A Concave Radius Universal Guide (patented technology)

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.

A Convex Radius on the top of the guide foot.

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.

A Tapered TOE at the tip of each guide foot.

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.

A CIRCULAR HELIX in lieu of the conventional teardrop helix of Foreign Guides.

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.