Helpful ReplyBraid cut grooves in my guides

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Chris Johnson
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2014/06/25 23:29:36 (permalink)

Braid cut grooves in my guides

Has this ever happened to you? I am unable to find a great number of pics on the interwebs of grooves cut into guides and when
I do they have more often than not been attributed to braided ss wire or something similar. I've read that the early braid was more likely to collect debris that would in turn cut a groove into the guide. But with the number of fishermen that carry cameras you would think the web would be loaded with pics.

I've been using braid for maybe 15 years on a variety of rods from el-cheapos to Loomis' and St Croixs and have never had braid cut a groove in one of the guides. Just wondering what your experience with braid has been.

TIA
CJ
#1
FishinGuy
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Re: Braid cut grooves in my guides 2014/06/26 07:02:47 (permalink)
I use braid from 3-65lb on probably 30 different rods and have never once had a guide damaged from the braid.
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Chris Johnson
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Re: Braid cut grooves in my guides 2014/06/26 08:38:24 (permalink)
FG, thanks for the response. I keep hearing over and over that it ruins your guides, but havenʻt seen much evidence.
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eyesandgillz
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Re: Braid cut grooves in my guides 2014/06/26 08:47:28 (permalink)
I have had a nick in a guide (probably from a hook) damage my braid but not the other way around....
 
I think you would need REALLY cheap components or a really big fish on a locked down drag (20 plus lbs of drag) on big equipment to do some real damage to guides.  
 
I have seen roller guides blow up/seize on big fish in the gulf making long/fast runs but that wouldn't necessarily be related to the braid.
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FishinGuy
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Re: Braid cut grooves in my guides 2014/06/26 08:54:06 (permalink)
Only thing I heard recently about this actually happening was people who troll a lot. The line, being porous, can pick up dirt and grit from the water and make the line abrasive, cutting guides. But I know people who troll with braid and have never had issues. So to be safe , if you troll a whole lot I'd make sure you use a rod with quality guides. Alconite I think is one of the harder guide materials out there.
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B.A.
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Re: Braid cut grooves in my guides 2014/06/26 11:23:42 (permalink)
Several years ago when I had my tackle shop, was when a lot of these "Super Lines" were being introduced to the public. I had several customers that I replaced guides for. I had started trying to keep a record of what had actually happened to them. The only one that kept popping up was the new Stren "Kevlar" line. Most of the other cases were from people fastening their hooks in the eyelets to hold them. Just putting my two cents in on the topic.
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SaltWaterRocks
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Re: Braid cut grooves in my guides 2014/06/26 16:15:23 (permalink)
Just my 2 cents...I used to build/repair custom fishing rods.  The only guides I ever saw get cuts in them where the old style chrome, stainless and even carbide(the hardest at the time.)  Without fail it was the tip which was the most damaged as it is, by design, the guide which has the highest percent of contact with the line.  Also, hooks will often damage guides or inserts and should NEVER be hooked through guides.  Interestingly enough, this was all with MONO.  When the newer "ceramic" guides(used generically to cover all of the new harder synthetic guides) came on the market, line cuts went to zero; biggest problem at that time was insert cracking.  Then along came superlines.  I have personally been using spider wire since it came on the market(along with Gorilla Braid, Suffix, Tuff Line, etc) and have seen line cutting with guides of all types go back to zero.  That being said, I must agree that if the line is fished in silty water, there is a good chance of abrasive cutting.  I am fastidious about cleaning my equipment after use and have seen no cutting on any of my equipment over the years.  Side note: Inmates in prison sometimes are refused dental floss because they can use it with an abrasive(usually toothpaste) to cut through mild steel bars.  No kidding, my brother was a C.O.  Sooooo...if you read this far, other than maybe learning a fact about prison life, I just reiterated what B.A., FishinGuy and eyesandgillz said...lol!
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Chris Johnson
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Re: Braid cut grooves in my guides 2014/06/26 16:49:37 (permalink)
Thanks everyone, I just hear it over and over again and find it frustrating. Thought Iʻd bring it up for discussion. Iʻve heard something else about a use of kevlar recently but canʻt remember right now.

