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A Concave Radius Universal Guide (patented technology)
- October 17, 2022
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Prior to our introduction of the Universal Guide we analyzed guides available in the market and noted that a flat stamped guide foot does not mate well to the round rod blank. With this in mind we designed the guide to have a concave radius on the entire undersurface of the guide foot. The benefits of this new design were improved alignment and orientation to the rod blank as well as more surface contact. We were also able to lower the profile to the rod blank thus minimizing any epoxy build-ups. Reduction in weight is critical in achieving improved cast performance.
We recognized in our early findings that again the Competitors’ Guides with their flat stamped foot created gaps between the top of the guide foot and the rod blank, which in turn required more epoxy to be used and added more weight. We addressed this by creating a convex radius thus reducing gaps between the guide and the rod blank. Again, another weight reduction and performance enhancement.
When we examined our competition’s guides we noticed that guide feet were often ground at different angles. Some guides had very sharp points that could pierce into the rod blank. Often guide feet were not in alignment. Many of these items required labor to be expended during the wrapping process. With this in mind we tapered the toe to allow the thread to climb onto the guide foot. We stamp our guide feet in dies to ensure the all guides of a particular size have the same foot lengths on both feet. We also designed our own forming machines that allow our guides to sit flat, to have the feet in alignment and to be burr free.
Almost twenty years ago we recognized that weight affected even the finest designed fly rods and with this in mind we assigned a wire diameter to each guide size to complement its location on the rod.
Snake Brand, has been studying cast dynamics for almost 20 years. We have long understood that line speed and casting distance are significantly diminished as the line comes in contact with the “V” at the base of the Competitors’ Guides, especially on the haul stroke. As the result of our observations and extensive field testing we created a Circular Helix that allowed the line to be closer to the rod blank and to minimize oscillation as the line travels through the guides along the entire length of the rod. The Universal Guide’s design eliminates the line coming in contact with the guide, unlike the Competitors’ Guide design. Our Circular Helix allows for more line speed, which in turn gives us more distance. (Use our side-by-side graphic that appears on the web site.)