bigfoot vs windon guids what is the differance?

[snooknreds2]

i am building my first sword rod (well first rod ever) and i am starting by doing the research.
my question to you guys is what is the differance between the "Aftco Wind-On Roller Guides" and the "Aftco Big Foot Super Heavy Duty Roller Guides"

i have always heard that you want to go with the aftco bigfoot guides. but in reading this post it seems people are saying just use the wind-on roller guides???

also i was thinking about getting the ones with the ball bearings in them.......but then i figured it is just something else to break and/or get rusted and have to replace. has anyone ever used them? if so do you have anything good or bad to say about them?
__________________
"God must love stupid people...He sure made alot of them"

[DIRTYFOOT2]

I have the bigfoots on my sword rods and love em. Heavy duty, Fat, and smooth as silk. Haven't tried the otherz so I can't comment on those

[JupiterSailfish]

The Big Foot rollers are much bigger which allow the wind-ons to slide through them a lot easier. Also if your using 80lb line or fairly heavy line your bimini will get caught in the regular roller guides.

I have been building my Sword rods with just a Big Foot roller tip and normal boat guides (thanks to NickC for showing me this). This allows bimini's, wind-ons, rubberbands, etc... to slide through the guides easier. I'm also thinking about replacing my roller tips with swivel tips since I have been fishing my rods out of the holder.

Good Luck on your rods.

[DIRTYFOOT2]

I like the idea of the swivel tips. Gregs rods had em, and that was the first time I'd used swivel tips for swording ( only my wahoo rod has a swivel tip ).
Your right, thier a killer idea for fighting from the rod holder!

[reefling]

go big foot all the way!

[islandshark633]

those bogfoots are so HEAVY, try the winthops if you can afford them. Difference is noght and day, but then, so is the price....

[Mate1]

For a stand-up rod. Go with the wind-on. They have the same knot clearance as the big foots with a smaller frame. You want one 47 two 32s and two 22s.

[snooknreds2]

thanks all for your reply s. i am going to go with the aftco windons. i also think i am going to use the swivel tips.

where is the best place to get the guides from? what about the balnk, grip.......

aftco on line??

[islandshark633]

try mudhole tackle

[socalfisher]

the sword rod im having built right now has the wind ons. I didnt want the weight of the larger big foots, i definately considered the winthrop tools, if i could afford them id get them in a heart beat. Theyre way lighter.

[just2fish]

with your eyes closed, and a fish ripping line off your reel, you wont be able to tell a difference between the big $$$ CNC guides and the SASQUATCH guides other than the sound they make and we can fix that with ear plugs. get the BF's with the PTFE bushings.

[flcapt]

AFTCO’s Wind-On guide set is specifically designed to accommodate the knots and connections of wind-on
leaders, which have become increasingly popular for big game fishing. The guides will handle lines from 30-
lb. to unlimited line class, and they have the same knot clearance as our Big Foot® guides, but in a more compact
frame. They will easily handle bulky wind-on leaders up to 700-lb. test, and they are also available with
ball bearing assemblies for the ultimate in line protection and performance. Wind-On guides can be used on
30, 50 and 80-lb. class I.G.F.A. rods and on extra-heavy stand-up rods. The guide feet are perfectly formed
to fit blanks with tip sizes down to 12/64ths I.D. Our Big Foot® Super Heavy Duty (SHD) roller tip-tops (see
page 7) are top performers with these guides for unparalleled knot clearance.

[islandshark633]

talk up the bigfoot AFTCO's all you like, they can't touch the Wintrops. They might be OK for a chair rod where you don't have to carry the weight but for stand-up its a no contest. Every rod I've made so far with the Winthrops has sold immediately, first person who picks it up can't believe how light the whole rod is and buys it.

yes, I know, cost is significant, but for a custom rod they are worth every cent and more.

[socalfisher]

thats why i said if i could afford them i would love to have em.
The aftco made the tip of the rod more whippy with its weight

[Liquor Box]

personally i like Star rods.. Plasma series. Rollers are a pain. Though my kristal has a crowder rod with rollers and a swivel tip....any comments.?

[islandshark633]

you'll be fine with the SiC ring guides except when a really big fish gives you hell near the boat and drags all the knots and slices back and fourth accross the rings with predictable resluts. Thats the day you'll go to rollers and never look back.

[just2fish]

Originally Posted by islandshark633

talk up the bigfoot AFTCO's all you like, they can't touch the Wintrops. They might be OK for a chair rod where you don't have to carry the weight but for stand-up its a no contest. Every rod I've made so far with the Winthrops has sold immediately, first person who picks it up can't believe how light the whole rod is and buys it.

yes, I know, cost is significant, but for a custom rod they are worth every cent and more.

so your trying to say when a rod is light (with no reel) it sells faster than a rod thats light (with no reel) because it has pretty guides on it. or can you really tell a difference with your eyes closed.. it will catch you but wont catch more fish.... JM2C

[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.

[islandshark633]

here's how the winthrops look....

[swordfish123]

Winthrops all the way. As far as aftcos I dont see any point in butting Big Foots on a stand up rod... they are significantly heavier and you dont gain anything becuase the windons will hold up just fine and you have the same knot clearance. Im not sure about them, but i know even with the winthrops you have to shave the foot down to fit them on a stand up rod...at least the #2-4 in the middle of the rod. the #6 fits real nice on a size 12 tip.

IMO if you cant afford winthorps go with the Windons...but holding a rod with them, especially without the reel on, will hook you