09: CERAMIC GUIDES EXPLAINED
Guides – or rod rings as many know them as – are a very important part of a rod and play a part in its characteristics and uses.
Rod rings are more than just something to guide your line through when using the rod, and they come in a wide variety of different types and qualities.
As well as the actual type of guide itself, the positioning of it on the blank will have an effect on the action of the rod, and the size and tapering of the guides will determine how easily your line flows off of the reel spool and through them when you cast – too small or the wrong tapering and casting distance is reduced.
In terms of the actual guides and how they are made, they tend to be either single leg or double leg versions. Single leg guides only attach to the blank in one place so have less impact on its action (rather than creating two ‘flat’ spots they only make one) but are less robust and far easier to damage, and often you will see a double leg butt ring being used with single leg intermediate guides even on high end rods where everything possible is done to preserve the action, but not completely at the expense of durability.
Double leg rings are attached in two places so in theory have more impact on the action – although most people won’t even notice – but are a lot more durable and is why they were chosen throughout the Kaizen Green range, as they are less prone to damage.
The weight of the rings is also important, especially when you are attaching six of them to the rod at various points – the standard number on a carp rod. There is little point using very high quality carbon to create a light blank and then putting heavy, cheap guides on it, that adversely affect that action! The lighter the rings, the easier it is to move the rod through the air and to generate more speed.
The lining of the rings is also very important, as it needs to be durable enough to withstand constant use without cracking or a groove forming in the coating, both of which will often damage your line and cause it to fail under pressure. It also needs to be a material that will allow the line to freely flow over its surface, which is important on the fact where less friction equals more distance, but also when playing a carp as a lot of pressure is put on the tip ring in particular.
The type of line that is being used also plays a part, as whilst nylon works with pretty much any sort of guide, for regular use with tough braided main lines, you need a lining that can withstand that better, as a lot more friction is created.
That is why we offer a ceramic guide version – utilising Sea-Guide BXTLSG guides - of all of the 10ft rods in the range, which are popular with anglers who use boats for their fishing, and will normally be fishing with braided lines.
You can read more about these specific models and their uses within the Choosing your Kaizen Green rod section.
All of the Kaizen Green spod rods also feature a ceramic tip ring – the rest of the rings are the Sea-Guide TDG guides with an Adaman coating found throughout the rest of the Green range – so that it can withstand constant use with the braids that are used for spodding and feature finding, without any danger of it becoming worn. Generally, spod rods are cast/used many more times during a session – and over their lifetime – than your fishing rods will ever be.
You will be able to see the difference when you pay a visit to your local Korda stockist to handle the rods yourself, and can find details of your nearest one on our store locator.