odds of catching more fish, and have a lot more fun fishing.
Editors Note: Some of the above information was supplied by the technical staff at Pure Fishing (Fenwick). For more details on Fenwick and Berkley fishing rods, log on to [url "http://www.purefishing.com/"][#0000ff]www.purefishing.com[/#0000ff][/url].
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