Well the weather is starting to cool off and my favorite time to fish is fast approaching, ice fishing.

I have a few ideas and questions on guides for ice rods.

I primarily fish from a portable so I was thinking about using micros on my inside rod. Has anyone tried this and how did you like it?

Larger guides #7 or #8's for outside rods and for slip bobbers. Most likely 8's.

I built one rod through a class (my first rod build actually), unfortunately I didn't write down the sizes of the guides. From my best guess it's 16, 10, 8, 8tt. They have a ss ring in them instead of other ceramic style. Any thought on ring material on those harsh winter days?

Patiently waiting for ice,

Wade

The main thing to consider is how quickly water will freeze in the guide rings in the environment you're going to be in. If the inside of your hut is warm enough that this isn't happening at all on your present rods, then you can likely use smaller guides without any problem as well. But if you're getting freezing on size 6's or 7's now, you can count on freezing in the smaller guides - it'll just happen much more quickly.

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Wade,
I build lots and lots of ice rods.
Although you can use mircos for the guides there is virtually no advantage to the use of the smaller guides and lots of disadvantages.

Since the rods are so short, and since they are mainly used with a spinning reel, it is important that the first guide closest to the reel be tall enough so that you don't get line jerking as you rotate the reel.

i.e. If the top of the spool is 3 inches, and the top of the first guide is only a 1/2 inch, you will get lots of line jerking as you retrieve line. However, if you have the first guide at 2 1/2 inches, you will get a nice smooth line retreive.

Then, if you go no smaller than about a number 6 tip and first tip guide you will be less likely to freeze up.
For outside rods, I would go no smaller than a size 8 tip and first guide to reduce freeze up issues.

Also, depending on the blank - i.e. how stiff it is, you may find that only one or two guides are actually required on the rod. However, if you have an ultra light, with a very flexible tip, you may need to go up to 4 guides on even a farily short rod. If that is the case, and if the rod will never be used below freezing, then it could make sense to have micros for the two tip guides.

Take care
Roger

p.s.
If you are using a bait casting reel, there is really no issue on guide size, for either the line drop, or retrieve. So, if you don't plan on using the rod in a place below freezing, you could run with all very small guides.
Of course, even with a small bait casting reel, it is a good idea to have the guide nearest the reel a bit larger so that the center of the guide would be in line with the center of the spool.

Take care
Roger

Sometimes I will turn a tapered grip to aim the reel at the first guide. I use allot of 16 ring high frame fujis for this. I build them down to 12 inches sometimes for sight fishing rods.

The ONLY reason I ever use a guide smaller than an 8 is on UUL rods. When you have a 32 inch noodle, big guides can feel quite clumsy. If you do not NEED smaller guides, they are more trouble than they are worth. I cant think of one good reason to ever use anything smaller than a 5.5 fly guide.

Eric,
In addition to your comments, with which I agree, I have begun using many of the Pac Bay Minima guides. These guides have very thin rings and the inner diameter of the guides generally run about 1 size larger than the comparable standard ceramic guide.

Take care
Roger

Thanks for the tip.

Gentlemen,

Thank you very much for your replies.

Wade

Roger,

Glad to see somebody else has picked up on that.

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