How-D. Just wondering what guide sizes you guys use on ice rods. Do you use larger guides than you would on a typical light duty spinning rod to prevent icing up? Or do you go with the same such as a size 6 on the tip, then maybe a 7 or 8 then up to a 12 or so?

AC
FishinFreaks
Rogers, MN

Aaron, I use alconite, forecast, and pac bay guides. I usually build ultra lite ice rods, but a few heavy ones using fly rod tips. But I usually start out from the butt guide with a v frame or high frame #10, and fly guides of # 10, 8, 7, and 6, if it fits the tip. In most instances I use the metal hoop type fly rod tips, and have no complaint to date. The spacing will vary with the length of the blank . I usually use alconite insert guides, or zirconium insert guides, as some people use fireline on the reels. Just my take on the process. I have to do some grinding of the foot to match the blank on the Pac Bay guides as they tend to be wider. If you are looking specifically for guides that the companies use, go to Jannsnetcraft and look under Berkley @#$%& guides and you will find them there. And by the way I build only spinning rod blanks, for the casting type of reel things would be different. The reason I use the particular brands mentioned above, is that they come in different ring colors, and frame colors, it dresses them up a bit.

Aaron, the guides are called Berkley SS304 sorry for the typo.

Aaron, the guides are called Berkley SS304 sorry for the typo.

Aaron, it depends on whether the rod will be used in an ice house or out in the elements. For use in an ice house I use the smaller lighter guides, generally 6 through 12, if it is gonna be an outdoors rod, generally 8 through 16. The difference being the bigger guides don't fill with ice as rapidly if used outdoors and the lighter guides I feel will be more sensitive if icing is not as much and issue as it wouldn't be in an ice house.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2006 06:59AM by Scott VanGuilder.