I picked up a set of Fenwick FS83 rods.

My first question for the rod builders out there, is it a big deal to switch the guides out to casting guides? Is it possible to strip the old ones? Is it sacrilege to tamper with a classic?

I want to use them for plugging steelhead and coho in the forebays up here and some out of the drift boat. The guy I got them from said he just put baitcasters on and ran them as-is. I haven't tried it yet, but if it works, I'm thinking about throwing on the Diawa digital line counters. Anyone with experience with the reels? 10lb mono sound about right? 12lb?

Hopefully this is as interesting as leaving in a trailer hitch.