I guess itʻs one of those fishing urban legends like WD40 on a sponge, or corn is illegal for trout fishing in PA.

I guess if one were to smuggle something into the klink, floss would be much more comfortable than a file.
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Trout About
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Re: Braid cut grooves in my guides 2014/06/26 23:35:15 (permalink)
I have replaced several tips on Fenwick and Berkley rods that were badly grooved.  Only the tip guide.  They are only the rods with the SS304 guides.  The rods with ceramic rings are never a problem.
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Chris Johnson
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Re: Braid cut grooves in my guides 2014/06/27 05:09:07 (permalink)
Thanks TA, I appreciate the info.
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Trout About
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Re: Braid cut grooves in my guides 2014/06/27 06:43:06 (permalink)
If I still have some, I'll post pics.  i usually just toss them in the trash, but there was one in particular that I might have saved.  It had 5 or 6 different grooves in it around the diameter.  Worst one I've ever seen.
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Trout About
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Re: Braid cut grooves in my guides 2014/08/09 22:58:50 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby Chris Johnson 2014/08/10 10:30:17
I just got a rod in for repair.  It is one of the rods I replaced the grooved tip on a few years ago.  2 of the other stainless ringed guides are grooved.  I'll try to get some good pics.
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Trout About
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Re: Braid cut grooves in my guides 2014/09/12 21:05:06 (permalink)
Best I could do with my phone.

 

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Trout About
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Re: Braid cut grooves in my guides 2014/09/30 20:21:40 (permalink)
Here's one that came in today.  Worst tip I've ever seen.  Rod is an Abu Garcia Villain, less than 2 years old.  Every guide has some degree of grooving.
 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Chris Johnson
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Re: Braid cut grooves in my guides 2014/09/30 21:03:30 (permalink)
Wow, that's incredible. I thought it would only be the tip top but I guess the others are affected as well. What brand/type are you putting on for replacements?
Thanks TA
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Re: Braid cut grooves in my guides 2014/09/30 21:11:49 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby Chris Johnson 2014/10/01 12:16:39
I'll be replacing the tip with a Fuji Alconite.  Not doing anything with the other ones.  They aren't sharp or as deep as the tip.  Totally replacing all of the guides would cost over half what a new rod would be.
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jug
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Re: Braid cut grooves in my guides 2014/10/07 04:53:39 (permalink)
Learned about this the hard way years ago when I used spiderwire on an ugly stik.

I'M ON A MISSION
IM GOING FISHING
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FishinGuy
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Re: Braid cut grooves in my guides 2014/10/07 07:12:28 (permalink)
jug
Learned about this the hard way years ago when I used spiderwire on an ugly stik.
that's odd I've had braid on several ugly sticks for years and have never had an issue. Rods are used hard too. I use power pro and suffix performance braid.
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uBreakIt_iRepairIt
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Re: Braid cut grooves in my guides 2020/10/26 21:40:19 (permalink)
I know that this is an old post, but I had to comment on this.  I recently experienced this issue with two of my GX2 rods, and when I brought the issue to the attention of a sports fishing group on FB, quite a few people have never seen this issue either.  I use braids on all of my rods.  I have two $15 Telespeed rods, one $17 Tiger rod, one Tide Water, one Big Water and then two GX2 rods (1 for me and 1 for my lady).  My Telespeed and Tiger rods were purchased from Walmart waaay before the GX2 rods and do not have any cuts in the guides from braid.  I fish all of these rods in both fresh and salt water most from piers.  It turns out that the guides on the GX2 may have declined in quality, as stated by someone who saw my photos.  I saw a few responses in relation to people hooking their hook on the guides.  I do not do that.  I also do not lay my rods on the floor / sand, nor do I fish them in any silt.  These cuts are clearly from braid.  This also has nothing to do with 4 strand vs 8 strand braid.  Only my Tide Water and Big Water rods use 8 strand.  If this was a 4 vs 8 strand issue, then the cheap Walmart rods would be cut.

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FishinGuy
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Re: Braid cut grooves in my guides 2020/10/27 13:21:50 (permalink)
Wow. That's really a shame if they're using soft metal like that on the guides of those new gx2 rods. I haven't purchased any because my other ugly sticks will probably be fine forever.
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