I have never built an Ice rod before and have some questions.
How long of a handle is standard?
Is guide spacing any differant then a standard rod?
The customer wants a spinning reel setup
Any help would be greatly appriciate to help out a Florida boy.
Thanks in advance
Dale

Dale,
I would be happy to help. But I need a few questions answered first. What will the blank be used for (micor lite for panfish, jigging for walleyes, etc)?
How long will the blank be (some like to go hole to hole standing up outside, some need it short for pop up shacks.)

Buzz

I'm not sure there is a such thing as a standard Ice fishing rod
But I make mine with a 30 inch blank and a 2 inch fore grip and a 4 inch rear grip
standard graphite reel seat size 16
(3 guides) mesurements from the tip are (4 1/2, 9, and 14 1/2) you may want to add aother guide depending on the blank.

OSD

We do a lot of ice fishing up here in Northern Minnesota. I like a 28 inch blank for in an ice house 32 for outside. 3 guides on the 28 inch and 4 on the 32 inch, spaced so that the line has a nice curve and no sharp angles when stressed. I use a 6 inch tape on style handle. Also if to be used outside use slightly larger guides so that they don't ice up quite as quickly.

Hope that helps a bit.

Do you guys always use solid carbon or solid glass for blanks or will short regular graphite work? Believe or not I grew up in N. Minn. as a kid, but only used line wrapped on a stick, pop-ups, or speared in a dark house. Thanks Tom

I've always used graphite (hollow) blanks. I use a lot of tops off broken rods and tip sections of 8' fly rods that I pick up in the seconds sales with some suppliers. The 4' tip sections are really nice for guys who fish outside while standing up; don't have to bend over in the cold.

Putter
Williston, ND