Well the search feature doesn't allow me to search for ice, so I have to ask. I use 500 size spinning reels on 26 in rods how far away from the front of the reel should the first guide be and what size. The rods I have bought over the years seem to have a tall size 16 for the first guide but every one of them are different. I was thinking about a 16 then a size 8 and the rest size 6. I would like to set the rods up like the St Croix Legend ice rods with the spring bobber.

Thanks for your help

That distance depends mostly on the type and size line you use. A high 16 set about 12 inches in front of the reel spool would be a good place to start. You're not going to be concerned with casting, you just want a smooth line flow. You can plot a line path from the center of the reel spool to the tip and set your guides so their outside edges hit the line path. See where the high frame 16 hits and locate it there. I'm guessing it will fall about 10 to 12 inches beyond the reel spool, or so.

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Thanks for the reply Tom. I am new to this and get confused by the many different types of guides. Do u have any suggestions that would work well for ice rods? I don't need any high dollar guides, I just some decent ones to do the job.

Thanks

I just built a set of 3 for a REAL avid ice angler and he insisted on smake guides. Have no idea why

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

I'd just take a look at the catalogs and see what appeals to you. You don't need SIC guides, almost any of the value priced aluminum oxide guides will be fine.

Because you're ice fishing, don't go too small on the rings so you aren't constantly clearing ice out of them.

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Mike,
A couple of reasons for snake guides.
1. small size.
2. Very very light.
3. Tough - due to the double foot design, the guide is almost impossible to bend under tough use.
4. With ice build up on the guide, a good wack on the side of a box will knock the ice off the guides. Although tough on the rod, it is a pretty common practice for a hard core ice fisherman.
5. Really no need for any thing more fancy on an ice rod due to the lack of casting and short line length during a retrieve.

I have been building most of my recent ice rods - from hard core ice fishing clients using single foot stainless steel ring fly guides - for similar reasons.

Take care
Roger

Makes sense!! I'm to old/fat for hard water anymore but this guy is realy hard core

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Thanks for the reply, Could u please give the some examples of the guides that you use. It just seems like to me that the small fly guides would be to close to the rod. What do you u use for your fist guide from the reel? Thanks

I've been building with Dyna Flow guides, they are stainless steel, they look nice and they are in expensive. I bought a bunch from Mud Hole.

Steve Bro
(BroCo Custom Rods)