bigfoot vs windon guids what is the differance?

[just2fish]

Originally Posted by islandshark633

are you trying to tell me the Aftco bigfoot guides are light???? Sure the wind-on guides are light and for good reason they are the most popular, bang for buck you can not beat them. Those bigfoots are anything but light compared to the winthrops.

nope, never said there light. i said it wont make a difference in either direction. when a fish is ripping line, other than the sound they make you or anyone else wont be able to tell. the "tip weight" only applies when your not hooked up. sure they look nice and will save you a couple ounces. when you drop on a 5 to 7 lb reel, add a few hundred lb's of fish you will never know. will they last longer than the aftco's... i just re-wrapped an aftco/graphite rod for a captian from the keys, he used the original guides, they were 20+ years old, cant beat that with a stick. for the cost difference, i just dont see it. just my 2 cents. nice wrap in the pic by the way.

[islandshark633]

thanks J2F unfortunately you can not see the red paua shell very well there in the middle but the gold rings really makes the dark red shell pop.

The guide choices are really up to the customer in the end and what kind of bang he wants for his buck, each set has its own merits. The bigfoots are kind of out of date really because the Aftco Wind-On guides have the same knot clearance and will hold up over time just as well, they are cheaper and obviously lighter and easier to wrap.

The Winthrops have a gargantuan knot clearance ( try sticking a swivel through a wind on guide ) and weigh about the same as the little Wind-ons.

Each to his own, I am doing my best to build rods that best fit my customer's needs both technical and financial. Of coarse I am just waiting for someone who wants the even fancier Winthrop Excel guides with the titanium tip........

[just2fish]

i hear you. rod building for me is a hobby. i make rods in my spare time and give them away or donate them. it's not a money thing, even my personal rods dont have top of the line guides .
well i got to work this morning and had a surprise waiting for me. i had 2 standups on the dryers and was looking forward to seeing the finished products. however, one of them unwound its self out of the chuck. dammit.. needless to say it went guides down and sagged all the flex coat. ill get some pics of the new rods and post them tonight. i cant do it from this computer at work. Ray

[islandshark633]

sorry to hear that, I have dark thoughts too while things are drying overnight and going bump....good luck!